2012 Miami Heat

The lockout cut the season to 66 games, and Miami finished 46-20 in James's second year with the team. The summer before, the Heat had lost the Finals to Dallas, and James had absorbed the criticism that came with it. The roster added Shane Battier and rookie guard Norris Cole for the title push.

James was the best player in the series by a wide margin. He averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists against Oklahoma City. Wade and Bosh formed the rest of the core, while Battier and Mike Miller hit the open threes the stars created. Miller made seven of them in the clinching game.

The Thunder had a young trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, and they won Game 1 at home. Miami answered with four straight, closing it out 121-106 in Game 5. James finished that game with a triple-double and his first Finals MVP.

The title ended the question that had followed James since he left Cleveland in 2010. He had the ring, and the move to Miami had paid off in its second year.