words // Zac Dubasik
In honor of LeBron James’ surprise return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, we are taking a look at our favorite ten moments from his first time around with the team, and the sneakers that were on his feet as they happened. Let us know your favorite moment from LeBron’s first time around, and tell us what you’re expecting from his comeback.
The Moment: First Game
The Date: October 29, 2003
The Shoe: Air Zoom Generation ‘Launch’
The “First Game” Air Zoom Generations were the first in what has become a very long line of exclusive LeBron sneakers. Interestingly though, for his actual first game, played in Sacramento, LeBron wore the widely available White / White / Varsity Crimson / Black colorway. He wouldn’t wear the “First Games” until the Cavs’ first home game.
The Moment: First Triple Double
The Date: January 19, 2005
The Shoe: Zoom LeBron 2 ‘Triple Double’
LeBron James leads all active NBA players with 36 career triple-doubles, and ranks 7th on the all-time list. His first one, however, didn’t come until his second season, in a game where he just happened to be wearing a white and red Zoom LeBron 2 PE, which has since earned the nickname – you guessed it – the “Triple Doubles.”
The Moment: Dunk on Damon Jones
The Date: February 3, 2005
The Shoe: Zoom LeBron 2 ‘Launch’
While LeBron had pleanty of standout dunks as a Cav, our favorite came at the expense of his future teammate, Damon Jones. Wearing a protective mask, LeBron intercepted a pass, before leading a 2-on-1 break, which ended in pure destruction, while wearing the launch colorway of this second signature shoe.
The Moment: LeBron scores then-career high 56 points
The Date: March 20, 2005
The Shoe: Zoom LeBron 2 ‘Birthday’
In his 11 years in the League, LeBron has already set series of records. In a matchup against the Toronto Raptors, and his future teammate Chris Bosh, LeBron became the youngest player to ever score 50 points in a game, when he went for 56 in a pair of Birthday LeBron 2s. That would serve as his personal high until going for 61 against the Bobcats this past season.
The Moment: All-Star MVP
The Date: February 19, 2006
The Shoe: Zoom LeBron 3 ‘All-Star’
By his second year in the League, LeBron was already an All Star starter. By his third? He not only did he start, but he won MVP in his All-Star edition Zoom LeBron 3s.
The Moment: 1st Playoff Game
The Date: April 22, 2006
The shoe: Zoom 20-5-5 ‘PE’
When LeBron James became a Cleveland Cavalier, many fans expected immediate success. It wasn’t until his third season though that the Cavs actually made the playoffs, where LeBron began his post-season career with a PE edition of the team-focused Zoom 20-5-5.
The Moment: Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals
The Date: May 31, 2007
The Shoe Zoom Soldier
While LeBron has since won two NBA titles, and four MVP awards, the single game that stands out more than any other for many fans was Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons. What’s so special you may be wondering, if you didn’t get to watch it yourself? How’s 48 points, including 29 of the Cavs’ final 30, to finish off a double-overtime, come-from-behind win?
The Moment: Gold Medal Game
The Date: August 24, 2008
The Shoe: Zoom LeBron 6 ‘United We Rise’
His first time around with Team USA, LeBron spent much of the 2004 Olympics on the bench, averaging just 14.6 minutes per game, while bringing home a Bronze medal. Things went much the next time though, as he led the ‘Redeem Team’ to a Gold, while debuting his sixth signature model.
The Moment: 52/9/11
The Date: February 4, 2009
The Shoe: Zoom LeBron 6 ‘Yankees’
Despite battling leg cramps, LeBron turned in a performance for the ages at Madison Square Garden during his sixth season, going for 52 points (just two days after Kobe scored 61 at MSG), 11 assists and 9 boards. He even briefly was credited with a triple-double for the game, before the League took away a rebound, thus negating the first 50-point triple-double in 34 years.
The Moment: Buzzer Beater
The Date: May 22, 2009
The Shoe: Zoom Soldier 3
Although the Cavs would ultimately lose the series to the Magic, LeBron James’ series-tying buzzer beater in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals was, at that point, the most exciting shot of his career. While he’s had countless impressive performances, these buzzer beaters have been few and far between.
