The Los Angeles Lakers’ 17-3 start marks the second time in LeBron James’ 17-year career his team has played .850 ball through 20 games. Here’s a closer look at how each of the teams King James has been with and how they have fared through the first 20 games of their seasons.
2003-04: 5-15
LeBron’s rookie season saw the Cavaliers struggle from the start. They opened the season with a five-game losing streak and had an eight-game slide before getting to the 20-game mark at 5-15. In his NBA debut, LeBron had 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals against Sacramento.
2004-05: 12-8
Progress was made as LeBron managed to avoid a sophomore jinx at the start of his second season. The Cavs went 12-8 in their first 20, putting together a six-game winning streak after losing three to start the campaign. There were two three-game winning streaks mixed in later to get the team to a dozen victories. In the 11th game of the season, LeBron scorched Detroit for 43 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds in a 16-point victory.
2005-06: 11-9
Despite an eight-game winning streak, the Cavaliers only finished their first 20 games at 11-9. They had three two-game slides and a three-game skid to close the first 20. Cleveland downed Philly and Boston in consecutive games on Nov. 19 and 22. James had 36 points in each victory. He went for a triple-double against the Sixers, adding 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
2006-07: 12-8
There was a five-game winning streak mixed in with a lot of wins and losses for the Cavs in this season. They managed to avoid anything longer than a two-game slide but couldn’t get the momentum going after the streak gave them a 7-2 mark. LeBron exceeded 30 points seven times in the first 20 games and had double-digit rebounds in three contests as well as 10 or more assists in a trio of games.
2007-08: 9-11
The Cavaliers stood at 9-6 after 15 games and then LeBron sprained his finger facing the Pistons. He missed five games, including the final four of the first 20. The Cavs went on to lose to Detroit and the final four games in the run. They also lost the 21st game of the season before LeBron returned and helped stop the losing streak. In the second game of the season, against the Knicks, James went off for 45 points in a four-point Cleveland victory.
2008-09: 17-3
The other best start of his career. The Cavaliers lost two of their first three this season and then went on an eight-game tear. A seven-point loss to Detroit was then followed by another eight-game roll as they improved to 17-3, by far the best 20-game start in LeBron’s Cavaliers career. At one point in the first surge, James went for 41 points apiece in three of four games.
2009-10: 15-5
A five-game winning streak, one four-game run, and two three-game tears helped Cleveland to a 15-5 start in 2009-10. In the first 15 games, LeBron went over the 30-point mark nine times. He scored 40 points with 9 rebounds and 7 assists in a victory over Indiana in the 13th game of the season.
2010-11: 12-8
This season marked the first in Miami after the summer of “The Decision.” LeBron and his new team got off to a 12-8 start through 20 games as they did not gel immediately. The longest winning streak in this slice of the season was four games and the longest skid was three games. In Game 20, which was at Cleveland, James went for 38 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in a 28-point romp.
2011-12: 15-5
The Heat opened their season with a five-game winning streak and closed the first 20 games with a four-game run that became five when they won game No. 21. LeBron started the season with a 37-point game in a victory over Dallas and closed the first 20 with a run of three games over 30 points. In all, he went over 30 points in 11 games and had two triple-doubles in this piece of the season.
2012-13: 14-6
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The Heat started off this campaign 14-6. They had four and six-game streaks to help build a successful start. LeBron’s lone triple-double came in a four-point loss to Washington when he went 26-13-11. In nine of the Heat’s first 20 games, he had 10 or more rebounds.
2013-14: 15-5
This season marked the third time LeBron’s teams had started off 15-5. He went over 30 points on four occasions. In 17 games, he was over the 20-point mark. He had double-digit assists twice and it took to Game 20 before he reached double figures in rebounds, going for 14 in a win at Minnesota. The great start was bolstered by a 10-game winning streak that spanned Nov. 12-Dec. 1.
2014-15: 13-7
The return engagement to Cleveland saw LeBron and the Cavs at 5-7 and on a four-game losing streak after 12 games. They got it together after that and ran off the next games. In 6 of the first 20 games, James went for double-digit assists. He had 10 or more rebounds in a pair of contests and was on point, scoring 20 or more 13 times.
2015-16: 13-7
What would become an incredible and thrilling championship season saw the Cavaliers start 13-7. They won their first eight before losing two and then going on a three-game winning streak. They were 13-4 before dropping the last three games of this stretch. LeBron had four games of double-digit rebounds and three of 10 or more assists, but no triple-doubles. He went for 30 or more points in four straight games from Nov. 10-17.
2016-17 15-5
LeBron started the season following the title strong. He scored 16 points in one game, 19 in two and otherwise was at 20 or more through the first 20 games. He had five games of 10 or more rebounds and was in double-digits in assists eight times. In one game, Toronto, his line read 28-9-15. Just an amazing player doing amazing things.
2017-18 13-7
For the third time in four seasons, LeBron and Cleveland began by winning 65 percent of their games. It wasn’t easy, though, as the Cavs were 5-7 through 12 games. They won their next eight to get through the first 20 at 13-7 and the run continued until the skein was at 13 games overall and they were 18-7. In nine games, LeBron went for double-digit rebounds. He had double-digit assists in six games and his scoring saw him soar over the 30-point mark nine times. Against Washington on Nov. 3, LeBron went off for Cavaliers record 57 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists in a victory.
2018-19: 11-9
The first season as a Laker did not go according to plan. The team struggled and LeBron was shut down late in the campaign. That was evident from the start when Los Angeles opened 11-9. It actually proved to be better than the whole campaign, which finished 37-45. The Lakers opened 0-3 before finally breaking into the win column at Phoenix. LeBron had a triple-double in the fifth game against Denver and went 44-10-9 against Portland in the 14th game of the season.
2019-20: 17-3
For the second time in his career, a team LeBron was on started 17-3. The Lakers were 17-2 heading into Game 20 against the Mavericks but saw a 10-game winning streak snapped. With Anthony Davis, LeBron is playing at an incredible level for a 35-year-old athlete. LeBron is also poised to lead the NBA in assists for the first time in his career as he leads No. 2 Luka Doncic by 34 total assists. He also completed the NBA triple-double cycle against OKC on Nov. 19, becoming the first player to notch one against all 30 NBA teams. The season has incredible promise for James and the Lakers.
