LeBron James' greatest games with the Lakers: Getting his fourth ring

LeBron James, while no longer a part of the Los Angeles Lakers, left an indelible mark on the franchise during his eight-year tenure. Despite some declines in his skills, James played at an elite level and secured an NBA championship in 2020. To understand his greatest performances with the Lakers, we'll explore his milestones in chronological order, starting with his fourth ring.

When the 2019-20 season began, the Lakers were not the frontrunners for the NBA title. However, they quickly rose to the top as the most formidable team. They advanced past the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets in five-game sweeps of each series to advance to the NBA Finals. There, they faced the resilient Miami Heat, who initially held a series lead of 3-1. Although the Lakers failed to clinch the series in Game 5, they seized their opportunity in Game 6.

With the desperate need for a championship, the Lakers performed exceptionally well from the opening tip-off. They started the first quarter with a 28-20 lead and proceeded to dominate the Heat. LeBron James scored 11 points in the first half, contributing nine of them in the first period, as the Lakers built a massive 64-34 halftime lead. Their lead grew even further, with the Lakers controlling the game with a 36-point advantage and suffocating Heat defense.

The Lakers ultimately secured a 106-93 victory, adding to their storied history and claiming their 17th NBA championship. LeBron James delivered a stellar performance, scoring 28 points (13 in the first quarter), grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists. He finished the series with impressive averages of 29.8 points, 59.1% field goal shooting, and 41.7% from three-point range, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game.

This impressive display earned him his fourth Finals MVP award, making him the first player to achieve this honor with three different franchises and surpassing Michael Jordan as the second-oldest player to win the award.