Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James sits on the bench during the second half of Game 5 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 14, 2015. (Eric Risberg, The Associated Press)
LeBron James is having one of the greatest NBA Final performances ever.
With injuries to stars Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, James is putting up video-game-esque averages: 36.6 points, 13.2 rebounds and 9.4 assists. Seeing a player on a losing team win the Finals most valuable player award is rare, but James is making a powerful case.
(In case you’re wondering: Jerry West is the only NBA Finals MVP from a losing team, when the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Boston Celtics in the 1968-69 season.)
James is single-handledly carrying the Cavaliers right now, imposing his will to lead Cleveland as far as he has. Without him, they would’ve been swept, an afterthought in the Warriors’ march to victory.
Forget the Cavs, this is King James vs. Golden State.
Here’s a look at James’ production numbers:
LeBron’s averages
A look at how James has fared in the Finals versus the rest of the playoffs and the regular season.
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NBA Finals13.29.43.045.436.6Rest of playoffs10.18.14.440.827.6Regular season6.07.41.636.125.3Increased workload
A look at James’ shooting in the NBA Finals versus the rest of the playoffs and the regular season.
NBA Finals13.039.6%32.638.0%39.9%38.2%Rest of playoffs10.629.9%24.930.4%42.8%43.6%Regular season*9.023.6%18.522.7%48.8%47.0%Wins vs. losses
How James’ numbers compare between the Cavs’ wins and losses in the NBA Finals.
Wins48.014.09.52.53.51.539.5Losses43.712.79.30.72.70.334.7NBA Finals45.413.29.41.43.00.836.6
