NBA
Who takes the credit for LeBron being so dominant?
Hall of Famer and former NBA superstar Paul Pierce believes their mutual encounters enabled the “King” to perfect his game as much as possible.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh faced intense scrutiny for coming together to form the Miami Heat superteam. Despite their high expectations, they failed to clinch a title in their inaugural season as a trio. Their defeat in the 2011 Finals at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, led by the legendary duo of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, only intensified the pressure on them.
The 2012 East Finals saw LeBron James endure a challenging game against the Boston team, which Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnet led. He recorded one of the lowest point totals of his career, with only 8 points in 46 minutes of play in Game 4, shooting 3-11 from the field. This put the Heat at a 3-2 series deficit against the Celtics, who seemed poised to secure the win with three consecutive victories.
However, in a legendary dramatic turnaround, LeBron delivered a stunning performance in the sixth game. Seeking redemption, he scored a remarkable 45 points on 19-26 shooting from the field. Adding to his dominance, he also contributed 15 rebounds and 5 assists, propelling the Heat to a resounding 98-79 victory at TD Garden.
Paul Peirce first responsible for LeBron’s excellence
Paul Pierce expressed his sense of responsibility for LeBron James’ development as a player, particularly citing the events of Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals. Miami emerged victorious in that game, ultimately clinching the title by defeating the talented Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka.
This victory marked LeBron’s first NBA championship. Over the years, LeBron participated in the playoff finals 10 times, consecutively from 2011 to 2018, claiming three more championships.
Additionally, he set numerous records, including becoming the highest scorer in the league’s history.