7 Best Moments of LeBron James’ Cavs Career

The King returns.

LeBron James returned home to Cleveland on Wednesday night, to face off against his hometown Cavaliers for the first time since joining the Los Angeles Lakers this past summer. In honor of his return, let’s take a look some of his best moments in a Cavaliers uniform.

7. Consecutive Points Against Detroit

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James has been a candidate for the NBA MVP award every year since he accepted his first win in 2009, but his first MVP as a member of the Cavaliers must go down as a defining moment in his career. He set the standard so unbelievably high that voters would get bored and eventually give it to players that didn’t deserve it. His greatness in 2009 set that precedent.

6. Game Winner vs Pacers in 2018 in First Round

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Game 5, tied 95-95. One play before, James had recorded a game-saving block on Victor Oladipo. Throughout the game, he had provided nearly everything for the Cavaliers, finishing with 44 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. With the game tied and Cleveland just needing one shot to win it, James did just that, sinking a three at the top of the key to give the Cavs a 3-2 series lead.

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We all remember this one, right? The Cavaliers would eventually fall to the Magic in six games, but not before James won Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference finals with a contested fadeaway three-pointer at the top of the key in front of his home crowd. This play defined The King’s playoff future.

4. 25 The Chase-Down Block

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Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals. In just over 16 minutes of game time, James would score 29 of Cleveland’s 30 points, including the team’s final 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field. He’d force overtime on a driving dunk with nine seconds remaining and then finish the game off in double overtime with a driving layup with two seconds left.

3. Game 4 Buzzer-Beater vs. Bulls (2015)

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With the Cavs a few seconds away from being down 3–1 in the 2015 Eastern Conference Semis, former Cleveland coach David Blatt designed a play that called for someone other than James to take the final shot. James would hear nothing of it, called his own number and knocked down a three-pointer to win Game 4 and carried his team to an incredible comeback.

2. Game-Winner Against the Magic in 2009

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You’re not a true NBA fan if Mike Breen’s call of this play isn’t the voice in your head as you fall asleep at night. The Warriors had Steph Curry and Andre Iguodala trudging toward the basket on a fast-break, but none of this mattered after LeBron James erased what could have been a game-changing moment for the Warriors when he tracked down Iguodala and pinned his shot to the backboard. Championship-clinching pin.

1. Winning Cleveland a Championship

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“Cleveland….this is for you.” Chills. A historic NBA moment and clearly LeBron’s best moment as a Cavalier. He made good on a promise to lead Cleveland and did so by guiding his Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit against the dynasty that is the Golden State Warriors.

This article first appeared on 12up.