LeBron James is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in NBA history, having won championships with multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers. But the lingering question remains: which of his rings stands as the greatest of his career?
For Lonzo Ball, the answer is clear. In fact, he doesn’t just consider it James’ best title — he believes it’s the greatest championship ever won in the NBA. Ball recently declared that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 title sits at the top of the all-time list. “I’ll stamp it and say this is the greatest ring of all time,” Ball said. “Who else came back from 3-1? Forties from your greatest… two giving you 80.”
The Cavaliers’ historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals makes a compelling case. No team had ever rallied from that position in the Finals, and with Golden State holding the best regular season record in league history, it seemed inevitable they would walk away with the trophy.
Against all odds, the Cavaliers refused to fold. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving each scored 41 points in Game 5, leading Cleveland to a 112-97 win and making history as the first pair of teammates to each post 40-plus in an NBA Finals game.
James followed with another 41-point performance in Game 6, helping the Cavaliers tie the series 3-3 with a 115-101 victory. With all the momentum on their side, Cleveland entered Game 7 energized, while the pressure mounted on the Warriors.
Golden State struggled to respond, and the Cavaliers clinched the title with a 93-89 win in Game 7. The result capped off what many consider the greatest comeback in NBA history.
James averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game in the Finals — leading both teams in every major statistical category. His dominance was undeniable, and his performance was one of the most complete in Finals history.
Irving, for his part, averaged 27.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game in the series. He later admitted to barely sleeping the night before Game 7, battling nerves. Still, he delivered arguably the most iconic clutch shot in NBA history — sealing the game and the championship, and etching both his and LeBron’s names into basketball legend.