LeBron James is one of the most iconic players in the world today. He went from a high school prodigy to a bona fide NBA star and currently; he is the face of the league and the sport around the world. However, this did not happen overnight.
He earned that honor through great performances in games that mattered to his team, whether it was the Cavaliers, the Heat or the Lakers. At 37, he still moves like someone who hasn’t had enough of the game yet. Many have faced him on the other side, but only a select few have silenced him.
Dahntay Jones, as a former player, knows how difficult it is to face the first James. Jones admits this to former player Gilbert Arenas in the latter’s podcast, “No Chill with Gilbert Arenas”.
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There, in no uncertain terms, he says, “I hit Bron on the break once and I’m not a weak individual, but I put in everything I had to and bounced off him like a kid.” He continues, “Bron, once it locks up and goes down. He used to be balloon hell with his backdoor cuts and things of that nature. When he wants to lock himself up, you are at his mercy.
LeBron James and Jones for the Cavaliers
LeBron James won an NBA championship on a team that had Dahntay Jones as a bench player. The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Jones in 2016. He played one regular season game before only playing a few playoff games and was suspended for hitting then-Toronto Raptors player Bismack Biyombo.
Jones ended up playing a few minutes of Game 6 due to his other teammates getting in trouble. He had five points, a rebound and a block. Jones ended up winning his first NBA ring as the Cavaliers came back from being down 3-1.
James was named Finals MVP with 29.7 points per game. This included his back-to-back 41-point performances in Games 5 and 6. He also blocked Andre Iguodala’s lay-up with nearly two minutes remaining on the clock and the scores tied at 89. It is one of the most emblematic moments of this final.
‘King James’ is someone whose name is already taken among the greatest. Former players like Jones also confirm this for the fans.
