It’s been a long time coming for the Miami Heat’s LeBron James, but finally, the number 1 pick in the 2003 draft has an NBA championship ring under his belt (or on his finger), as he played a starring role in his side’s 5 game rout over the Oklahoma City Thunder, picking up the Finals MVP award in the process.
If you’re unaware of The King’s story and why his first ring is such a big deal, it goes a little something like this:
- Picked first in the 2003 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Lost out to Orlando Magic in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals.
- Defeated by The Magic, again, in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals.
- Put in a number of lacklustre performances in the 2010 series against Boston, which saw the Cavs crash out without putting up much of a fight.
- Opted to become a free agent in the summer of 2011, leaving the Cavs high and dry.
- Made a big deal about ‘The Decision’ of who he was going to sign for, which sparked fans’ hatred for him.
- Signed for the Miami Heat so he could line-up alongside fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
- Took part in a pyrotechnic-heavy welcome ceremony, in which ‘The Big Three’ sat on stalls and looked smug for a while.
- After a tough first season on the East Coast, he was virtually absent from the finals, in which the Dallas Mavericks dominated the Heat over 6 games.
- And in 2012, this happened…
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