LeBron James has undoubtedly experienced one of the most illustrious careers in NBA history. While there is a long list of accomplishments that one can identify as pivotal to discussing his all-time legacy, his championship victories will always provide some of the biggest highlights from his playing days.
James was the driving force behind all four of the champions his teams won throughout his career. The NBA's all-time leading scorer in the NBA Playoffs is the only player in league history to win Finals MVP with three different franchises. James' impact on the organizations he has played for will never be in question. The league's best 40-year-old player of all time left his mark on the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers alike.
LeBron's most meaningful championship
To varying extents, each of James' four championships tell an important part of not only his story, but the NBA's as a whole. However, not all championships are weighted equally. That is an inescapable fact.
On an episode of New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce, James was asked which of his four rings meant the most to him. At first, the 20-time All-Star spoke up about the title that opened up the floodgates in Miami.
"We all remember our first one and we know the feeling that we had when we won our first one because of like all the disappointment before that. [That includes] the hard work, the dedication, the things that people don't see, the nights that we cry about what the [expletive] we could have did better in order for us to get that first one and then you're able to prevail. That first one is so, so special, so, so dear."LeBron James
However, James followed that up with his real answer to the question.
"But man, it's nothing better for me than that Cleveland one. The 50-plus years of no championship in Northeast Ohio, the seven years I was there beforehand, and it took me to leave and to come back to it, to understand or appreciate it even more.LeBron James
Being down 3-1 with the greatest team, 73-9 Warriors, with Steph [Curry], Klay [Thompson], and Draymond [Green], and coming back ...winning that series for the city of Cleveland ...that's why you saw the emotional. ...You saw me crying on the court. ...That's one year I will never forget.
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All of LeBron's championships, including his title in the NBA bubble with the Lakers, will be etched permanently into NBA lore. However, it feels understandable why James holds 2016 in such high regard.