Miami Heat: How the NBA championship was won - in pictures

This is how the NBA 2012 Finals were billed: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters

American Idol's Jessica Sanchez sings the Star Spangled Banner at Game One at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, June 12, 2012. Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters

Tip-off, game one, 2012 NBA Finals Photograph: Paul Buck/EPA

Oklahoma City Thunder fans show what they think of LeBron James Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters

After having some trouble attending the Conference finals series against the San Antonio Spurs, rapper Lil' Wayne managed to get a seat for the Finals Photograph: Larry W. Smith/EPA

Kevin Durant takes on another of Miami's Big Three, Dwyane Wade Photograph: LARRY W. SMITH/EPA

Derek Fisher's not as young as he used to be, but he's still got something Photograph: Ronald Martinez/AFP/Getty Images

Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder fans celebrate Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters

Shane Battier is less impressed by Russell Westbrook Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP

Game One to Oklahoma City Thunder 105-94 Photograph: Sue Ogrocki/AP

The off-the-court fashion wars were to become a feature of the series, particularly Russell Westbrook's glasses... Photograph: Sue Ogrocki/AP

Already LeBron James is facing those questions again. Here during a media conference ahead of Game Two Photograph: Larry W. Smith/EPA

Game Two in OKC and the Miami Heat storm back: here Chris Bosh dunks over Oklahoma City Thunder's Derek Fisher and James Harden Photograph: Pool/Reuters

Bosh dunks Photograph: Larry W. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

Proving it's not just about Miami's Big Three, Norris Cole and Shane Battier play their part Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty

A controversial late call helps Miami Heat to a 100-96 victory in Game Two. Thunder's Kevin Durant is not impressed Photograph: Jim Young/AFP/Getty

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant looking smart, but the series is now tied 1-1 Photograph: Sue Ogrocki/AP

Dwyane Wade has glasses too Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Game Three and the Finals head to the American Airlines Arena in Miami where LeBron is given a great deal more respect by the fans holding up big cutout heads Photograph: Rhona Wise/EPA

Dwyane Wade is really getting into the Finals for the Heat, Thunder's James Harden not so much... Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/AFP/Getty Images

Beyond the stars, Shane Battier has stepped up for the Heat, but Oklahoma City Thunder's Serge Ibaka is struggling Photograph: David Santiago/AP

The Game Three difference may well have been the freethrow performance. Here LeBron James asks for quiet at a key moment at the line Photograph: Larry W. Smith/EPA

Heat are now playing as a team: here a touching moment from LeBron and Udonis Haslem Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty

Miami Heat win 91-85 Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra looks a lot happier Photograph: Wilfredo Lee/AP

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks not so much Photograph: Wilfredo Lee/AP

Game Four in Miami and an epic performance from Russell Westbrook pits him against... Photograph: Mark Halmas/Icon SMI/ Mark Halmas/Icon SMI/Corbis

...Dwyane Wade... Photograph: David Santiago/AP

...Russell Westbrook against... Photograph: Bill Ingram/ZUMA Press/Corbis

...Udonis Haslem... Photograph: Pool/Reuters

...Russell Westbrook against... Photograph: Larry W. Smith/EPA

...the Miami Dancers Photograph: Mark Halmas/Icon SMI/Corbis

...and the Heat Golden Oldies Photograph: Rhona Wise/EPA

But even a late injury to LeBron James... Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

...can't stop the Heat winning 104-98 Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP

Westbrook scored 43 points but Kevin Durant was the only other OKC player to reach double figures and the series is 3-1 to Miami and it's a long way back for the Thunder Photograph: Gary Coronado/ Gary Coronado/ZUMA Press/Corbis

Maybe this glasses thing has gone too far Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP

A Game Four loss and Russell Westbrook's glasses may be just too much for Kevin Durant Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP

Game Five and it's make or break time for OKC. But LeBron James starts as he means to go on...with big dunks Photograph: Mike Segar/AP

LeBron, deadly from the free throw line too, and Kevin Durant already seems to know that this might not be his night...or his year Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty

Even Mike Miller got in on the act for Miami, with seven 3-pointers Photograph: Ronald Martinez/Getty

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade know that the Championship is theirs Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP

Chris Bosh celebrates as Miami win Game 5 121-106 to win the series 4-1 Photograph: MIKE SEGAR/Reuters

Veteran Derek Fisher offers consolation to Durant. KD35 should be back in the NBA Finals some time in the not-too-distant future. But this may have been Fisher's last time Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP

Dwyane Wade holds the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy aloft Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP

LeBron James celebrates claiming that elusive NBA championship at last - and the MVP trophy too Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP

And the third member of the Heat's Big Three is pretty happy too Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP