The Greatest Playoff Run Of Lebron James Career

What's the greatest individual playoff run in NBA history? Was it 2025 Halliburne who led Indiana on a Cinderella run and was only one game away from capping off one of the greatest runs that the sport has ever seen? Was it 2023 Jimmy Butler who led the 8th seeded Heat to the NBA Finals in one of the all-time great runs? Or was it 2022 Steph Curry who cemented his legacy as top 10 player of all time with a finals run and a finals MVP? Those are some of the greatest runs that the sport has ever seen. However, I don't think anyone has seen a playoff run as dominant as 2018 LeBron James. He was a wrecking machine. Fueled by the anger of Kyrie leaving in the prior offseason and surrounded by one of the worst supporting casts in his career, LeBron in 2018 was a dude on a mission. Fresh off a finals loss to the Warriors in 2017, LeBron knew that this was probably going to be his last year in Cleveland. He was nearing 34 years old and the Cavs had no future in sight. This was LeBron's final ride. With this being LeBron's final ride, he would embark on one of the greatest playoff runs that the sport has ever seen. Headlined by iconic performances, game winners, and all-time great moments, there's no doubt in my mind that 2018 LeBron James is the best all-around version of LeBron that we have ever seen. So allow me to take you back to 2018 as we look back on the greatest playoff run of LeBron James' career. To understand how ridiculous 2018 LeBron was, you need some context. It's 2017. The Cavs are fresh off of possibly the greatest comeback in NBA history, coming off the iconic 3-1 comeback over the Warriors to give Cleveland its first championship. They were looking for a repeat, and it looked like they were going to do it. They finished the 2017 season with a 51-31 record, good enough for the 2nd seed in the east. In round 1, they would sweep the 7th seed Indiana Pacers in what would be Paul George's last season as an Indiana Pacer. In round 2, they would pounce on the Toronto Raptors in a 4-game sweep to head back to the Eastern Conference Finals. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they would meet up with the number 1 seed Boston Celtics led by MVP candidate Isaiah Thomas. They would steal both road games in Boston to go up 2-0 in the series. With a chance to go up 3-0 in the series, the Cavs were on fire. They would lead for a majority of the game until the final minute of the game. With 30 seconds left in the game, the Celtics would finally take the lead with an insane jump shot from the left wing to get a 2-point lead. The Cavs would then respond with an insane Kyrie layup to tie the game up at 1-0-8 and with the game tied at 1-0-8 and with a chance to win the game, Boston hit Cleveland with a lightning strike. Avery Bradley would hit this insane 3 that would hit the back of the rim before going in to steal a game 3 on the road. It was an insane shot to say the least. However, despite the loss, the Cavs didn't get rattled. They would bounce back with wins in game 4 and 5 to go back to the NBA finals. In the NBA finals, it was a finals rematch, Cavs vs Warriors. However, the Warriors added a new superstar in Kevin Durant. The Warriors would take both game 1 and 2 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. In game 3, with their backs against the wall, the Cavs would respond in a huge way. They would lead throughout the entire game and would hold a 6-point lead with 3 minutes left to go in the game. It was looking like this was going to be a 2-1 series. However, the Cavs choked. Curry would get this layup to cut the lead to 4, then Durant would hit a midi to cut the lead to 2 and then with the ball down by 2 with 52 seconds left, Durant would snatch their soul. KD would hit a dagger shot over Lebron James to seal a game 3 win on the road. It was heartbreaking to say the least. The Cavs go down 0-3 and are one game away from being swept. The Cavs would avoid the sweep in game 4 in a blowout win before eventually losing to the Warriors in game 5. It was a rough way to go out. However, Lebron and Curry met up in the tunnel and promised that they would be back next However, only one of them was telling the truth. Kyrie would demand to trade that offseason as he would be traded to the Boston Celtics. Lebron was blindsided. He didn't know that Kyrie wanted to leave. However, it was official. Lebron was now all alone. With no more right hand man, this 2018 campaign was going to come at the hands of Lebron James and in the 2018 season, he turned on the Jets. 2018 Lebron was a demon man. He was straight unstoppable this year. Fueled by the anger of Kyrie leaving in the offseason, Lebron turned it into another gear. So for this segment of the video, it's just dedicated to the best moments of 2018 Lebron in the regular season. I felt like I could do no wrong out there on the basketball floor. Lebron would cap off his insane 2018 season with an insane stat line of 27, 9, and 8 to will his team into the postseason. It was an all out carry job. He would finish 2nd in MVP voting, only behind James Harden. Although most people thought that Lebron deserved the award, Lebron didn't care. He just wanted to win. And in the 2018 playoffs, Lebron would turn demonic. In round 1, the Cavs would draw the Indiana Pacers. This seemed like an easy matchup for the Cavs. However, they got stunned. The Pacers would rally off an 18 point blowout to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Then in game 2, Lebron would respond. Lebron would drop an insane 46 point triple double to barely edge out a game 2 win. In game 3, the Pacers barely escaped with a 2 point win to go up 2-1 in the series. However, per usual, Lebron responded again. Lebron would drop a 32 point triple double in an all out masterclass to get this series tied up at 2. Heading into a pivotal game 5 back in Cleveland, Lebron saved the season. Lebron would hand in the fading 3 pointer at the buzzer to seal a game 5 win at home. It was insane. That game winner capped off a 44 point night in the second 40 bomb of the series. It was insane. He was really on that type of timing. However, game 6 wouldn't offer that same joy. The Pacers would pounce on the Cavs in a 34 point stomping to force a game 7 back in Cleveland. It was getting scary. For the first time in a long time, a Lebron James led team was on the brink of losing in the first round. However, if you know anything about game 7 Lebron, you should already know how this goes down. Lebron would pour it all in for an insane 45 point masterclass for his 3rd 40 bomb of the series. Lebron would average 34 points a game, 10 rebounds a game, and 7 assists per game on an insane 55% from the field. This guy wasn't human. An even crazier stat from this series is that no one on the Cavs roster outside of Lebron scored above 20 points in any game of the series. It was the true definition of a carry job. The Cavs win in 7 and they're off to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In round 2, it was a playoff rematch. Raptors vs Cavs for the 3rd straight year in a row. If you know anything about Lebron, then you should already know how this series went as Toronto became Lebronto. Lebron would chew and spit out the Raptors in a dominating 4 game sweep to put away the Raptors for the 3rd consecutive year. It was insane. Lebron in this series would average 34, 11, and 8 on a stupid 55% from the field. It was crazy. Lebron had once again owned Toronto in the playoffs and he's going to his 8th straight conference finals. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Lebron would see a familiar foe. Lebron vs Boston for the 7th time in his playoff career, and the 3rd time in the Eastern Conference Finals. Coming into this series, the Celtics were without their star player in Kyrie Irving, leading people to assume that this would be an easy series for the Cavs. However, they got rocked. In game 1, the Celtics would blow out the Cavs by 25 points as Lebron would have his worst game of the playoffs. So in typical Lebron fashion, he responded. In game 2, Lebron would put on a show as he would playoffs as he drops a 42 point triple double with 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He was a machine. However, the Cavs still lost this game by 13 as they go down 0-2. In Boston franchise history, they are undefeated when going up 2-0 in a playoff series. However, this is Lebron James we're talking about. No lead in a series is safe. So in game 3, Lebron of course responded. He would put up 27-12 to get his team back in the series. Then in game 4, Lebron would show his elite scoring ability as he would go off for an insane 44 points as he gets his 640 bomb of this postseason. The Cavs would go on to win game 4 and they would tie the series up at 2. Heading into a pivotal game 5 in Boston, the Celtics would clap back with a 13 point victory and take a commanding 3-2 lead in the series. So in a do or die game 6 at home, Lebron became Le-Thanos. Lebron James with 44. Timeout Boston. What so far has been a very predictable series. Just picked the home team. This game 7 is so unpredictable. You've got the Celtics dominant at home throughout the playoffs. But going up against a player who embraces and loves these moments and has had some of these big moments right here in this building on the same parquet floor. Banes on James. 5 on the 24. James drives, gets in the paint. Falling away. He's up and good. He's hit his first two. But alive against the offensive rebound. James from well beyond the arc. Rattles it in. James comes away. Might be some wetness on the court. Players are slipping. James drives. Layup. Count it and on. Three on one break for Boston. Rogier to the basket. Oh blocked by James. He did it again. Aaron Banes in the pick and roll and that's exactly what they're doing. Trying another three and nails it. 6 on the 24. Banes between the legs. Drives. Continues off balance. Banks at home. With 6.45 remaining. Tatum drives down and rolls it down. Wow. Steps back. Fires a three. Shot short. Rebound tipped and taken by James. Here comes James in the open floor. James. Grabbed from behind. Count it. Goal 10 and 1. And it's up to 9 with 1.04 remaining. LeBron James now with 34 points. LeBron would turn the script in Game 6 as he would completely kill the Celtics with 46 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists to force a Game 7 back in Boston. Then in a do or die Game 7 in Boston, LeBron would pour it all in on the Celtics for 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists to take his team to the NBA Finals. It was insane. LeBron wasn't human. At the start of the playoffs, nobody expected Cleveland to even get to the finals. This was one of the worst supporting casts of LeBron's entire career and he just made his 8th straight NBA Finals. In the Eastern Conference playoffs alone, LeBron has averaged 33 points a game, 9 rebounds a game, and 9 assists per game on a goofy 53% from the field while also having 7 40 bombs and 3 30 bombs in the process. It was insane. This was easily one of the most dominant playoff runs that we have ever seen by an individual player. It was greatness on another level. The Cavs would win this series in 7 as they advanced to face a juggernaut in the NBA Finals. It was an NBA Finals rematch. Cavs vs Warriors for the 4th year in a row. With the Warriors having the better team this time around, absolutely no one believed the Cavs would win this series. It was the definition of David vs Goliath. However, if anyone believed the Cavs had a chance in this series, it was LeBron himself. As in game 1 of this series, LeBron would go superhuman. LeBron would go for an insane 51 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists against the Super Team Warriors as LeBron achieves the 5th highest scoring game in NBA Finals history. It was an iconic performance to say the least. However, the Cavs still haven't pulled away. The Warriors are up by 1 with 20 seconds to go in the game. George Hill would get fouled under the basket and he's shooting free throws. Hill would drain the first, and then… JR Smith would have one of the biggest blunders in NBA Finals history as he would get the offensive rebound and would dribble out the clock while the game was tied. It was a monumental collapse. LeBron couldn't believe it. That blunder from JR Smith completely took the momentum away from the Cavs as the Warriors would dominate in the overtime period as the Warriors take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Warriors would dominate the Cavs in game 2 as well to go up 2-0 in the series. With the season on the line for the Cavs in game 3, LeBron would give everything he had left with a 33 point triple double, but it wasn't enough as the Warriors win by 8 and take a commanding 3-0 stranglehold on the series. With everything on the line for the Cavs in game 4, LeBron would give one last ditch effort to salvage his playoff run as he would put up 23-8-7, but it wasn't enough as the Warriors blew out the Cavs by 23 points to complete the 4-0 sweep. It was heartbreaking. One of the greatest individual playoff runs in NBA history has officially reached its ultimate climax. As LeBron checks out of the game, the NBA world wonders if he has just played his last game in a Cavs uniform. With LeBron being 33 and in the last year of his contract, this could be the last time we ever see LeBron on the biggest stage. Maybe the critics were right. Maybe LeBron would never reach the mountaintop again. Final seconds here of this 2018 NBA season. There's the buzzer. There's a new dynasty in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors champions once again. Back-to-back titles three and four years and the latest with a sweep. We've got breaking news. LeBron is a Laker. LeBron James is a Los Angeles Laker for what ought to occupy the final act of his NBA story. And that's it. It's over. This historic 2020 NBA championship belongs to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers conquer the bubble and banner number 17 will soon hang in the rafters. We just want our respect. Rob wants his respect. Coach Vogel wanted his respect. Organization want their respect. Laker Nation want their respect. And I want my damn respect too.