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Throughout his 20-year tenure in the NBA, LeBron James has shared the court with some of the sport’s greatest talents, spanning his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. In this list, we will explore and highlight the standout players who have had the opportunity to team up with LeBron.
25. James Jones — Miami Heat (2011-2014); Cleveland Cavaliers (2015-2017)
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It’s no wonder why LeBron refers to James Jones as his “favorite player of all time” — it’s because Jones is James’ good luck charm. Together, the duo made seven (!) straight NBA Finals appearances. The only players to ever reach the Finals more consecutive times are LeBron himself (made an eighth straight trip to the Finals in 2018 without Jones) and a whole bunch of Celtics who played in the ’60s when there were nine teams in the league. Jones may have not recorded many minutes for those title-bound squads, but he was a knockdown shooter and an invaluable member of the locker room.
24. Mike Miller — Miami Heat (2011-2014); Cleveland Cavaliers (2015)
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The 2001 Rookie of the Year, Miller was a deadly three-point shooter on several of LeBron’s teams. They played together in Miami for three years, and then again in Cleveland during the 2014-15 season. They made the NBA Finals in all four seasons they played together, winning two championships with the Heat. They formed a close friendship during their time as teammates, and James even joked that the real “Big Three” consisted of himself, Mike Miller, and James Jones. The decision from the Heat front office to waive Miller did not sit well with LeBron. After James returned home to Cleveland, he made sure that the Cavs’ first call for a spot-up shooter was one made to Miller.
23. Udonis Haslem — Miami Heat (2011-2014)
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Haslem has played his entire 17-year career with the Heat, and he won two different titles alongside LeBron James. Despite seeing his numbers dip once LeBron and Bosh came to town, he was still a big part of those championship teams. He was an occasional starter and provided the energy source for a talented Miami squad. A versatile player who could get it done on both ends of the floor, Haslem was a key spark plug that brought physicality to those Heat squads.
22. Kyle Korver — Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-2018)
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The sharpshooter spent one and a half seasons with LeBron, unfortunately losing in the Finals twice. However, Korver’s contributions shouldn’t be overlooked, as he was one of the most crucial bench players who helped the Cavs make their postseason runs. Korver has always been deadly from three, making him the perfect type of player to pair with James’ advanced playmaking skills. Korver was an All-Star with Atlanta in 2014, and he’s been an NBA pro for 17 years and counting. Without his 43-plus career mark from three, one could wonder if the Cavs and LeBron even make it to the Finals in 2017 or 2018.
21. Shane Battier — Miami Heat (2011-2014)
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The former Duke standout provided some veteran presence on the championship Heat teams that featured LeBron in the starring role. Battier closed out his career with three straight Finals appearances alongside LeBron, winning two of them. He was at times a starter for the Heat, and his defensive prowess was always noteworthy, twice being selected to the All-Defense team. He may not have been a stat-stuffer — but, as a shutdown defender — Battier’s intensity and leadership earned him recognition as one of LeBron’s greatest teammates.
20. Channing Frye — Cleveland Cavaliers (2016-2018)
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After being traded to Cleveland in 2016, Frye made some big plays down the stretch to help the Cavs win their first championship. Coming off the bench, the 7-foot Frye was always an offensive threat who could stretch the floor. Playing with LeBron the following year as well, Frye contributed over 9 points per game to go along with 4 rebounds in the 2016-17 season. The teammates made two Finals appearances together and shared a mutual admiration of each other. James has publicly expressed his love for Frye, while Channing has reciprocated the sentiment by proclaiming LeBron the G.OA.T (Greatest Of All-Time).
19. Matthew Dellavedova — Cleveland Cavaliers (2015-2016)
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Delly’s numbers throughout his career may not seem all that impressive, but the Aussie guard played a key factor in Cleveland’s 2016 title run. He was a spark plug for the Cavs who was known for irritating opposing players. His constant energy and hustle helped him become a fan favorite in Cleveland, as well as a respected teammate of LeBron’s. Not many players have done more with less, as Dellavedova’s defensive prowess earned him minutes as well as admiration. The undrafted St. Mary’s product was scrappy, and his competitive nature as well as his willingness to do whatever it took to win made him one of LeBron’s best teammates during their two years together in Cleveland — and also earned Delly a nice payday with the Bucks.
18. Norris Cole — Miami Heat (2011-2014)
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Cole was a close friend and teammate of LeBron’s during their time together on the Heat. Their four seasons in Miami were marked with four Finals appearances with two victories. LeBron is also responsible for introducing Cole to Jay-Z — which is certainly an experience Cole will never forget. Cole was a surprising contributor for the Heat — especially defensively — as he made his mark with some big games playing beside three future Hall of Famers. Both Cole and LeBron are Ohio natives, and together they shared some of the best games of their careers.
17. Tristan Thompson — Cleveland Cavaliers (2015-2018)
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Thompson owes a lot to LeBron. The two share an agent in Rich Paul, and their close connection during their time together in Cleveland is the reason Thompson received his staggering five-year, $82 million deal in 2015. Whether or not he deserves that kind of dough is up for debate, but when it came time to sign, any good friend of LeBron was considered a good friend of the Cavs. Regardless of the contract, Thompson does deserve some credit, as he’s averaged a double-double throughout his entire career. He was also part of the starting squad that brought the Cavaliers its first title in 2016. His numbers seem to blossom a bit more without LeBron by his side, but there’s no denying he was a big contributor during their four seasons together.
16. Anderson Varejao — Cleveland Cavaliers (2004-2010; 2015)
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Varejao was the type of player you’d hate to play against. Because of his somewhat pesky personality on the court, he may not truly receive the credit he deserves. He averaged a respectable 7 points and 7 rebounds throughout his career as a role player, and he was a longtime teammate of LeBron — as the two played together for seven and a half seasons combined. When Varejao was traded away from the Cavs in 2016, LeBron went on record to say how hard it was to lose his brother as a teammate.
15. Mario Chalmers — Miami Heat (2011-2014)
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Chalmers was the starting point guard and a huge contributor on LeBron’s Heat teams that went to the NBA Finals four years in a row. Chalmers averaged nearly double figures in points during his time as LeBron’s teammate, and together they won the NBA championship in both 2012 and 2013. When discussing those Heat teams, people are quick to bring up the “Big Three”, but Chalmers was somewhat of an unsung hero. The former Kansas Jayhawk helped round out that starting squad, and provided steady shooting and gritty defense which complemented three future Hall of Famers.
14. Kyle Kuzma — Los Angeles Lakers (2019-2020)
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Though Kuzma has dealt with several injuries during his time with the Lakers with LeBron, he played a significant role on the best team in the West at the time, culminating in an NBA championship in 2020. His numbers may have been up and down, but Kuz has provided contributions worthy of recognition. LeBron liked the young forward, despite his departure to the Wizards in exchange for Russell Westbrook
13. Antawn Jamison — Cleveland Cavaliers (2010)
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Jamison was a two-time All-Star who averaged over 18 points and 7 rebounds throughout his 16 years in the NBA. The only reason Jamison isn’t higher on this list is because he only played about half a season as a teammate of LeBron James — and didn’t play his best ball during that frame. During their time together, Jamison was second on the team in scoring, averaging nearly 16 points per game. They made quite the dynamic duo, but unfortunately, they ran into the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, preventing them from accomplishing anything truly historic as teammates. The following year, LeBron jumped ship to Miami, and the tale of this tandem ended.
12. Ray Allen — Miami Heat (2013-2014)
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They only played together for one season, but there’s no way LeBron wins his second title without the help of Ray Allen. The silver screen’s Jesus Shuttlesworth was fairly mediocre throughout his final NBA season (compared to the rest of his career), but his sharpshooting came through in the biggest moment for the Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals. Allen’s clutch three in the final seconds of regulation in Game 6 of the NBA Finals helped save Miami from elimination. They ended up winning in overtime and then took down the Spurs in Game 7 to become NBA champions. Ray Allen is a Hall of Famer who was fortunate enough to go out on top.
11. J.R. Smith — Cleveland Cavaliers (2015-2018)
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When you think of him and LeBron together, it’s hard not to picture J.R. mistakenly running out the clock during a tie game in the 2018 NBA Finals. LeBron’s reaction to the blunder is just as memorable. Despite the huge gaffe on the NBA’s biggest stage, Smith was overall one of LeBron’s greatest teammates. They went to the Finals together four years in a row with the Cavs, and Smith’s shot-making ability certainly helped LeBron secure a title victory in 2016. Smith may be known for countless memes, but during his time as LeBron’s teammate, he was a strong offensive player who could get hot at any time.
10. Carlos Boozer — Cleveland Cavaliers (2004)
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He only played one year as a teammate of LeBron’s, but there’s no doubt that Boozer was a serious player. In his sophomore season, Boozer emerged as one of the Cavs’ leaders, finishing second on the team in scoring (15.5 ppg) behind a rookie LeBron James. Boozer also contributed a team-leading 11 rebounds per game, and he was essentially a double-double machine. He went on to have a great career, finishing as a two-time All-Star as a member of two very solid squads — the Deron Williams-led Jazz and the Rose-Noah-Deng Bulls. However, let’s not forget where his journey started. Boozer laid his foundation in Cleveland, helping shape a young LeBron into the superstar he is today.
9. Drew Gooden — Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-2008)
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The former Kansas Jayhawk stand-out played 14 NBA seasons, with three and a half of those coming as a member of the Cavs. During his tenure in Cleveland, Gooden averaged nearly 12 points and 9 rebounds per game. As the starting power forward for the Cavs, his consistent presence down low was able to complement LeBron’s all-around game, enabling them to reach the Finals together in 2007. Despite being overmatched by Tim Duncan on the way to a Spurs’ sweep, Gooden was still a major contributor in Cleveland, and he was able to help LeBron get his first true taste of the postseason.
8. Larry Hughes — Cleveland Cavaliers (2006-2008)
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Hughes played Robin to LeBron’s Batman on the 2007 squad that reached the NBA Finals. Despite losing to the Spurs, LeBron and Hughes were a good duo, with the latter serving as the team’s second-leading scorer with nearly 15 points per game and a defensive specialist. They played slightly more than two seasons together in Cleveland before Hughes was traded to the Bulls. While he was an NBA journeyman throughout his 12-year NBA career, some of Hughes’ best contributions on the court were made alongside LeBron and the Cavs.
7. Mo Williams — Cleveland Cavaliers (2007-2010)
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Williams’ best season as a pro came alongside LeBron in the 2008-09 season. Making his lone All-Star appearance that year, Williams averaged nearly 18 points per game. He provided some great offensive firepower as the Cavs’ number two option behind LeBron. Despite never reaching the Finals during their first tenure in Cleveland, both players returned to the Cavs and won the title together in 2016. Williams rode off into the sunset, ending his NBA career after capturing that championship with King James.
6. Zyrdrunas Ilgauskas — Cleveland Cavaliers (2004-2010); Miami Heat (2011)
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Big “Z” was a teammate of LeBron for eight seasons, averaging over 12 points and 7 rebounds during that span. Ilgauskas even made the All-Star team in 2005, and he served as a reliable big man for several different James-led squads. The two seemed to share a nice chemistry, as they were able to make it to the NBA Finals together with the Cavs in 2007. Once LeBron made his “decision” and brought his talents to South Beach, Ilgauskas followed, and they went back to the Finals together with the Heat in 2011.
5. Kevin Love — Cleveland Cavaliers (2015-2018)
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Often criticized for his “empty” stats, there’s no denying Love’s contributions to the 2016 Cavs squad that won a title. He played in four straight NBA Finals alongside LeBron in Cleveland, and he deserves more “love” for his consistent double-double performances. He averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds during his four seasons as LeBron’s teammate, and there’s no doubt that his versatile game played a major role in Cleveland’s postseason runs. He’s a five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA team selection, and he is worthy of being called one of LeBron’s best teammates.
4. Chris Bosh — Miami Heat (2011-2014)
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The third option on Miami’s “Big Three”, Bosh helped LeBron and Dwyane Wade lead the Heat to two NBA titles. He averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds during his time as LeBron’s teammate, and he proved to be an integral part of a Heat team that made four straight NBA Finals appearances. Before being forced to retire due to a blood clot condition, Bosh was an 11-time All-Star who was one of the NBA’s best big men throughout his career. He’s also responsible for one of the unsung heroes of the epic Game 6 battle of the 21013 NBA Finals. Bosh grabbed the offensive rebound which led to the game-tying three-point basket, and he also blocked Spurs guard Danny Green in the closing seconds of overtime on a three-point attempt that could have given San Antonio the win. Had he not grabbed the board and found an open Ray Allen in the corner, the Spurs would most likely have taken the title away from Miami.
3. Anthony Davis — Los Angeles Lakers (2019-Present)
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Although they are still currently playing together, LeBron and “The Brow” have proven to be quite the duo. Despite their up-and-down form following their NBA championship win in 2020, they are both arguably top-10 players in the NBA, and at 31 years old, Davis is already a 9-time All-Star and 4-time All-NBA team selection. As long as they’re together, the Lakers will be aiming for championship glory year in and year out.
2. Kyrie Irving — Cleveland Cavaliers (2015-2017)
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They may have had a contentious relationship at times, but James and Irving were an incredible one-two punch during their time together with the Cavs. As teammates, they went to the NBA Finals three years in a row, and in 2016 Kyrie hit the big shot in the final minute of Game 7 to clinch a title against Golden State. Together, this duo was able to come back from a 3-1 series deficit against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors to bring Cleveland its first NBA championship. Without Kyrie and his 25 points per game in the 2016 post-season, LeBron would most likely be one ring short.
1. Dwyane Wade — Miami Heat (2011-2014)
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There should be no surprise here. The future Hall of Famer went to four straight NBA Finals alongside James, winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. The “Banana Boat” besties were dynamic on the court together, with Wade averaging over 20 points per game to go with LeBron’s 27 during their four seasons as teammates. It’s not often we get to witness multiple Hall of Famers compete together on the same squad, so there’s no doubt that D-Wade is one of LeBron’s greatest teammates of all time. Anthony Davis may still have some time to eclipse Wade if he’s able to win several titles alongside LeBron, but as it currently stands, Wade is worthy of the No. 1 spot on our list.
