Skip to main content

Cavaliers forward LeBron James makes Finals history in losing effort

LeBron James is the first player in NBA Finals history to lead both teams in points, assists and rebounds for the entire series.
  • Author:
  • Publish date:

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James is the first player in NBA Finals history to lead both teams in points, assists and rebounds for the entire series, according to ESPN.

James averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists across six Finals games. The Cavaliers fell to the Golden State Warriors, who won their first title since 1975.

The 30-year-old James scored 40 or more points three times in the series, including 44 points in Game 1, a career-high for James in the Finals. He recorded a triple double in Games 2 and 5 and just missed one in Game 6 with 32 points, 19 rebounds and nine assists. 

MORE NBA: The Ultimate Warriors: Golden State caps off season with title

LeBron James's latest NBA Finals heartbreak shouldn't define his legacy

According to Tom Haberstroh of ESPN, James accounted for 38.3% of Cleveland's points in the Finals, the second-highest percentage of team points in Finals history. He is edged only by Michael Jordan scoring 38.4% of the Bulls' points in the 1993 Finals, which Chicago won.

James lost out on MVP honors for the series to Warriors guard Andre Iguodala. Had he been named Finals MVP, James would have been only the second NBA player in history to achieve it in a losing effort (Jerry West in 1969 is the first).

• MORE NBA: Warriors' title package: Commemorative book, framed cover

LeBron James 2014-15 NBA Finals Game Breakdown | PointAfter

GALLERY: Sports Illustrated's best NBA Finals photos from Game 6

Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-11.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-10.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-18.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-14.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-15.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-16.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-12.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-2.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-1.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-3.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-4.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-17.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-5.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-6.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-7.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-8.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-9.jpg
Golden-State-Warriors-win-NBA-title-19.jpg

- Molly Geary