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The NBA is full of moments that solidify players’ greatness. However, what happens when a player saves his own legacy when his team is down and almost out? That is exactly what LeBron James did in the 2016 NBA finals against the Golden State Warriors.

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The Warriors were coming off the best season in NBA history. They had finished the regular season with a 73-9 record and had carried their form through the playoffs. Like many other times, they faced off against LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals.

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The Bay took a major upper hand, going up 3-1. However, this is when the ‘King’ showed just why he is the best player on the planet. Even reigning Finals MVP, Giannis agreed that it is the most iconic moment in NBA history.

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Giannis says LeBron James took it a moment at a time

The Cavaliers looked all done after going down 3-1 against the 73-9 Warriors. However, LeBron came out in the best way. He told his team if they don’t believe they can win, they shouldn’t get on the plane. Moreover, he played one of his best finals series.

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In GQ’s undercover, Giannis, who made an appearance, gave his take on the most bad*ss moment. He admitted that LeBron’s 3-1 comeback in 2016 fit the purpose best as he gathered his team and fought through when all was over.

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Giannis explained: “It takes a lot from the leader, because at the moment you feel so much pressure. When you’re down 3-1 and most of your teammates are thinking it’s over with, I’m about to go on vacation, I’m about to spend some time with my family. I think he did a great job just bring his team together, try to keep all the emotions out of it, and just complete the game at that time.

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It didn’t only take a toll physically, but mentally also because he had to be in the moment. He could not think that it would be the last game of the season, could not think about what’s going to happen next. He was taking a moment at a time.”

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James truly took it game by game and put on a show. He scored back to back 40 points and even had a triple-double in Game 7 at Oracle. James ended a 52-year championship drought in Cleveland and completed the greatest comeback in NBA history.

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,517 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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