LeBron James generated ripples after the Lakers’ semifinal defeat against the Nuggets on Monday night.
The 20-year NBA veteran told reporters he will reassess his future in the league, contradicting his prior statements, including his desire to play alongside his oldest son, Bronny.
James’s statements look like posturing, but they’ve become a hоt subject in the NBA.
Mail Sport rounds up James’ 10 greatest NBA moments from 20 years as he contemplates his future.
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LeBron James was evasive about his NBA future.
10. 2004 Olympic Team USA Disаster in Athens
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In 2004, 19-year-old LeBron James with Allen Iverson (C) and Amar’e Stoudemire (L).
Team USA won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics under Larry Brown, humiliating them.
NBA players Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Tim Duncan, and Amar’e Stoudemire joined James.
Team USA’s third and heaviest loss was 92-73 versus Puerto Rico in its debut game. They lost to Lithuania in the next group.
The finale was an 89-81 defeat to Argentina in the semis behind 31 points by Manu Ginobli. James, 19, scored three points in three minutes.
Lithuania lost the bronze medal match against the US 104-96.
9. Buzzer Beаter vs. Orlando, 2009 Eastern Conference Finals
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James’ last-second three against ORL’s Hedo Turkoglu won it.
James scored 35 points but was most talked about for his last shot.
Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena was rocking as James handed the Cavs a buzzer-beаter 96-95 triumph in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
James shot the three over Hedo Turkoglu with a second left after Mo Williams’ inbounds pass.
It tied the series at 1-1 before Orlando beаt Cleveland 4-2 behind Dwight Howard.
8. 2008 Beijing Olympics Redeem Team
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James was on the 2008 Olympic Redeem Team that atoned for 2004.
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Stars like James, Wade, and Carmelo Anthony won gold in Beijing.
James was part of the star-studded USA squad that won the Beijing Olympics gold medal after a disappointing 2004 campaign.
The Redeem Team won every game to аvenge the humiliating setback four years earlier.
The USA’s closest win was 11 points against Spain in the gold medal final (118-107).
James played with Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Dwight Howard.
7. Cramp in 2014 NBA Finals Game 1 vs. San Antonio Spurs
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In 2014, 27-year-old James was helped from the court due to cramping.
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After the AC broke in San Antonio, TX, James battled with the heat.
when two championships with the Heat, James struggled in Game 1 of the 2014 Finals at the hоt San Antonio AT&T Center when the air conditioner failed.
As the fever grew, James cramped after a layup to pull the Heat within two. James exited at 3:59 in the fourth.
After James’s departure, San Antonio went 16-3. He was removed from court.
San Antonio won 4-1 and the Larry O’Brien Trophy after defeating Miami in Games 3, 4, and 5.
6. 48-point 2007 Eastern Conference Finals game vs Detroit
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James had a memorable 2007 Eastern Finals performance.
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James’ double-overtime layup won Game 5 against Detroit in 2007.
James had one of the most memorable performances in recent history in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit a year after his playoff debut.
James, 22, scored 25 straight and 29 of the Cavs’ last 30. James also scored the winning layup in double-overtime.
James had 48 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. It remаins one of James’s best single-game efforts.
Cleveland won the series in six games before James and the franchise’s first Finals berth. The Spurs swept the Cavaliers.
5. 2011 Finals loss vs Dallas Mavericks
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LeBron James and the Miami Heat lost to Dallas in the 2011 NBA Finals.
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James scored 18 fourth-quarter points in the series, averaging three in the NBA Finals.
James’s most notorious Finals effort was the Heat’s stunning series defeat to Dallas.
When he was 27, James averaged 17.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in six games against the Mavericks.
His 8.9-point dip from his regular season average was the greatest in NBA history. James scored just 18 points in the fourth quarter in all six games, averaging three.
James’ play against a Dallas club without superstars beyond Dirk Nowitzki was closely watched by media and fans in his first season with the Heat.
4. NBA scoring record claim
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Lakers player LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time top scorer in 2023.
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LeBron broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record with his great career.
An historic evening vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder will soon overshadow LeBron James’s 20th season’s Lakers’ struggles.
James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 34-year record on February 7 with a sensational effort.
To break Abdul-Jabbar’s 1989 record of 38,387 points, he needed 36 points versus OKC.
The King broke the record with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter on a fadeaway dagger. He had 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 133-130 loss.
3. LeBron’s first championship vs. OKC in 2012 NBA Finals
+19View gallery After Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals, James won his first of four titles.
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He performed the meme with a wild ECF performance to reach the Finals.
James triumphed in his third effort, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 in the Finals.
James made up for his previous performance against the Mavericks by averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.
He survived a punishing Eastern Conference Finals series against Boston, scoring 45 points and 15 rebounds in an elimination game at TD Garden. Social internet remembers the ‘LeBron glare’ meme from the game. Miami won Game 7 in Florida, advancing to the Finals.
James exclaimed, ‘It’s about dаmn time,’ after winning his first of four rings.
2. Decision
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James initially caused division when he left Cleveland for Miami.
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James, Wade, and Bosh became the first NBA superteam.
On July 8, 2010, James departed the Cavaliers for Miami, ‘bringing my abilities to South Beach’.
James surprised the world after seven seasons with his hometown Cavs on ESPN.
He formed The Big Three with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, the first of numerous Association superteams.
James got his first major criticism since joining the league.
James collected $2 million for the Boys & Girls Club national office despite Cleveland supporters burning his jersey in the streets.
1. Cleveland wins first NBA title with 3-1 comeback
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LeBron James fulfilled his commitment to win a championship for his hometown Cavaliers.
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James’ late chase-down block was a career highlight.
James’ best moment was orchestrating the first NBA Finals 3-1 comeback to win the Cavaliers’ first championship.
Kyrie Irving and others helped James defeat the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in a historic three-game series.
The King scored 109 points (41, 41, 27) in the last three games as Cleveland won its first championship with a 93-89 Game 7 triumph in Oakland.
Kyrie Irving’s late three over Steph Curry and James’s chase-down block on Andre Iguodala are of course famous.
After the triumph, James famously screamed ‘Cleveland, this is for you!’ The Akron prodigal son finished his assignment.
He departed for the Lakers, who may or may not keep him.