LeBron James enters into a new era of fame and glory - NBA Feature
LeBron James was exuberant and overwhelmed with emotions at the end of Game 5th against Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. This years’ NBA Finals finally brought him the championship ring that has eluded him for
so long.
The ring has on one hand silenced his sceptics for good and on the other, is a testament of his skills and talent. No other player has been the subject of such extreme prejudice, but James loyalty to the game and club remained
undivided. Whatever the circumstances, he was there giving his 100 percent, pushing his limits and becoming a source of inspiration for other players.
Heat’s journey through the 2011-12 season was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, where players like Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh succumbed to injuries, but James stood tall and carried his team through.
The powerhouse averaged 27.1 points, 6.2 assists and 7.9 boards in the regular season, paving way to yet another post season appearance and boy did he have one h**l of a ride.
He was the binding force that knitted Heat together against the New York Knicks, the Indiana Pacers and then in the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics. In the Conference Finals, Miami were down 3-2 before James
unleashed a 45 point - 15 rebound performance and after that there was no looking back.
In the NBA finals, James shot 47.2% a little short of his 53.1% average of regular season, but that can be overlooked since he was attacking the rim with utmost aggression and consistency. He connected 70 of his 108 shots from
inside the paint.
Over the last 5 games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 boards and 7.4 assists and capped the season with a triple-double.
For James this is a start of a new era. He has proved that he has matured and has overcome his clutch weaknesses.
He has now all of the attributes to be reckoned amongst the legends of the game. Michael Jordan for instance, had his first ring in the 7th season and went onto collect 6 more before retirement. This might just be the
start for the King. Also, Jordan was more of a one man show, but James is not only a good offensive player, he also makes others better.
The fact that when James and Wade both were on the floor, Miami scored 93 points on 100 possessions, but with him on the bench, Wade netted 26 points on 71 possessions is a proof of that. Similarly Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers
performances took a huge boost with James on the floor.
In short, LeBron James has all of the potential to become a basketball legend. He is only 27 and there is a long road ahead, where he has yet to collect further glory and pride.
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