Take a look at LeBron James’ career playoff record against Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and other NBA stars.
LeBron James’ stranglehold on the NBA has been prevalent for 21 seasons and counting. From his days with the Cavaliers in the 2000s to his NBA record eight straight Finals appearances in the 2010s, LeBron has battled with some of the top stars to ever step foot on the basketball court. Among all of the playoff records and glory, there have been some trials and tribulations as well, leaving us to break down LeBron James’ playoff record against 25 of the biggest NBA stars during his playing career.
We never got to see LeBron do battle with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, or even Steve Nash but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been other stars to step into their spots and give us some of the greatest playoff memories over the last 21 years. As we go through today’s list, you will see the few players that had James’ number during the NBA playoffs as well as the other stars who could never get out from behind the LeBron James-sized shadow that loomed over them in their careers.
This is LeBron James’ career playoff record against 25 NBA stars.
25. Tim Duncan – 5-11 (1-2 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Tim Duncan: 25.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2007 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs 0-4
2013 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs 4-3
2014 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs 1-4
Tim Duncan and LeBron James’ history together on the court dates back to 2007 when they met for the first time in the NBA Finals. The two NBA legends would meet a total of three times in the Finals with Duncan taking home two NBA championships while James took home one championship.
The first time these two would meet would be in the 2007 NBA Finals, James’s first appearance in the Finals while Duncan made his fourth appearance. The Spurs would be far too much for James and the Cavaliers to handle as they went on to sweep the Cavaliers in four games. James did struggle for most of the series with 22.0 points per game on just 35.6% shooting overall.
The two NBA legends would then meet in back-to-back seasons in the NBA Finals in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, James and the Heat would get the best of Duncan and the Spurs in seven games. James would be named Finals MVP for the second straight season with 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. When the two teams met again in 2014, Duncan was already a shell of his former self but it didn’t matter. The Spurs would defeat the Heat in five games this time for their fifth NBA title since 1999. James fought hard with 28.2 points per game while Duncan contributed with 15.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
T24. Dwight Howard – 2-4 (0-1 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Dwight Howard: 38.5 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.2 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2009 Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic 2-4
LeBron James and Dwight Howard only met up once during their careers during the NBA playoffs. It came at a time when both could be considered to be at their peaks with James in the midst of his 2009 MVP season and Howard in the midst of his first of three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards.
The series was highly anticipated between these two as the winner was going to square off against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. As much as fans wanted to see LeBron and Kobe go at it on the NBA’s biggest stage, Howard and the Magic had different plans. Howard played like a man possessed with 25.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in the six-game series. The Cavaliers mustered only two wins in Game 2 and Game 5 behind LeBron’s 38.5 points per game.
Years later, in 2020, Howard would join James on the Los Angeles Lakers as they ventured through the NBA Bubble and went on to become NBA champions together.
T24. Chris Paul – 2-4 (0-1 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Chris Paul: 23.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2021 Western Conference First Round: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns 2-4
Anyone who has followed the careers of Chris Paul and LeBron James knows they have been good friends for the majority of their playing careers. Once the game starts and the whistles blow, they turn into bitter enemies until the clock strikes zero once again.
Anybody who remembers the 2021 playoffs remembers what happened during this series. Paul and the Suns went back and forth with the Lakers over the first four games. Then, injuries took a large toll on the Lakers with Anthony Davis missing the rest of the series and James playing hobbled for the majority of it. In the end, the Suns would defeat the Lakers in six games behind Paul’s 9.2 points and 7.7 assists per game.
James would even show support for his friend later in the playoffs by showing up and sitting courtside to watch Paul’s Suns take on the Bucks in the NBA Finals. The luck did not rub off on Paul as Milwaukee would take them down in six games as well.
T24. Dirk Nowitzki – 2-4 (0-1 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Dirk Nowitzki: 17.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2011 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks 2-4
The legendary meeting in the 2011 NBA Finals is the tale of two career-defining series for both Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James. For Nowitzki, it was his chance to avenge Dallas’ 2006 loss to Miami in the NBA Finals, and for James, it was his chance to finally capture his first NBA championship. What proceeded was not the expected outcome.
After going up 2-1 in the series against Dirk and the Mavericks, Nowitzki woke up when he saw a video of LeBron James and teammate Dwyane Wade seemingly mocking Nowitzki for being sick. Over the next three games, Dirk would be the best player on the court between both teams while James completely disappeared in the moments that mattered most during the fourth quarter.
Nowitzki led Dallas to three straight wins and their first NBA title in franchise history while James and the Heat were left reeling from the collapse. Nowitzki was named Finals MVP with 26.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, the 2011 Finals are easily the biggest blemish on LeBron’s incredible resume thanks to his meltdown late in games. Do not let the LeBron fan club try to tell you any different, it was a collapse and it happened in a series they were supposed to win.
21. Kevin Durant – 5-9 (1-2 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Kevin Durant: 31.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2012 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1
2017 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 1-4
2018 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 0-4
The battles between Kevin Durant and Lebron James go way beyond their play on the court as the two greatest small forwards of the 2010s. For years, the media pitted these two against each other at every turn with every comparison imaginable until it became way too obvious that LeBron had become the far superior player.
These two first met in the NBA playoffs during the 2012 NBA Finals when Durant was still a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder and LeBron was with the Miami Heat. James and the Heat would make easy and quick work of the Thunder led by Durant along with Russell Westbrook and James Harden. James would win Finals MVP for his first NBA championship, averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.
The next two times they would meet in the NBA playoffs would come in 2017 and 2018 during the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the two series, the Cavaliers would muster just one win against the firepower of the Warriors led By Durant and Stephen Curry. Durant would be named Finals MVP on both occasions although many believed that James was the best player on the court both times.
20. Stephen Curry – 12-17 (2-3 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Stephen Curry: 31.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 8.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2015 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 2-4
2016 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 4-3
2017 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 1-4
2018 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 0-4
2023 Western Conference Semifinals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors 4-2
The playoff rivalry between Stephen10 Greatest Upsets In NBA Playoff History – Fadeaway World Curry and LeBron James is sure to be talked about for the rest of basketball history. From 2015 through 2018, it was almost a given that these two would lead their respective teams to the NBA finals and meet on the NBA’s biggest stage for ultimate glory. The first time they met would be in 2015 and a victory for Curry and the Warriors as they defeated James and the Cavaliers in six games to claim the NBA title.
In 2016, the Warriors would win an NBA-record 73 games with Curry becoming the unanimous MVP as well. After falling down 3-1 in the series, James led the greatest comeback and upset in NBA playoff history as the Cavaliers won three straight games, their first NBA title, and James won his third Finals MVP award as well. Over the next two seasons, James would lead the Cavaliers back to the NBA Finals but to no avail as the Warriors went 8-1 to win both series.
In 2023, the two finally met again in the NBA playoffs, this time with James on the Lakers alongside Anthony Davis. The second-round matchup between the two teams would go to six games with the Lakers prevailing 4-2. James would average 24.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game in the series while Curry combatted him with 26.7 points, 7.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
19. Kawhi Leonard – 5-7 (1-1 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Kawhi Leonard: 26.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 5.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2013 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs 4-3
2014 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs 1-4
Believe it or not, there was also a time when fans and the media debated the greater player between Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James. That debate came during the 2010s when Leonard led two different franchises to NBA titles during the decade and fell apart once he got injured and started missing far too many games while James captured a fourth NBA title and Finals MVP award.
These two small forwards have not met in the NBA playoffs since 2014 when Leonard was with the Spurs and James was with the Miami Heat. In their first meeting in the 2013 NBA Finals, the two teams dueled to a seven-game thriller. Leonard was just in his second season and tasked with defending LeBron every waking moment on the court. The Heat would win Games 6 and 7 to capture the NBA title behind James’ 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game.
Leonard and James would meet again in the 2014 NBA Finals as well, this time with a much different outcome. This was seen as Kawhi Leonard’s coming out party as an elite defender in the game, disrupting James to the point that the series became one-sided and resulted in a 4-1 series win. Leonard would take home Finals MVP honors for his two-way effort.
18. Nikola Jokic 4-5 (1-1 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Nikola Jokic: 27.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 9.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2020 Western Conference Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets 4-1
2023 Western Conference Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets 0-4
Over the last five seasons, Nikola Jokic has made his push to earn the title of the best player in the NBA. The big man from Serbia has taken the NBA by storm, winning two MVP awards, an NBA title, and a Finals MVP award just last season. In doing so, there have been inevitable battles between Jokic and LeBron James with each claiming victory over the other on their way to NBA championships.
Before he was the two-time MVP, Jokic and James met during the 2020 NBA playoffs in the Western Conference Finals. James and the Lakers established their dominance over Denver in the series, winning in five games behind 27.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game from LeBron. James and the Lakers went on to defeat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals that season in six games.
In 2023, Denver got their long-awaited rematch with the Lakers for a chance at their first NBA Finals appearance in team history. Despite a valiant effort by the Lakers, the Nuggets had far too much depth, especially late in games. Denver swept Los Angeles in four games and also went on to win the NBA Finals over the Miami Heat in five games with Jokic claiming Finals MVP honors.
T17. Shaquille O’Neal – 1-1 (0-1 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Fadeaway World
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Shaquille O’Neal: 25.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.5 SPG, 2.5 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 4-1
As great as it would have been for the game to see a young LeBron James and a prime Shaquille O’Neal go at it in the NBA playoffs, we would not get this matchup until much later. Instead, in 2011, we got the version of LeBron James who was in his prime, and a 38-year-old Shaq in the final season of his career.
This version of Shaq was hanging on by a thread with the Boston Celtics, appearing in just two of their five playoff games against one another in 2011. O’Neal played for a total of 12 minutes with two points scored in the series. James, on the other hand, would have an epic series along with Dwyane Wade, leading the Heat to an easy victory in five games. James averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks in the series as the Heat eventually went on to win the Eastern Conference.
T17. Jason Kidd – 6-6 (1-1 In Playoff Series)
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LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Jason Kidd: 21.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2007 Eastern Conference Semifinals Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Jersey Nets 4-2
2011 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks 2-4
Two of the great playmakers in NBA history, Jason Kidd and LeBron James, have only had the fortune of sharing the court twice in playoff series. Kidd was still in his prime at 33 years old with the Nets when they first met in 2007. Kidd averaged nearly a triple-double in the six-game series with 15.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game but it was not enough to stop a young LeBron from leading his team to victory and eventually the NBA finals.
The next time Kidd and James would meet would come in the 2011 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat. At this time, Kidd was still a starter but a shell of his former self at 37 years old. He averaged 7.7 points and 6.3 assists per game in the series while the Mavericks went on to win their first championship in six games. James had an all-time meltdown in the series, averaging just 17.8 points per game on 47.8% shooting.
T15. Rajon Rondo – 13-12 (2-2 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Rajon Rondo: 28.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics 3-4
2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics: 2-4
2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 4-1
2012 Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 4-3
One of the great rivalries from the 2000s and 2010s was the ongoing battle that LeBron James had with the Boston Celtics no matter if he was in Cleveland or Miami. One of the players who emerged as a star during these epic battles was point guard Rajon Rondo of the Celtics who would play a major role in all four of their playoff meetings with James.
In their first meeting in 2008, Boston’s championship season, Rondo started all seven games as a 21-year-old. He helped lead them to a hard-fought win in Game 7 with 10.6 points and 6.0 assists per game in the series. When the two teams met again in 2010, it was a different situation for Rondo. He would lead the team in scoring with 20.7 points per game while also adding 11.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game as Boston sent James into free agency in six games.
After LeBron joined the Heat, the power swung in the rivalry almost immediately. The two teams would meet in back-to-back seasons in 2011 and 2012 with James and his new team emerging victorious each time. While Rondo was elite, James was by far the best player on the court on both ends of the floor. He would lead the Heat to the NBA Finals and one NBA championship, leaving Boston in his path of carnage along the way.
T15. Ray Allen – 13-12 (2-2 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Rajon Rondo: 28.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics 3-4
2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics: 2-4
2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 4-1
2012 Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 4-3
Another member of the Celtics during this time was one Big 3 member, Ray Allen. Around for the same amount of time as Rondo, Allen’s role with the Celtics was slightly larger, being one of their main scoring options on the offensive side of the ball. In their seven-game win in 2008, he struggled mightily though with just 9.3 points per game on 16.7% shooting from three. In 2010 in their series win, Allen was slightly better with 15.7 points per game on 32.4% shooting from three.
Here is where things get interesting. Over the next two seasons, Allen would be a part of the Celtics as they watched James and the Heat end their season in 2011 and 2012. After the 2012 season, Allen would leave the Celtics for their rival, sparking a beef between Allen, Garnett, and Pierce that lasted years. Allen would go on to help Miami win an NBA title in 2013 with one of the most clutch shots in NBA Finals history in Game 6.
13. Rasheed Wallace – 13-10 (2-2 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Rasheed Wallace: 27.3 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 7.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Head-To Head Playoff Series:
2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons 3-4
2007 Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons 4-2
2009 Eastern Conference First Round: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons 4-0
2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics 2-4
One of the mountains that a young LeBron James had to climb during the 2000s with the Cavaliers was the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons. One of the leaders of that staunch defensive unit was power forward Rasheed Wallace who found himself on the wrong end of more than one clutch LeBron James play.
During the mid-2000s, James led the Cavaliers to the playoffs on an annual basis. In 2006, he met the Pistons for the first time. It would be a tough seven-game series that the Pistons wound up taking in seven games. In 2007, James would get his revenge in the Conference finals, dominating the Pistons in six games with 25.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game.
James would once again take care of the Pistons during the 2009 NBA playoffs. James would lead the Cavaliers to a sweep in the first round of the playoffs with 32.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game while Wallace was abysmal with 6.5 points per game on 36.7% shooting. Wallace would also serve a minimal role on the 2010 Celtics team that eliminated James’ Cavaliers and effectively sent him to the Heat.
Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Kevin Garnett: 29.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics 3-4
2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics: 2-4
2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 4-1
2012 Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 4-3
2014 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets 4-1
Kevin Garnett was one of the most vocal rivals of Lebron James during the 2000s and 2010s with the Boston Celtics. Claiming that the Celtics didn’t fear or worry about James, Garnett led the Celtics into battle against James four times in his time with the team. During their first two matchups in 2008 and 2010, Garnett led the Celtics to two different series wins including their 2008 run to the NBA championship.
The next three times that Garnett and James met in the NBA playoffs, James and his team would emerge as the victors. The first two instances occurred while Garnett was still with the Celtics and James was with Miami. James and the Heat would go 8-5 in those two series including the 2012 Conference Finals.
The final time that Garnett and James would meet in the NBA playoffs would be when Garnett had moved on to the Brooklyn Nets in their semifinal matchup, James annihilated the Nets with 30.0 points per game on 57.0% shooting from the field. In the end, this series tipped the scales in LeBron James’ favor in their rivalry forever.
T12. Paul Pierce – 17-13 (3-2 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Paul Pierce: 29.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics 3-4
2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics: 2-4
2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 4-1
2012 Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 4-3
2014 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets 4-1
Paul Pierce was also another fierce rival of LeBron James during their careers in the 200s and 2010s. Pierce has been much more vocal about his battles with LeBron since his retirement, reiterating Garnett’s feelings of lack of fear of James at his peak. Pierce was able to help lead the Celtics to wins in their first two matchups in 2008 and 2010, even going on to win an NBA title and Finals MVP in 2008.
As James went to Miami and Pierce remained in Boston, the tables turned in LeBron’s favor as he took down the Celtics in each of their next two playoff meetings in 2011 and 2012 with LeBron winning his first title and Finals MVP in 2012. In 2014, after Pierce and Garnett were traded to the Nets where they led Brooklyn to the second round of the playoffs. James was far too dominant at this point while Pierce was in the twilight of his career and was sent home by James for the third consecutive time.
10. Jayson Tatum – 4-3 (1-0 In Playoff Series)
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LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Jayson Tatum: 33.6 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2018 Eastern Conference Finals 4-3
Jayson Tatum and LeBron James are two of the premier small forwards in the NBA today. Before Lebron James flew to the Western Conference following the 2017-18 season, these two were able to match up one time in the NBA playoffs at far different stages of their careers.
In 2018, James was in the midst of his mission to bring a second NBA title to Cleveland, aiming for his eighth NBA finals appearance in a row. To get there, he would have to get through the Boston Celtics who were led by youngster Jayson Tatum in his rookie season. The series would be grueling, going to seven games to decide a winner. Tatum put up a valiant effort with 24 points and 7 rebounds but it was not enough to overcome James’ 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists. James and the Cavaliers would win their only playoff series to date with Tatum and the Celtics.
9. Paul George – 16-7 (4-0 In Playoff Series)
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LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Paul George: 28.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.2 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers 4-2
2013 Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers 4-3
2014 Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers 4-2
2017 Eastern Conference First Round: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers 4-0
Paul George and LeBron James were also at the center of one of the great NBA rivalries during the 2010s. George was the leader and young superstar leading the Pacers into uncharted territory as a premier contender on an annual basis. James and George would first meet in the 2012 second round when James led the Heat to a six-game series win with 30.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
In 2012 and 2013, the Pacers would give the Heat their toughest tests in all four years of the Big 3 in the Eastern Conference Finals. George would push the series to seven games in 2013 but fell after James went for 32 points in Game 7. James would also lead the Heat to another Conference finals win in 2014 led by James’ 22.8 points per game on 55.9% shooting.
Three years later, after James had returned to the Cavaliers, James and George would meet again in the first round. This time, James would lead his team to a sweep in four games with 32.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game.
8. Gilbert Arenas – 7-3 (2-0 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Stats vs. Gilbert Arenas: 33.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2006 Eastern Conference First Round: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards 4-2
2008 Eastern Conference First Round: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards 4-2
Gilbert Arenas has become a big proponent of LeBron James being considered the GOAT since his venture into the podcasting and NBA media world. When they shared the court, Arenas and James battled much to the delight of NBA fans everywhere but Arenas could never quite get the best of James at any point in their careers.
Arenas and James met in a pair of first-round playoff series in 2006 and 2008 that ended similarly. In 2006, James and the Cavaliers would take down the Wizards in six games. James averaged 35.7 points per game on 51.0% shooting in the series. Two years later, with a hobbled Arenas missing two games of the series, James and the Cavaliers eliminated the Wizards again in six games.
7. Jimmy Butler – 12-5 (3-0 In Playoff Series)
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LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Jimmy Butler: 26.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls 4-1
2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls 4-2
2020 NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat 4-2
LeBron James and Jimmy Butler have battled it out three times over the last decade in the NBA with LeBron coming out on top in every series. The first time these two would meet would be very early on in Butler’s career when he was with the Chicago Bulls and James was with the Miami Heat. In this second-round matchup, James led the Heat to a five-game series win en route to their second straight NBA championship.
In 2015, James would lead the Cavaliers past the Bulls in a six-game series led by James’ 26.2 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. In 2020, both players would be with new teams this time around as James joined the Los Angeles Lakers and Butler joined the Miami Heat. The teams would meet in the NBA Finals in the Bubble. Although Butler left it all on the court, James and the Lakers would emerge as NBA champions in six games.
T6. Damian Lillard – 3-1 (1-0 In Playoff Series)
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LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Damian Lillard: 25.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 10.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2020 Western Conference First Round: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers 4-1
Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers had one heck of a run in 2020, needing every win they got in the NBA Bubble in order to make the playoffs. Lillard led his team with clutch moments galore as they set up a meeting with the first-seeded Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Despite Portland’s magic leading up to the series, it would run out against the Lakers as James and Anthony Davis took care of business in five games. Lillard would end up missing Game 5 with an ankle injury and the series was over as quickly as it began. James would average a 25.3-point triple-double in the series which was the first, last, and only time he and Lillard have met in the NBA playoffs.
T6. Derrick Rose – 12-4 (3-0 In Playoff Series)
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LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Derrick Rose: 27.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.9 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2010 Eastern Conference First Round: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls 4-1
2011 Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls 4-1
2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls 4-2
From 2010 through 2015, the Chicago Bulls and LeBron James went at it when he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the early stages of this rivalry, Bulls point guard was challenging James for the status to be the face of the league, and if it weren’t for injuries, may have even taken it from him at some point.
In their second playoff meeting ever, Rose had just been named MVP and the two were headed for a clash in the Eastern Conference Finals. James decided to show the entire world who really deserved that MVP award, leading Cleveland to a series win in five games with 25.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game in the series.
Rose and James would meet one more time in 2015 but unfortunately, Rose was not the same following two catastrophic knee injuries. We were robbed of an even bigger rivalry between these two over the years in the NBA playoffs thanks to those knee injuries.
T2. Russell Westbrook – 8-2 (2-0 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Russell Westbrook: 27.2 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2012 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1
2020 Western Conference Semifinals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets 4-1
Long before they were teammates with the Lakers in 2022, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook met twice in an NBA playoff setting. Before he was an MVP or a guaranteed triple-double every night, Westbrook helped lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals against LeBron James and the Miami Heat. In that series, Westbrook led a Thunder attack with 27.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. It would not be enough as James and the Heat captured the NBA title in five games.
The next time these two rivals would meet in the NBA playoffs would not be until eight years later in the NBA Bubble in 2020. Now with the Rockets, Westbrook met James in the second round of the playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers. Once again, James and company were dominant as they defeated Houston in five games behind 25.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game from LeBron.
T2. James Harden – 8-2 (2-0 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. James Harden: 27.2 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2012 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1
2020 Western Conference Semifinals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets 4-1
Coincidentally enough, LeBron James and James Harden have only met in the NBA playoffs at the same exact time that James met Russell Westbrook in the NBA playoffs throughout their careers. Much like Westbrook, Harden’s meeting with James in 2012 came well before he was an elite NBA talent and MVP. In 2012, after winning Sixth Man of the Year, Harden and the Thunder fell to James and the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Harden would average 12.4 points per game off the bench in the series.
After multiple scoring titles and an MVP season in 2018, Harden and the Rockets would meet LeBron James during the 2020 Bubble playoffs in the second round. Harden led the Rockets with 29.4 points and 7.2 assists per game on 50.0% shooting from the field but it was not enough for more than one win during the series. James and the Lakers would go on to win the NBA championship and James would claim his fourth Finals MVP.
T2. Carmelo Anthony – 8-2 (2-0 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski/USA Today Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. Carmelo Anthony: 27.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2012 Eastern Conference First Round: Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks 4-1
2020 Western Conference First Round: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers 4-1
Coming out of the NBA Draft in the same year together in 2003, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were synonymous with one another for most of their careers. While James eventually pulled away in terms of individual greatness, Anthony carved out a decent career himself, moving into the top 10 in NBA history in scoring and being one of the greatest small forwards to ever play the game.
Anthony and James would meet just twice in the NBA playoffs in their careers. The first instance would come in the 2012 playoffs as Eastern Conference foes with the Heat and the Knicks. Unfortunately for Anthony, the Knicks could not withstand the Heat and mustered just one win in their five-game series. James averaged 27.8 points per game on 47.8% shooting while Anthony had 27.8 points per game on 41.9% shooting.
Anthony would also be a member of the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2020 NBA Bubble just like Damian Lillard that we covered earlier. By this time, Anthony was a completely different player, barely hanging on to what was left of his career. In five games against the Lakers, he averaged 15.4 points per game on 42.1% shooting as Portland fell to the Lakers in five games.
1. DeMar DeRozan – 12-2 (3-0 In Playoff Series)
Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Playoff Stats vs. DeMar DeRozan: 31.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Head-To-Head Playoff Series:
2016 Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors 4-2
2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors 4-0
2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors 4-0
During the 2010s, LeBron James had such a dominant run in the Eastern Conference in his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, it prevented some great teams and players from ever competing for an NBA championship. One such team and player that got the brunt of that treatment was DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors.
In three straight seasons, the Cavaliers and Raptors met in the NBA playoffs with DeRozan and Kyle Lowry leading the way for Toronto. In their first matchup in 2016, James led the Cavaliers to a six-game series win averaging 26.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game in the Eastern Conference Finals. This would be the closest the Raptors got to a championship with DeRozan on the court for them.
Over the next two years in 2017 and 2018, despite promising seasons from the Raptors, James and the Cavaliers delivered back-to-back sweeps in the second round of the playoffs, earning James the nickname Canadian basketball fans loathe to this day, “LeBronto”.
