Even in a loss, LeBron James found a victory.
LeBron James averaged the first-ever triple-double in the NBA Finals
Not even Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, or Larry Bird has done this.
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
James averaged 33.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists through five games against the Golden State Warriors. He became the first player to ever average a triple-double on the biggest stage of the NBA season.
James posted triple-doubles only twice in the five-game series but his 14-dime showing in Game 2 managed to keep his assist numbers afloat for the remainder of the Finals. It was one of the most mind-boggling Finals performances in league history, even though it was cloaked beneath the shadow of Kevin Durant’s series MVP-winning showing.
Some legends have come close to James’ mark, but none have ever been as good.
Magic Johnson averaged 18.6 points, 12.4 assists, and eight rebounds per game in his 1991 NBA Finals series against the Chicago Bulls. He came close to averaging a triple-double in five separate Finals series, but never officially cracked the mark.
LeBron also came close in previous seasons. He was eight assists shy last season and seven dimes away the year before. The only other players since 1984 to record at least 40 points, rebounds, and assists each in the NBA Finals are Rajon Rondo, Scottie Pippen, and Larry Bird, according to Basketball-Reference.
That’s how good LeBron was this series.
The Cavaliers were a shell of themselves without James on the floor. It was so bad, Cleveland was outscored by 12 points in the 144 seconds LeBron was on the bench in Game 2.
James scored 41 points on 63 percent shooting in the elimination game. Even after surpassing Michael Jordan as the all-time playoff leading scorer in NBA history, LeBron scored more. He’s the best walking basketball player on the planet (though Durant and Kawhi Leonard have some legitimate arguments against that sentiment), and he’s powered his Cavs to seven consecutive NBA Finals appearances with no end to that streak in sight.
He just matched up against a potent Warriors team with firepower from every angle. Even against one of the best teams in NBA history, James put up all-world numbers on his way down.
And if there was anything to take from record-setting performance this year, it’s that LeBron will be back.
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