Why Miami Heat version of LeBron James was the absolute best one
By Noah Decker
Miami Heat: LeBron James had other amazing stints, but none quite like Miami
Now, let’s look at Miami. LeBron won two MVPs.
He won two NBA championships and two Finals MVPs. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team.
The accolades stand alone as a testament to LeBron’s greatness. LeBron could have earned a Hall-of-Fame induction in just these four years alone.
LeBron was at his peak athletically, which also allowed him to peak defensively. His speed and strength allowed him to effectively defend all five positions.
Shannon believed that LeBron could have and should have won a Defensive Player Of The Year Award during that stretch. The winner in 2013, the year LeBron made the First Team, was Marc Gasol, who didn’t make the All-NBA First Team himself.
So yes, James probably should have won the award. He was also arguably at his best offensively too.
It was certainly his most balanced. He learned when to trust teammates by distributing the ball and when to take over the game by scoring.
He also had his highest three-point percentage out of any year in his career in 2013. Comparing each four-year stretch between Miami and Cleveland, LeBron was at his best and more consistent with the Heat.
His return to Cleveland, especially the championship, was extremely impressive. But LeBron stepped into greatness by playing for the Heat.
He won a championship for the first time in his career. He was an unstoppable force in Miami.
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LeBron’s athletic ability and dominance in Miami was something we had never seen before up until that point—and something we probably won’t see again for a long time.