Site Navigation
NBA career
May 2003 was a crucial month for LeBron James and his burgeoning professional career. With Aaron Goodwin as his agent, LeBron's endorsement deal with Nike (to the tune of seven years and $90 million US) was inked on May 22, 2003, adding to his card deal with Upper Deck, making James a $100 million man before graduation.
Also on May 22, it was announced that the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA draft lottery, meaning the boy who grew up mere miles from Gund Arena will begin his pro career playing in his home state.
"I'm now in Cleveland and I'm real excited," he said after the Cavs won the No. 1 pick, the same night he promised to buy his mother a new house and was sure not to promise a championship early on in his stint with Cleveland; the Cavaliers, after all, are hoping for a revitalization to their basketball franchise after earning the right to draft James.
"It's a big day in Cleveland sports," Cavaliers chairman Gordon Gund said.
A big day -- and a big arrival -- for the biggest thing to hit basketball in years.
"I will guarantee we'll get better every day," James has assured Cavaliers fans, which celebrated James coming to their city as if they had just won a championship. "I just want to win."
Rookie season
Facing the Sacramento Kings in his first NBA game, James recorded 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals and shooting 60% from the field. After recording a season-high 41 points against the New Jersey Nets, James became the youngest player in league history to score 40 points in a game.[9] He averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game for the season, and was named Rookie of the Year; becoming the first Cavalier and youngest NBA player to ever receive the award. He joined Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as the only three players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in their rookie season. The Cavaliers improved by 18 wins and concluded the regular season with a 35–47 record, but failed to make the playoffs.
2004-05 season
In the 2004-05 season, James was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game and recorded 13 points, 6 assists, and 8 rebounds, as the Eastern All-Stars defeated the Western All-Stars 125–115. During the season, James became the youngest player in league history to register a triple-double, score 50 points in a game, and make the All-NBA Team. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.2 assists, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. However, the Cavaliers failed to reach the playoffs again and finished with a 42–40 regular season record.
2005-06 season
In the 2005-06 season, James was elected to his second straight All-Star Game appearance and led the Eastern All-Stars to a 122–120 victory, with 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. He became the youngest All-Star MVP at 21 years, 51 days. He was named NBA Player of the Week for an unprecedented three consecutive weeks and concluded the season with five honors. He scored 35 or more points in nine consecutive games and joined Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as the only players since 1970 to accomplish the feat. For the season, James averaged 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, and became the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 30 points. He also became the fourth player in NBA history to average more than 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a single season. The Cavaliers made the playoffs for the first time since 1998, and improved from a record of 17–65 in 2002-03 to 50–32 in 2005-06.
Following the regular season, James was named as one of the top candidates for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Although he finished second to Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns in MVP voting, he was awarded co-MVP honors with Nash by The Sporting News; an award given by the publication that is based on the voting of thirty NBA general managers.
James made his playoff debut against the Washington Wizards. He recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, as the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards 97–86. He joined Johnny McCarthy and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to register a triple-double in their playoff debut. In Game 3, he registered 41 points and became the first player in NBA history to score 40 points in their first playoff road game. For the series, James averaged 35.7 points, as the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards in six games. In the second round of the playoffs, James led the Cavaliers to a 3–2 series lead over the defending Eastern Conference champion and divisional rival Detroit Pistons. The Pistons, however, eliminated the Cavs by winning the final two games. James averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in the playoffs.
At the end of the season, James negotiated a three year contract extension, with a player option for a fourth year. The contract is worth US$60 million and begins at the start of the 2007-08 NBA season. Although it is for fewer years and less money than the maximum he could sign, it allows him the option of seeking a new contract worth more money as an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season.
2006-07 season
James was elected to his third consecutive All-Star game appearance during the 2006-07 season. He played a game high 32 minutes and finished with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. In the regular season, the Cavaliers tied the previous season's record with 50 wins and clinched the second seed of the Eastern Conference on the last day of the season. For the season, James averaged 27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. LeBron started the season with a 38 point, 5 assist, and 8 rebound performance in the 94-93 win against the Boston Celtics in November. LeBron's best month came in March, when he averaged 30.3 points per game, 7.0 assists per game, and 6.7 rebounds per game as the Cavs went 11-5 for the month. At the end of the season, he joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for three consecutive years.
In the first round of the playoffs, James led the Cavaliers to their first sweep in franchise history over the Washington Wizards in four games. It was also the first time the franchise has won consecutive road playoff games. For the series, James averaged 27.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 8.5 rebounds. In the second round of the playoffs, James led the Cavaliers to a 4–2 series victory over the New Jersey Nets. He averaged 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.6 assists in the series, as the Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 15 years.
In Game 1 of the Conference Finals, James was scrutinized by most in the media for passing up a 6-foot shot near the end of the game, instead passing to Donyell Marshall, who missed an open three-point shot. After losing Game 2 where he did take the final shot, the series moved back to Cleveland with the Cavs down 0-2. In Game 3 with the Cavs up 84-82, James hit a 14 foot jumper to seal the game. He also poured in 32 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. In Game 4, in the waning seconds James hit two free throws to seal the game again. James had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists.
In Game 5, James scored 48 points, had 9 boards and had 7 assists; including 29 of Cleveland's last 30 points, all coming after the six minute mark in the fourth quarter, and the team's last 25 points (franchise record) in Cleveland's double-overtime Game 5 victory. James was the only player to score for the Cavaliers in the two overtimes played. NBA analyst Marv Albert referred to James's performance as "one of the greatest performances in NBA history." The 48 points set a Cavaliers record for points scored by a player in a playoff game.
James had a rough shooting night in Game 6 scoring only 20 points, but rebounded and passed well and his teammates did enough for the Cavaliers to lead Cleveland to a 98-82 win and their first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history, against the San Antonio Spurs.
In the 2007 NBA Finals, James and the Caveliers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs, who earned their fourth title in nine years.