Much separates Big Three of Heat, Spurs, but both have common goal

The Heat and Spurs will face off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday night in Miami at 9 p.m. ET.

Ronald Martinez, Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

Don't make too much of that memory. More important to James than revenge is his ambition to become the greatest of all players, and in that race he isn't competing against anything but his own internal body clock. This Finals is an opportunity he can't afford to waste, not while he's 29 and at his physical peak.

Tony Parker is averaging 23 points, 7.2 assists and 1.2 steals in the postseason.

Eric Gay/AP

"There are going to be times where Miami might be tempted to put LeBron on Tony Parker ... but Parker is similar to Rondo in that Parker's quickness is at another level.

C -- Bill Russell, Celtics (1969): Thirty-five when he beat Chamberlain's Lakers in L.A. to keep the balloons in the rafters.
C -- Wilt Chamberlain, Lakers (1972): Thirty-five when he won his second and final title -- the first for Lakers in L.A.
C -- David Robinson, Spurs (2003): Retired at 37 after winning his second title alongside 27-year-old Duncan
PF -- Alonzo Mourning, Heat (2006): Shifted to power forward at 36 when he played alongside Shaquille O'Neal
PF -- Robert Horry, Spurs (2007): Thirty-six-year-old clutch shooter who blocked five shots in Game 2 of the Finals.
PF -- Paul Silas, Sonics (1979): The former Celtics was 35 when he won his third title.
SG -- Sam Jones, Celtics (1969): Thirty-five when he won Game 4 with a jump shot off the "picket fence" on way to his 10th and final title
PG -- Gary Payton, Heat (2006): Won his only championship at 37.