LeBron James Sends 5-Word Message on Cavaliers’ NBA Championship Anniversary

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 3:41 PM ET

During LeBron James' second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he finally brought an NBA championship to his hometown team. In what was his third title run and in earning his third NBA Finals MVP, James led Cleveland to a championship for the first time in the modern era.

The previous championship before the Cavaliers' 2016 title was the NFL's Cleveland Browns, who won an NFL championship in 1964, before the league's Super Bowl era.

On Thursday, the 21-time NBA All-Star shared a picture noting the ninth anniversary of himself and his Cavaliers' teammates celebrating their Finals win with a caption that read, "WHAT A TIME IT WAS!!"

James averaged 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game during the 2015-16 playoffs.

In his first stint with the Cavaliers from 2003 to 2010, James was unable to win a title in Cleveland. In those seven seasons, James won several individual awards like Rookie of the Year and MVP, but the closest Cleveland came to winning was in his second season.

Led by a 22-year-old James, the Cavs were swept 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs. After "The Decision," which saw James take "his talents to South Beach" over four seasons, the NBA superstar would return to Cleveland to complete the unfinished business of winning a title.

Now 40 years old and a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, James has accumulated one of the most outstanding resumes in sports history. He is a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP, four-time NBA MVP, and has been a member of the All-NBA First Team 13 times.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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