2007 seems like ages ago for LeBron James. Tim Duncan and his Spurs dispatched James’ Cavaliers in four games, earning Duncan his fourth NBA Championship ring.
It was quite the lesson for a then-22-year-old James. He wasn’t yet ready for the NBA spotlight, nor was his team.
The Spurs held James to 22 points per game and 36 percent shooting from the field.
Duncan predicted James’ success
Following his team’s victory, Duncan found James in the tunnel of Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and offered his thoughts on James’ future:
“I love how you are with your team,” Duncan said after a brief congratulatory hug. “Stay that way, man. Stay that way […] This is going to be your league in a little while.”
Duncan was right. It is James’ league now.
Since that Finals loss, James has won a title, a Finals MVP, four regular season MVPs and has been named to six All-NBA and five All-Defensive First Teams. He also added two gold medals.
Duncan has remained a force as well. NBA analyst and Grantland Editor-in-Chief Bill Simmons recently called ‘The Big Fundamental’ the “greatest player of his generation.” This season, at age 37, Duncan was named to his fourteenth All-NBA First Team. The Spurs have been the most dominant team in this year’s playoffs, sweeping two series and dropping just two games overall.
Battle of the Big 3’s
Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are the only remaining Spurs from the ’07 title team.
James now has a new team, a winning pedigree and continues to amaze fans, journalists and his peers with his mastery of the game. Unlike his time with the Cavaliers, he is now teamed with fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Wade and Bosh have struggled at times to provide James with adequate support. James has been his normal spectacular self but if Wade especially doesn’t raise his game – the Spurs could dethrone the defending champs.
Duncan’s Spurs have been in the playoffs every season since he was drafted in 1997. Unlike James, he has never lost in the NBA Finals.
The Heat and Spurs face off in Game 1 this Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
Follow theGrio’s Todd Johnson on Twitter @rantoddj