r/lebron
LeBron James & Zydrunas Ilgauskas had one of the most underrated duo performances in a playoff closeout game ever.
Hey yall, I was looking back at the Cavs' 2007 first round sweep of the Wizards and realized just how ridiculous the LeBron/Big Z duo was in the closeout game.
On April 30, 2007, in Game 4 in Washington, LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas combined for:
- LeBron- 31 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK 8/22 FG, 14/17 FT, 52.6% TS, +12
- Ilgauskas- 20 PTS, 19 REB, 1 AST, 2 BLK 9/16 FG, 2/2 FT, 59.2% TS, +12
Combined: 51 PTS, 30 REB, 8 AST, 3 STL, 3 BLK
LeBron obviously gets remembered for the 31/11/7, but Big Z quietly put together an absurd 20/19 game in the same contest. He completely controlled the glass and interior, shooting 9/16 from the field and 2/2 from the line.
The crazy part is how complementary the performances were. LeBron was doing basically everything on the perimeter while Ilgauskas dominated the paint and boards.
51 points + 30 rebounds + 8 assists + 6 combined stocks, with both players finishing +12, in a road closeout is nothing to sneeze at.
I'm not saying this was the greatest duo performance in playoff history, but I genuinely think it deserves to be mentioned when talking about the best two-man performances in a playoff closeout game.
u/Impressive_Flan_411 — 1 day ago
After fanatics messed up my order last week, I finally got an accurate LeBron jersey at Dicks today!!!
This is an update on a post I made last week on fanatics sending me a 2020-21 style jersey with LeBron’s name on it with the older outline instead of the current drop shadow. Once I found out that Dicks got LeBron jerseys in stock, I raced down to get one and I couldn’t be happier!!!
u/Rowdyfan0823 — 2 days ago
▲ 42 r/lebron
Fans Of LeBron
Im a fan of LeBron so I was happy when he made his YouTube channel but the fans are going overboard in the comments.At first I found it funny but, I'm seeing more and more outrageous comments. So please at least tone it down a little.🤣😂
u/Realistic-Ad8804 — 2 days ago
▲ 0 r/lebron
Why did LeBron keep re-signing and extending with the Lakers?
It's very clear that he stayed way too long in LA, but why did he keep re-signing and extending with them? He initially signed a 4 year deal that ended in 2022, and then he re-signed for 2 years in 2022 as well as 2 years again in 2024. In 2022, their roster was a mess and AD had just been constantly injured for 2 years in a row. Plus, the Westbrook trade has already pretty much proved to be a disaster. In 2024, they had just been gentleman swept by the Nuggets and had no assets to meaningfully improve the team, plus he was turning 40 the next season. Pelinka had shown he's one of the worst GMs in the league. Had he left in 2022 and even 2024, he could very well have another ring or even two right now, with at least 1 more Finals MVP.
u/TheArsenal98 — 3 days ago
▲ 118 r/lebron
Russell Westbrook’s entire 18-year NBA career happened after LeBron had already made his first Finals. LeBron is still playing.
LeBron took Cleveland to the NBA Finals in 2007.
Russell Westbrook wasn’t drafted until 2008.
Westbrook then had enough time to play 18 seasons, win MVP, become a 9x All-Star, break the career triple-double record, play for multiple generations of NBA teams, and retire.
And LeBron is still an active NBA player heading into 2026-27.
It’s one thing to say LeBron has played forever. It’s another to realize that players drafted after he had already made a Finals run have now completed full Hall of Fame careers and retired before him.
u/nbastar03 — 5 days ago
▲ 0 r/lebron
Lebron is the greatest of all time.
45-15-5 vs. MJ 63 on Bos (watch the highlights tell me which is better). (pure performance)
3-1 comeback 73 team that won championship vs. game 6 comeback on Jazz who never won (persistability)
Finals appearance with bunch of nobodies 4th season vs. First finals 7th season with HOF (progidiness, geniusness)
10 Finals Appearance as best player vs. 6 Finals Apperance as best player (competence)
Beat 2 previous champs (Spurs, GSW) vs. Beat 1 previous champs (Lakers) (competitive prowess)
Shit coaches vs. GOAT coach (imagine if Lebron had Pop, or Kerr, or Phil Jackson) (leadership)
Made 3 coaches first time champ, p̶l̶a̶y̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶r̶ coach vs. 0̶ 1 - Phil was champion as player (pioneership)
4 total championship by coaches that won/4 championship by him - 11 of same/6 of same (coaches can win without MJ, not true for Lebron's coaches). (victorability)
Complete game vs. Niche game (perfection, invincibility)
(Played vs. 4 top 10 of all time in their prime (Timmy, Shaq, Kobe, Curry) potentially 5 if Jokic makes it vs. 2 (Magic, Bird) (domination)
Won the first championship 27, last one 35 286 days vs. 28, last one 35 118days (won the championship earlier AND LATER) - (longevity)
Made first team 3rd season vs. Made first team 4th season (early prowess)
21 All Nba/23 Seasons 91% vs. 11 All Nba/15 Seasons 73% (again Longevity higher elitism for LONGER - 91% > 73% AND 23 > 15 or 21 > 11) (consistency)
Championship with 3 different 2nd best player (Kyrie, AD, Wade) vs. Championship with 1 2nd (Pippen) best player (adaptibility)
Lebron Beats Michael in
pure performance
persistence
prodigy
competence
competitive prowess
leadership
pioneership
victory - questionable I guess because MJ won 6, but MJ had coach that won as player and won 5 other championships without him or at all, neither to which Lebron had. Questionable, in favor of MJ at best. Coaching is big part of the game. Imagine if Mark Jackson was never fired, would Steph have made top 10 all time or even won 2 championships? Probably 1 at best.
perfection
domination - similar to competitive prowesss
longevity - this is unquestionable, we all saw MJ at wizards
early prowess - like prodigy
consistency
adaptiibility - in his game and to able succeed with others around him, regardless of who they are. Made Finals, with 0 HOF and won with 3 2nd best players all of which had different positions. Also, he learned how to shoot 3 better than MJ and MJ was a shooting guard (albeit he also learned how to shoot 3 but not to Lebron's level - of efficiency and prowess (% and make)
All in all, I rest my case. Lebron is the greatest of all time.
u/Jazzlike-History-380 — 5 days ago
▲ 21 r/lebron
The NBA Has DEMOTED the Lakers with LeBron Now in Philly
youtu.beu/antwonomous — 4 days ago
Hypothetical timeline: This Sixers’ team 3PEATs! How does the basketball world react?
u/More_Bell7535 — 5 days ago
Alternative History: The Two GOAT’S Team Up!
Instead of retiring in 2003, Michael Jordan signs a 1 year vet minimum for the Cleveland Cavaliers. How far does 41 year old Michael Jordan and 19 year old LeBron James get in the east? Can the 2 GOATs win the 2004 championship?
u/More_Bell7535 — 5 days ago
▲ 204 r/lebron
LeBron tribute animation
Hope y’all enjoy this animation me and my bro made.
u/justinrichburg — 5 days ago
It’s gonna be a while until I get a proper LeBron Sixers jersey. WTF was the NBA store doing!?
They delivered mine in the mail today but I’m returning it because the jersey doesn’t have the up to date drop shadow behind the letters and numbers that the Sixers added in 2023. I don’t understand why tf the nba store sent me the out of date version. I ordered the current version of the jersey not the custom 2020/21 version. The picture of the jersey I ordered online shows the current version with the thicker drop shadows. Seems like a minor gripe but I want my jerseys accurate. LeBron is never going to wear the older version of the jersey.
u/Rowdyfan0823 — 6 days ago
▲ 0 r/lebron
If LeBron wins another ring in Philly along with Finals MVP, how would it affect his legacy?
Just to preface this by saying I already think he’s the GOAT, and nothing could change my mind. I understand there is a lot of people who think he is not, and also will not have their minds changed. But for people who don’t yet think he’s the GOAT, and may change their minds, would this accomplishment be enough?
u/Anon124570 — 6 days ago