LeBron James has played in 23 career elimination game, according to Basketball-Reference, with a win against the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ conference finals series as his most recent. On Friday night, he’ll play No. 24 against Golden State.
LeBron James is still really, really, really goddamn good in elimination games
James has now been in this 23 times. Never doubt him.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, LeBron’s really good in these situations.
James has now won 14 of the 23 elimination games he’s played, most famously mounting a comeback down 3-1 in the finals against the Golden State Warriors and their unanimous MVP Stephen Curry in 2016. His efficiency has been up-and-down, but what we know is that Possible Elimination James is a much different beast than the already explosive Playoff James.
Celtics fans were right to be worried heading into Game 7, because The King took every opportunity he wants to dismantle his opponent. It’s been eight years since LeBron’s missed the finals, and he’s clearly not ready to concede now.
He’s been here before.
Here’s how LeBron’s team’s elimination games have ended (wins in italics)
- 2006, Pistons beat Cavs in Game 7, Conference semis
- 2007, Spurs beat Cavs in Game 7, Finals
- 2008, Cavs beat Celtics in Game 6, Conference semis
- 2008, Celtics beat Cavs in Game 7, Conference semis
- 2009, Cavs beat Magic in Game 6, Conference finals
- 2009, Magic beat Cavs in Game 7, Conference finals
- 2010, Celtics beat Cavs in Game 6, Conference semis
- 2011, Mavs beat Heat in Game 6, Finals
- 2012, Heat beat Celtics in Game 6, Conference finals
- 2012, Heat beat Celtics in Game 7, Conference finals
- 2013, Heat beat Pacers in Game 7, Conference finals
- 2013, Heat beat Spurs in Game 6, Finals
- 2013, Heat beat Spurs in Game 6, Finals
- 2014, Spurs beat Heat in Game 5, Finals
- 2015, Warriors beat Cavs in Game 6, Finals
- 2016, Cavs beat Warriors in Game 5, Finals
- 2016, Cavs beat Warriors in Game 6, Finals
- 2016, Cavs beat Warriors in Game 7, Finals
- 2017, Cavs beat Warriors in Game 4, Finals
- 2017, Warriors beat Cavs in Game 5, Finals
- 2018, Cavs beat Pacers in Game 7, First Round
- 2018, Cavs beat Celtics in Game 6, Conference Finals
- 2018, Cavs beat Celtics in Game 7, Conference Finals
Here’s a look at each of LeBron’s stats in elimination games
LeBron averages 34.1 points, 11 rebounds, seven and assists, two steals and a block in elimination games. This is his production in each individual game.
LeBron’s elimination games
Date | Tm | Opp | MP | FG | FGA | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-05-21 | CLE | DET | 47 | 11 | 24 | 27 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007-06-14 | CLE | SAS | 46 | 10 | 30 | 24 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008-05-16 | CLE | BOS | 47 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 2008-05-18 | CLE | BOS | 47 | 14 | 29 | 45 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009-05-28 | CLE | ORL | 46 | 11 | 24 | 37 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009-05-30 | CLE | ORL | 45 | 8 | 20 | 25 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010-05-13 | CLE | BOS | 46 | 8 | 21 | 27 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| 2011-06-12 | MIA | DAL | 40 | 9 | 15 | 21 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012-06-07 | MIA | BOS | 45 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012-06-09 | MIA | BOS | 48 | 9 | 21 | 31 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013-06-03 | MIA | IND | 41 | 8 | 17 | 32 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2013-06-18 | MIA | SAS | 50 | 11 | 26 | 32 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| 2013-06-20 | MIA | SAS | 45 | 12 | 23 | 37 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014-06-15 | MIA | SAS | 41 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015-06-16 | CLE | GSW | 47 | 13 | 33 | 32 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016-06-13 | CLE | GSW | 43 | 16 | 30 | 41 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| 2016-06-16 | CLE | GSW | 43 | 16 | 27 | 41 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 3 |
| 2016-06-19 | CLE | GSW | 47 | 9 | 24 | 27 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 3 |
| 2017-06-09 | CLE | GSW | 41 | 11 | 22 | 31 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017-06-12 | CLE | GSW | 46 | 19 | 30 | 41 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 2018-04-29 | CLE | IND | 43 | 16 | 25 | 45 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018-05-25 | CLE | BOS | 46 | 17 | 33 | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| 2018-05-27 | CLE | BOS | 48 | 12 | 24 | 35 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Totals | W-L: 14-9 | 45.1 | 12.1 | 24.7 | 34.1 | 11.0 | 7.5 | 1.7 | 1.0 |
Source: Basketball-Reference
If LeBron goes down, he goes down swinging
For his entire career, James averages 21 shots per game in the postseason, which is of course the lion’s share that any superstar of his caliber should be taking. With the season on the line, he’s known to take over, averaging nearly 25.
James has taken more than his average number of shots in 18 of 23 elimination games, firing 30 or more in five. Teams should be terrified when James’ back is against the wall, because that’s when he’s his most aggressive self.
That doesn’t mean LeBron steps away from his role as an elite passer. He still averages slightly more than his career benchmark seven assists per game at 7.5. He posted double-digit numbers in seven games.
The ball is always in LeBron’s hands when a year’s work is at stake.
LeBron hardly leaves the court, either
James averages 45 minutes on the court in his 21 elimination games, and has logged that or more in 14 of them.
If he can go all 48, he will. He proved that in a Game 7 Heat win over the Celtics in 2012, and again in leading the Cavaliers to victory over the Celtics in Game 7 in 2018.
LeBron’s body has show over the years that it has few limits.
See More:
