The NBA playoffs, where the best basketball players in the world take center stage and perform at their highest levels. Making the playoffs is no easy task, advancing even more difficult. In the history of the NBA, no player has competed in more postseason games than the kid from Akron, Lebron James.
The King also holds the records for most career playoff minutes played, points, field goals made, free throws made, steals, as well as buzzer-beaters at a total of five. LeBron recorded two of those five game-winning shots on this day in sports history, one against the Orlando Magic in 2009, the other coming against the Indiana Pacers in 2013.
LEBRON JAMES RECORDS TWO OF HIS FIVE PLAYOFF BUZZER-BEATERS ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
2009 was the closest fans came to seeing a highly-anticipated LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant NBA Finals matchup. Kobe and the Lakers carried out their side of the deal by defeating Carmelo Anthony’s Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. It was up to LeBron, the 2008-09 regular season MVP, to overcome Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard’s Orlando Magic. Losing Game 1 at home made Game 2 a must-win for the Cavaliers. Down one point with a second to go, LeBron broke from his defender to catch an inbound pass at the top of the three-point arc and fired away.
The series-tying shot went down, giving King James his first postseason buzzer-beater. The Cavaliers ultimately lost the series in six games and Orlando lost to Kobe’s Lakers in a gentleman’s sweep. 2013 saw a more seasoned LeBron than in 2009. The back-to-back MVP won his first championship with the Big Three Miami Heat the year prior. The second playoff buzzer-beater of the King’s career came again in the Eastern Conference Finals, this time against Paul George’s Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers came out strong in Game 1 hoping to avenge themselves after being eliminated by the Heat in 2012. In overtime, down one with two seconds ago, LeBron once again escaped his defender for an inbound pass at the top of the three-point arc. Instead of shooting this one, LBJ took one dribble penetrating down the lane for a game-winning layup at the buzzer. The Heat eliminated the Pacers in seven games on their way to James’ second championship.
May 22, 2009: Cleveland #Cavaliers SF LeBron James hit the 1st Playoff buzzer-beater of his career in Game 2 against the Orlando Magic. He would go on to drain 5 career Playoff buzzer-beaters to set an all-time NBA record
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 22, 2021
pic.twitter.com/ij567AQMp9
May 22, 2013: Miami #Heat SF LeBron James hit his 2nd career Playoff GW buzzer beater for a Game 1 win over the Indiana Pacers in the ECF which was his only buzzer-beater with Miami that helped lead them to a 7-game series win and back-to-back titles pic.twitter.com/3A7YjrYOXx
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 22, 2021
Most postseason buzzer-beaters in NBA history:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 22, 2021
1. LeBron James (5)
2. Michael Jordan (3)
T3. Damian Lillard (2)
T3. Paul Pierce (2)
T3. Jerry West (2)
T3. Jo Jo White (2)https://t.co/92ltbydyYn
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