Going into Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, LeBron James couldn’t sleep. In a pregame press conference, rocking back and forth in anticipation, he solemnly explained, “There’s so much excitement around tonight. So, not much sleep. You know, a lot of thoughts going through the mind. That’s what I’m here for, to win championships. I’ve got a great opportunity tonight.” It was LeBron James’ first NBA Finals Game 7, and everything was on the line for him and his team.
2013 NBA Finals: Game 7 Micro-Movie
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Game 6 had been a transcendent and almost religious experience to the church that is basketball for both spectators, and players. As Ricky O’Donnell wrote for SBNation, “The final 17 minutes of Game 6 were meant to be felt, not analyzed. The fourth quarter and overtime were pure bedlam, a very real validation for why so many people spend the majority of their leisure time thinking and talking about something as trivial as overgrown millionaires playing a children's game.” ESPN ranks Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals as “the best NBA Finals Game ever.”

Perhaps the most iconic sequence occurred in the waning moments of the game. Down 5 points, with 28 seconds remaining the Miami Heat were so close to a loss that yellow rope was placed around the court in anticipation of the Spurs Championship Trophy presentation. Miami Heat fans were leaving the stadium in droves. With the differential narrowed to three, Chris Bosh out-jumped multiple members of the Spurs to grab a rebound and quickly flipped the ball to Ray Allen, who drained one of the most iconic 3 pointers in the history of the NBA with 5.2 seconds left on the clock to tie the game. The Miami Heat would win the game in overtime.
June 19, 2013 - WSVN 7 - Dead Wrong Miami Heat Fans Leave Early in Game 6 of the Finals
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The 2012-2013 season was LeBron’s masterclass, with Sports Illustrated ranking it as LeBron’s greatest NBA season and calling this version of him “apex predator James.” Game 7 was the culmination. A rare chance for LeBron to cement his legacy and to narrow the amount of Championships between himself and Michael Jordan.
The comparisons to Michael had started earlier than most for LeBron, with Grant Wahl’s iconic 2002 Sports Illustrated cover story hanging high about James’ head before he had laid a toe on an NBA court. At the tender age of 17 years old, LeBron was set to be a worldwide phenomenon.
No matter the level of skill, to many critics, Championships are the judge of greatness. Michael Jordan’s 6 NBA Championships. Tom Brady’s 7 Super Bowl rings. The greatest are judged through this lens, and the argument about Michael vs. LeBron permeated throughout American pop culture at the time, with the topic featured in newspapers, films, and radio.
LeBron James Interview on Championship and Finals MVP (NBA Finals 2013)
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While conscious of his own legacy, it’s clear that LeBron was also deeply inspired by Michael Jordan. LeBron adopted his number 23 upon entering the NBA, and furthermore said in an interview just following the 2013 NBA Finals that in order to get into the right headspace for the playoffs, he would abandon his cell phone, watch some “24,” and additionally, “watch a lot of the old Bulls Finals games.” When prompted by CNN reporter Rachel Nichols, “So Michael Jordan and Kiefer Sutherland got you through these playoffs?” LeBron replied with a smile, “Got me through it.”
In LeBron’s way stood the San Antonio Spurs with Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard and mastermind Head Coach, Gregg Popovich.

Just prior to perhaps the biggest game of their lives, speaking to his teammates in a huddle, LeBron said, “One game on our home floor to bring home another championship, man. This is everything that we worked for all season long, all the sacrifices we made to each other, dog, every single day dog, every single minute. They say hard work pay off man, lets make that statement come true, alright.”
LeBron James shut the haters down. With 26.3 million fans tuning in from home, LeBron achieved a remarkable double double with 37 points and 12 rebounds in his first NBA Finals Game 7 appearance, wearing this shirt throughout the first half. It was arguably the most important performance of his career, and is the highest point tally of any winning Game 7 performance in NBA Finals history.

The comeback win in Game 6, and the championship clinching win in Game 7 was a very real testament to never giving up. As Rudy Tomjanovich would say, “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion.”
As the clock wound down – in an act of pure class – as his teammates were exploding in celebration, LeBron greeted his opposition on the Spurs, calmly shaking hands and wishing them well. As the confetti began to rain down, LeBron went to hug Gregg Popovich, and later would look almost relieved when Bill Russell presented him his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award.
In the post game interview, in front of the jam-packed American Airlines Arena Lebron was asked, “LeBron, you are constantly faced with the din of noise from the outside – scrutiny, and pressure. How, when everybody is coming at you, do you keep your head and perform at the level you do?”
LeBron, pausing, said, “Listen, uh… for me I can’t worry about what everybody say about me. I’m LeBron James from Akron Ohio, from the inner city. I’m not even supposed to be here. That’s enough. Every time I walk into the locker room I see a number 6 with ‘James’ on the back. I’m blessed. So what everybody say about me off the court don’t matter. I ain’t got no words.”
The crowd exploded in applause.
Later, in a post-game interview with ESPN, with an unlit cigar in front of him and his newly-awarded NBA Finals MVP trophy on his right, LeBron’s legacy was the topic of conversation with one reporter stating, “Of players that have 4 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs, and 2 Championships, It’s yourself, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and Michael Jordan.” Magic Johnson later chimed in, “You know I’ve seen everybody play. You are the only guy I think that can become the greatest that’s ever played this game.”
LeBron had entered a new realm. He was one of just 3 players in NBA history to win back to back MVPs & NBA Titles, joining Bill Russell and Michael Jordan. He was in the conversation for the greatest to ever play the game. When asked what he was going to do next he replied, “every individual has to get better.”