Larry O’Brien Legends, Part 13: The King’s First Conquest

When deciding a Legend for the Cavs, I asked myself a simple question: does LeBron have a playoff performance that hasn’t been talked about to death? To my shock, there is: his first one. I don’t need to tell you about LeBron’s origin story, if you have been following the NBA for more than a year, you definitely know it. Nevertheless, I will provide the cliff notes. LeBron James was the most hyped prospect in NBA history, full stop. His combination of peerless athleticism and supreme intelligence on the floor as a kid in high school had scouts drooling. He was the clear cut #1 choice in the legendary 2003 draft class, ultimately selected 1st overall by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. He immediately lived up to the hype in his rookie season, putting up 21 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6 assists per game; granted, on poor efficiency. He immediately corrected that issue in year 2 and his averages jumped to 27, 7 and 7. Cleveland missed the playoffs in both seasons, but that finally changed in year 3. The King averaged 31, 7 and 7. It is the single highest scoring average of his illustrious career. Most importantly, it got Cleveland into the playoffs. This would be Lebron’s first playoff run ever, who was his first opponent? Despite finishing with the 6th best record in the NBA (3rd in the East), the Cavs couldn’t win their division and ended up as the 4th seed facing the 5th seed Washington Wizards. This is the Gilbert Arenas-Antawn Jamison Wizards. Agent 0 put up the highest scoring average of his career with 29 points per game to go along with 6 assists and 2 steals. Jamison chipped in with his own 20. Those 2 helped Washington finish 3rd in points per game and 6th in offensive rating. If LeBron was going to win his first playoff series, he would have to match their output. In game 1, LeBron’s playoff debut, he put up 32, 11 and 11 while leading Cleveland to a 97-86 win. A combination of an Arenas-bounce back and LeBron strugglefest (under 30% shooting) helped the Wizards win game 2. Don’t worry, this did not become a trend. LeBron dominated game 3 in Washington. He put up his first 40-point playoff game, including a close jump shot with 5 seconds left to win the game. He replicated it again in game 4, but he ‘only’ put up 38 and the Cavs lost to make this a best-of-3. Game 5 presented the fork in the road. It would become one of the best duels in playoff history. Gilbert Arenas put up 44 points on 58% shooting (67% from 3). Considering Jamison put up 32, you’d think that’d be enough to win. Unfortunately for them, LeBron put up 45, 7 and 6. The last of those 45 points was a game winning layup in the dying seconds. Although Arenas put up 36 in game 6, it wouldn’t matter. LeBron’s 32 plus 50+ points from the bench gave Cleveland the edge and cemented LeBron’s first ever playoff series win. The Cavs met the Goin to Work Pistons in round 2. Although the series went to 7, the Pistons would advance. Still, LeBron held up his end. 27, 9 and 6 are great numbers, even on below average shooting (44%). He just couldn’t beat the Pistons on his own. 27, 8 and 2 in game 7 are good numbers, but not enough to save a team when nobody else scores more than 10. For LeBron’s first playoff run, he was brilliant. He averaged 31, 8 and 6. Those 31 points per game are actually the 4th highest of his entire career, higher than each of his championship runs. Those averages were driven by 8 30-point games. It’s an amount he has surpassed just 5 times in his career. He is also the youngest to ever accomplish that feat. Of course you know the rest of LeBron’s story. He goes on to destroy that Pistons team in 2007, makes his first finals and goes on to have MANY more incredible playoff moments. I just find it fun to look back on how LeBron’s near-untouchable legacy as a Larry O’Brien Legend started by crushing the Wizards. Also, feel free to use this any time someone tries to make the BS “LeBron’s not clutch” argument. That shit was false from day 1.

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