During LeBron James' second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he finally brought an NBA championship to his hometown team. In what was his third title run and in earning his third NBA Finals MVP, James brought a championship to Cleveland for the first time in the modern era.
The previous championship before the Cavaliers' 2016 title was the NFL's Cleveland Browns, who won an NFL championship in 1964, before the league's Super Bowl era.
On Thursday, James, the 21-time NBA All-Star, shared a picture noting the ninth anniversary of himself and his Cavaliers' teammates celebrating their Finals win with a caption that read, "WHAT A TIME IT WAS!!"
LeBron James June 19 NBA Title Cleveland Cavaliers Anniversary
LeBron James celebrates the June 19th anniversary of the Cleveland Cavaliers' NBA title.
IG/kingjames
James averaged 35.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 3.2 steals and 1.7 blocks during the 2015-16 playoffs.
In his first stint with the Cavaliers from 2004 to 2010, James was unable to win a title in Cleveland. In those seven seasons, James won several individual awards like the Rookie of the Year and two MVPs, but the closest Cleveland got to winning it all came in his second season.
Led by a 22-year-old James, the Cavs were swept 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs. After "The Decision," which saw James take "his talents to South Beach" over four seasons, the NBA superstar would return to Cleveland to complete the unfinished business of winning a title.
Now 40 years old and a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, James has accumulated one of the most outstanding resumes in sports history. He is a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP, four-time NBA MVP, and has been a member of the All-NBA First Team 13 times.