On Sunday, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James played in his 35th NBA Finals game, tying the number of Finals games played by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. It was a clunker of a game as the Caveliers were walloped by the Golden State Warriors and trail in the series 0-2. Cleveland has two more games guaranteed, which should bring James’ total to 37, sweeping past Jordan and Pippen and tying the recently retired Lakers great Kobe Bryant. One key difference, however: Jordan and Pippen have six championships in those 35 games, Bryant has five in his 37, James has two. Here’s the breakdown.
Comparing NBA Finals games played
.g-artboard {
margin:0 auto;
}
/* Custom CSS block 1 */
/*
Normal, everyday CSS can go here. To make the mobile toggling work, adjust the ID names below using this formula:
#g-{file name}-{artboard name}
*/
#g-lebron-record-mobile{display:none;}
@media all and (max-width:700px){
#g-lebron-record-mobile{display:block}
#g-lebron-record-desktop{display:none}
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop{
position:relative;
overflow:hidden;
width:606px;
}
.g-aiAbs{
position:absolute;
}
.g-aiImg{
display:block;
width:100% !important;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop p{
font-family:nyt-franklin,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:13px;
line-height:18px;
margin:0;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle0 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:17px;
font-style:italic;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle1 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:17px;
font-weight:bold;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle2 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:17px;
font-weight:bold;
text-align:center;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle3 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
line-height:42px;
font-style:italic;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle4 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:12px;
line-height:42px;
font-style:italic;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle5 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:16px;
line-height:19px;
font-weight:bold;
text-align:center;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle6 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:17px;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle7 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:12px;
line-height:42px;
font-style:italic;
text-align:center;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle8 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:40px;
line-height:25px;
font-weight:bold;
text-align:center;
color:#e5731f;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle9 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:16px;
line-height:19px;
font-style:italic;
text-align:center;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle10 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:16px;
line-height:19px;
font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic;
text-align:center;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle11 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:16px;
line-height:19px;
font-weight:bold;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle12 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:24px;
font-weight:bold;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-desktop .g-aiPstyle13 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:24px;
color:#000000;
}
Win/loss margin
LEGEND
Wins
Losses
20+
<10
20+
10-19
<10
10-19
LeBron
James
Michael Jordan
and Scottie Pippen
Kobe
Bryant
Bill
Russell
2007
0-4 loss vs.
San Antonio
Spurs
1991
4-1
win vs.
L.A. Lakers
2000
4-2
win vs.
Indiana
Pacers
1957
4-3
win vs.
St. Louis
Hawks
-9
-11
-3
-1
+8
-2
+2
-3
-9
-10
-11
+4
+6
+6
+15
-4
+19
-36
+16
-10
+3
+7
-15
+2
-19
-21
-17
-8
+2
+5
-21
-13
-8
-15
-33
-2
+21
+8
+15
+7
+33
-11
+10
-5
+13
More Top Picks Best Memory Foam Pillows 2
+4
+8
+3
-8
+6
-10
+1
+17
+4
+22
-21
-11
+12
+2
+12
-11
-5
+2
+4
-3
+5
+42
+4
-2
+1
+17
+7
+2
-33
+5
-6
+9
+5
+14
+12
+5
+23
+3
+6
-12
+8
-20
-8
-13
-10
-6
+6
-6
+5
-39
+25
+5
-4
+8
+13
+13
-9
+7
-7
-6
+22
+4
-2
+20
-2
+5
+15
-2
+2
-2
+24
-3
-1
+3
+20
+13
+5
+18
-10
+16
-10
+25
-3
+19
+34
+8
-4
+15
+9
+14
-7
-2
+12
-5
+14
+3
+3
+7
-20
+3
-7
+3
+12
+23
-24
+3
+6
+32
+6
-21
+13
+33
-4
+20
+14
+5
-4
-8
+2
+6
-10
+8
-13
+3
+15
-2
-6
+6
+1
-13
+9
+2
2011
2-4 loss vs.
Dallas
Mavericks
1992
4-2 win vs.
Portland
Trailblazers
2001
4-1 win vs.
Philadelphia
76ers
1958
2-4 loss vs.
St. Louis
Hawks
2012
4-1 win vs.
Oklahoma
City
Thunder
2002
4-0 win vs.
New Jersey
Nets
1959
4-0 win vs.
Minneapolis
Lakers
1993
4-2 win vs.
Phoenix
Suns
2004
1-4 loss vs.
Detroit
Pistons
2013
4-3 win vs.
San Antonio
Spurs
1960
4-3 win vs.
St. Louis
Hawks
1996
4-2 win vs.
Seattle
Supersonics
2008
2-4 loss vs.
Boston
Celtics
1961
4-1 win vs.
St. Louis
Hawks
2014
1-4 loss vs.
San Antonio
Spurs
1997
4-2 win vs.
Utah
Jazz
2009
4-1 win vs.
Orlando
Magic
2015
2-4 loss vs.
Golden State
Warriors
1962
4-3 win vs.
Los Angeles
Lakers
1998
4-2 win vs.
Utah
Jazz
2010
4-3 win vs.
Boston
Celtics
2016
Trail 0-2 vs.
Golden State
Warriors
1963
4-2 win vs.
Los Angeles
Lakers
35
35
NBA Finals
games
NBA Finals
games
37
Record: 13-34
2 titles
Record: 24-11
6 titles
NBA Finals
games
1964
4-1 win vs.
San Francisco
Warriors
Record: 23-14
5 titles
1965
4-2 win vs.
Los Angeles
Lakers
1966
4-3 win vs.
Los Angeles
Lakers
1968
4-2 win vs.
Los Angeles
Lakers
1969
4-3 win vs.
Los Angeles
Lakers
70
NBA Finals
games
Record: 45-25
11 titles
NBA FINALS APPEARANCES
Bill Russell
Sam Jones
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Jerry West
Tom Heinsohn
Magic Johnson
Frank Ramsey
John Havlicek
Michael Cooper
K.C. Jones
Elgin Baylor
Derek Fisher
Tom Sanders
Bob Cousy
Don Nelson
More Top Picks Fossil Q Explorist Hr
Slater Martin
Robert Horry
Danny Ainge
Kobe Bryant
Dennis Johnson
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
Wilt Chamberlain
LeBron James
James Worthy
Kurt Rambis
Tim Duncan
Dennis Rodman
Kevin McHale
George Mikan
Robert Parish
Larry Bird
70
64
56
55
52
50
47
47
46
44
44
43
43
42
38
38
37
37
37
37
35
35
35
35
34
34
34
33
31
31
31
31
#g-lebron-record-mobile{
position:relative;
overflow:hidden;
width:296px;
}
.g-aiAbs{
position:absolute;
}
.g-aiImg{
display:block;
width:100% !important;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile p{
font-family:nyt-franklin,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:13px;
line-height:18px;
margin:0;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle0 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:17px;
font-style:italic;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle1 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:17px;
font-weight:bold;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle2 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:17px;
font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic;
text-align:center;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle3 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:12px;
line-height:42px;
font-style:italic;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle4 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:17px;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle5 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
line-height:16px;
font-weight:bold;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle6 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
line-height:16px;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle7 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:12px;
line-height:42px;
font-style:italic;
text-align:center;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle8 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:40px;
line-height:25px;
font-weight:bold;
text-align:center;
color:#e5731f;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle9 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:16px;
line-height:19px;
font-style:italic;
text-align:center;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle10 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:16px;
line-height:19px;
font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic;
text-align:center;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle11 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:16px;
line-height:19px;
font-weight:bold;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle12 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:24px;
font-weight:bold;
color:#000000;
}
#g-lebron-record-mobile .g-aiPstyle13 {
font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size:14px;
line-height:24px;
color:#000000;
}
Win/loss margin
LEGEND
Wins
9<
10-19
20+
Losses
20+
9<
10-19
2007
0-4
loss vs.
San
Antonio
Spurs
1991
4-1
win vs.
L.A.
Lakers
1957
4-3
win vs.
St. Louis
Hawks
-9
-11
-3
-1
+8
-2
+2
-3
-9
-10
-11
+4
+6
+6
+15
-4
+19
-36
+16
-10
+3
+7
-15
+2
-19
-21
-17
-8
+2
+5
-21
-13
-8
-15
-33
-2
+21
+8
+15
+7
+33
-11
+10
-5
+13
+4
+8
+3
-8
+6
-10
+1
+17
+4
+22
-21
-11
+12
+2
+12
-11
-5
+2
+4
-3
+5
+42
+4
-2
+1
-2
+20
-2
+5
+15
-2
+2
-2
+24
-3
-1
+3
+20
+13
+5
+18
-10
+16
-10
+25
-3
+19
+34
+8
-4
+15
+9
+14
-7
-2
+12
-5
+14
+3
+3
+7
-20
+3
-7
+3
+12
+23
-24
+3
+6
+32
+6
-21
+13
+33
-4
+20
+14
+5
-4
-8
+2
+6
-10
+8
-13
+3
+15
-2
-6
+6
+1
-13
+9
+2
2011
2-4
loss
vs.
Dallas
Mav-
ericks
1992
4-2
win vs.
Portland
Trail-
blazers
1958
2-4
loss vs.
St. Louis
Hawks
2012
4-1
win vs.
Okla.
City
Thun-
der
1959
4-0
win vs.
Minn.
Lakers
1993
4-2
win vs.
Phoenix
Suns
2013
4-3
win vs.
San
Antonio
Spurs
1960
4-3
win vs.
St. Louis
Hawks
1996
4-2
win vs.
Seattle
Super-
sonics
1961
4-1
win vs.
St. Louis
Hawks
1997
4-2
win vs.
Utah
Jazz
2015
2-4
loss vs.
Golden
State
Warr-
iors
1962
4-3
win vs.
Los
Angeles
Lakers
1998
4-2
win vs.
Utah
Jazz
2016
vs.
Golden
State
Warr-
iors
1963
4-2
win vs.
Los
Angeles
Lakers
35
NBA Finals
games
Record:
24-11
6 titles
1964
4-1
win vs.
S.F.
Warriors
1965
4-2
win vs.
Los
Angeles
1966
4-3
win vs.
Los
Angeles
Lakers
1968
4-2
win vs.
Los
Angeles
Lakers
1969
4-2
win vs.
Los
Angeles
Lakers
70
NBA Finals
games
Record:
45-25
11 titles
NBA FINALS APPEARANCES
Bill Russell
Sam Jones
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Jerry West
Tom Heinsohn
Magic Johnson
Frank Ramsey
John Havlicek
Michael Cooper
K.C. Jones
Elgin Baylor
Derek Fisher
Tom Sanders
Bob Cousy
Don Nelson
Slater Martin
Robert Horry
Danny Ainge
Kobe Bryant
Dennis Johnson
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
Wilt Chamberlain
LeBron James
James Worthy
Kurt Rambis
Tim Duncan
Dennis Rodman
Kevin McHale
George Mikan
Robert Parish
Larry Bird
70
64
56
55
52
50
47
47
46
44
44
43
43
42
38
38
37
37
37
37
35
35
35
35
34
34
34
33
31
31
31
31
Source: basketball-reference.com
(function(document) {
var CSS = [
“//apps.chicagotribune.com/lebron-jordan-nba-finals/css/styles.css”
];
CSS.forEach(function(url) {
var link = document.createElement(‘link’);
link.setAttribute(‘rel’, ‘stylesheet’);
link.setAttribute(‘href’, url);
document.head.appendChild(link);
});
})(document);