Did LeBron James play the 3 greatest games ever in 2016?

Who played the best individual game in NBA history? Did LeBron James play the 3 greatest games in a row to end the 2016 NBA Finals? Here's a deep dive into LeBron's Game 5, Game 6 and Game 7 against the 73-win Golden State Warriors that drove Cleveland's 3-1 comeback.

Other great 3-game stretches from a playoff series:

-Elgin Baylor, 1961: Final 3 games of WCF averaged 41.7 ppg 17.7 rpg but didn't shoot well (49.5% TS)
-Wilt, 1967: G3-G5 ECF: 20-41-9, 20-22-10, and then 29-36-13 (54.4% TS)
-Kareem 1977, G4-G6 WCSF: 43 ppg 18.7 rpg 3 apg (65% TS)
-Bird 1986: G1-G3 Finals averaged 25.7 ppg 10.3 rpg 10.3 apg 4.0 steals 0.7 blks (55% TS)
-Magic 1987: G1-G3 Finals averaged 27.7 ppg 14 apg 8 rpb 2 steals (63% TS)
-Jordan 1991: G1-G3 Finals averaged 32.7 ppg 11.3 apg 8.0 rpg 3 stl 1 bpg (62.5% TS)
-Jordan 1993 :G3-G5 Finals averaged 46.7 ppg 8 rpg 5.7 apg (56.5% TS)
-Hakeem 1995: G1-G3 WCF: 37 ppg 11.7 rpg 4.7 apg 4.0 blocks (60% TS)
-Shaq, 2000: G1-G3 of 2000 Finals averaged 38.7 ppg 18.7 rpg 3.0 apg (64% TS)
-Duncan, 2003: G1-G3 WCF: 35.3 ppg 18.0 rpg 6.0 apg 3.3 blocks (66% TS)
-Wade, 2006: G3-G5 Finals averaged 40.3 ppg 7.7 rpg 3.0 apg 61% TS)
-Kobe 2010: G4-G6 WCF: 35 ppg 8 rpg 7 apg (64% TS)
-Also note that Jerry West in 1965 averaged 46.3 ppg in the series against the Baltimore Bullets (7 apg, 6 rpg), 55% TS

Twitter: @elgee35

Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.

Stats courtesy:
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Footage in this video is owned by the NBA and its partners. It is intended for critique and education.

Music by AlterEgo (Lost) and Alice in Winter (Falling)

#ThinkingBasketball #LeBron James

[JonnyLin]

It's honestly sad that it's rare to find basketball analysts who are objective, don't heavily hate and heavily underestimate particular players, use a proper balance of statistics and film analysis, and don't simply use "killer instinct" and "dawg mentality" as their argument. Thank you ThinkingBasketball, every video analysis is amazing.

[Rori]

Its been 4 fucking years, and everytime i hear "Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala..." i still get chills.

[landwolf]

I'll never forget those back to back 41 points games where he was literally the best in every statistical category on both sides of the court.

[szilardoberritter]

Playerss guarded by Lebron in the last 3 games shot 19.4% from the floor . Important note

[borovicka_]

"His prime" - casually is 2008 to 2020 pretty normal stuff

[tomtaylor]

Surprise thinking basketball content is a shining light in a dark world

[samuelloetscher]

"In his prime"

Shows a period longer than most players careers

[dmatt]

Being a Cleveland fan my whole life, we never really had much going for us. Browns are always garbage, the cavs never got enough talent around a young LeBron, and he leaves. During that time while he left Cleveland sports was at an all time low, at least for my lifetime. But then, the King returned, and brought Cleveland home a championship. The joy in that city and surrounding area was astounding! So happy he won another title with the Lakers, he deserves it.

[johnthrowwall]

This made me shed a tear man, the moment when you realize all your hard work has paid off 13:11

[jorgeportocarrero]

The hug between love and lebron is legendary

[ballislife]

That game 7 is still the greatest game I have ever watched. It was so emotional. The storylines, the narrative, the build up.. even the fuckin intro was fire. Such a great series.

[saidsharif]

As a Warrior fan, I guess I kinda blocked these games out of my memory. Watching it back now just made me remember how incredible he was. Especially his passing. That fake corner jump-pass lob to Kevin Love at 10:50 stood out in particular

[ayevince]

“Guess he got his feelings hurt”
-Klay Thompson

[frinky]

LeBron is one of the few hyper athletic players who still uses all of his BBall IQ to read defenses and make educated passes while being 2 steps ahead on defense

[TheSnowshow]

You know thinkingbasketball is impressed when he uses a reaction gif lol

[symetry]

Wait... All this highlights were from just 3 games?! That's insane

[krazykarlhd]

I love how you just appreciate talent, there is no major biases and you do highlight a lot of highs you also go over lows as well. The last 20 years weve been able to witness one of the most athletic people in the world just dominate a sport and you rarely see that

[clintonhopkins]

Those were the 3 games that made me really believe LeBron is the Chosen One

[andrewchang]

What’s so interesting about LeBron to me is how good he is in a long series. Historically, LeBron James has played his best in games 5 and onwards. I don’t even need to debate this, the statistics will tell you everything. It’s always used a point of criticism against him that he lets the series go more than 5 games, but I find it extremely impressive that he keeps his composure at all times, and just delivers. In this years finals even, after game 5, I knew the heat were done because LeBron got his shot back and he was prepared to come out firing on all cylinders in the next two games. His focus is unmatched.

[nahdissean]

Probably my favorite NBA channel, ever. Such in-depth analysis, great use of film and metrics, and a fair but credible point of view. Keep it up.