LeBron James won his third NBA Finals MVP — and his third title — in epic, iconic fashion. James further cemented his reputation as one of the game’s all-time great all-around players with a stat line for the ages in Game 7: 27 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds. But it was an otherworldly chase-down block from behind, pinning an Andre Iguodala layup attempt against the glass with 1:50 left, that was the biggest moment for Cleveland. Very few players have lived who could make such a play.
With the win, James has one more Finals MVP than Hall of Fame icon Larry Bird, perhaps the player who — for his versatility and ability to change games unexpectedly with magnificent plays — James best compares to. But James will soon surpass Bird in more than just Finals MVP Awards, it seems likely. Bird and James each won three titles. They each played 13 seasons, though Bird was nowhere near the top in his 13th. 12 All-Star Games each. All NBA First Team selections: Bird 9, James 10. Both won Rookie of the Year. James has made the All-Defensive team 5 times; Bird never made one, though he was a tough defender and top-notch rebounder, averaging 10 over his career. (James grabs just over seven.) James has more career assists too. The blocks total is close — 755 for Bird; 773 for James. But the one on Iguodala should really count as more than one.
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