Throwback: LeBron James EPIC Playoff Debut Triple-Double Highlights vs Wizards | 2006 Playoffs

[@Indianajoe24]

It is crazy how much better the quality of games are nowadays. I remember watching this back in the day thinking this looked fine.

[@Zero-wy2gx]

Joe Beckman Lol so true there's much more higher resolution to the games these days.

[@kylewowry5356]

Joe Beckman I swear this stuff was HD back in the day

[@GutsehMan]

It was technically HD. Source quality is the absolute best quality you can get, but recording devices back then weren't easily able to capture HD the way they can now. There's 720p footage of the 1993 Finals somewhere on KZbin, so it's not like it was impossible.

[@nba_nfl_highlights2071]

I agree with you

[@pavementschaseii96]

srsly speaking some vids are "fake" 720p, "fake" 60fps. They simply re-rendered the vid (what dawkins did a lot with his old throwback vid. Output a "480p" vid to a 720p60fps LOL). It won't make it any better. This one, however, has a better source but in no way is it 60fps, though.

[@omergiy7605]

Gilbert was right you know, 12 years later he is mentioned up there with MJ

[@jonathanwilliams0824]

He called it like he was nostradamus.

[@austinperry1470]

What else did Gilbert say?

[@jakeman025]

He was mentioned with MJ when he was in HS...the chosen one

[@trymebro8479]

@Joel Villarreal He already eclipsed Jordan stop with that “never” bullsh!t

[@trymebro8479]

@Joel Villarreal Naw u gotta stop bruh

[@egyptsfather5439]

Remember this is his first playoff series and he wins it at 21 years old ... he's never lost in the first round... this guy been great for a long time... #goat

[@marcoenrique8309]

He averaged 35 points per game in that series.

[@georgejrtorres9652]

But he never made playoffs in his 1st and 2nd season in the nba

[@DBlackMamba124]

@George jr Torres He came out of high and didn’t play in college for 3 years like Mj. He was only 19 and 20 years old his first 2 years. So that was like college for him. Plus he was the only good player on his team.

[@geordiejones5618]

@@georgejrtorres9652 and MJ won 1 playoff game in his first 3 playoffs, two of those where his team had losing seasons.

[@geordiejones5618]

He won 13 straight 1st rounds. Between 2007 and 2017 it was literally a nightmare to play him round 1. 44-5 over 11 straight playoff first rounds. That is absolutely staggering. Only other player who never lost in 13 straight playoff round 1s? Bill Russell. And thats when the higher seeds only played 2 rounds including the finals so he had some years playing 3 rounds but most playing 2. The Finals record hate is just a way to ignore how fucking dominant Lebron was between 06 and 18. Monster of basketball greatness. The Chosen One.

[@ADAJ3KINGANGEL]

I remember this game, he air-balled his first shot & then went off. He & Arenas had an epic series.

[@dusk6159]

Facts, just like the 2007 one

[@sharifbrown3567]

"He airballed his first shot and then went off", that's funny as hell 😂! It's like he got pissed off and said 'you're going down'!

[@geordiejones5618]

No one will ever have a better debut playoff game and no one's first playoff game will ever be more anticipated.

[@chrism1598]

Derrick Rose's debut just 3 years later at the age of 20 was better. And he did it against a much better team (Celtics) on the road. Not saying Rose is on LBJ's level...but his playoff debut was better.

[@geordiejones5618]

@@chrism1598 Rose had a great game but they lost that series easily. Lebron averaged like 35/8/8 over 6 games to will the Cavs past a good Wizards team. I think 32-11-11 in the most anticipated playoff debut ever on top of being the catalyst for his first series win makes this stronger. Plus in Lebron's first playoff road game two games later he dropped 40 and the game winner.

[@chrism1598]

@@geordiejones5618 Yup, LeBron was better in his first series and I don't deny that. But you said playoff debut and my argument was simply that Rose's game 1 against the Celtics was better than LBJ's game 1 against the Wizards. Even more so because they were on the road against a 2 seed and the defending champs compared to LBJ being at home against a 5 seed. Rose shot over 60% from the field that game while putting up more points and dishing out dimes. And the Bulls took Boston to 7 games that series with a couple going into OT and one was a double OT. The Celtics did not win that series easily...in fact it was arguably the best series of the entire playoffs that year. But you're right, LBJ won the series and was dominant the entire time...no doubt, I'm pretty much the same age as LBJ and remember the hype leading up to that game and he didn't disappoint. Just referring to their debuts and Rose's was a pretty damn good one too.

[@geordiejones5618]

@@chrism1598 alright I feel you. And I am probably putting too much emphasis on what happened after. I'll give it to D Rose. It was unexpected.

[@Mohannad77777]

I wanna say Luka's debut tonight was better but those 11 turnovers were the killers for me, especially when the 2000s were harder on defense

[@chasethemoney8849]

Whose here after the Lebron & JJ Pod

[@LivinginTheRawwithCurtisKhadiy]

Me😂

[@DPB54]

Oh my...I remember this and didn’t realize how special this was. A playoff Triple-double debut for the Young King from Akron 👑

[@glenngabriel6271]

3:10 Gilbert Arenas called it

[@jonathanwilliams0824]

Yup!! That was nostradamus-esque!!!!!!

[@NeelyTube]

I mean.. he had a Sports Illustrated cover at 17 that said he was the Chosen One :)

[@tech_ninja]

@@NeelyTube so did ben simmons😂

[@jakeman025]

Crazy cuz his debut literally set the standard for a good game for him.

[@KingEDZKY]

LeBron being a one-man army since day 1.

[@knucklesaukuso5086]

💯% facts he was a one man army going against the whole league and dominating them all

[@DonDada105]

He had big Z stop it

[@justinyan7938]

@@DonDada105 now according to haters Big Z is a top 5 PF of all time too lol

[@kyriedagoat453]

@@DonDada105nigga FOH wasn’t nobody worried about his ass fr

[@kevinredd3354]

Came back to watch this after the latest episode (Ep. 5) of Mind the Game 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 insanity

[@jr-pn1dt]

greatest player of this generation

[@thedon368]

SunamiKilla Facts

[@YoungBlood507]

SunamiKilla He’s really really really good and great and one of the greatest probably 2nd or 3rd but the greater is Michael Jeffery Jordan. Not only the greatest Nba player but the greatest athlete in all sports history. Goat of all Goats

[@jr-pn1dt]

Unlimited ...

[@AlejandroGonzalez-ks5ln]

@@YoungBlood507 bruh, lebron is a better athlete wtf are you talking about lol.. if by that you mean well known around the world you would be wrong. Pele maradoma now messi amd ronaldo are more known around the world, specially because soccer is a worldwide sport basketball isnt near close to the audience of soccer.. but yes jordan is the goat right now , lebron is my 2nd right now and his career aint over.

[@kalvinbaber5484]

2nd BEST PLAYER EVER

[@JohnWick-xt9fi]

Lebron looks way older than 21 that's crazy !

[@moneyman4740]

Yea but aint it crazy how small and skinny he looked back then compared to now , i remember being a kid back then thinking he looked huge (pause)

[@shawnerr7417]

@@moneyman4740 honestly it’s the baggy jerseys i think

[@davidpeyton-wh7pt]

@moneyman4740 😂 ayoooo but nah you absolutely right bruh-he def seemed like a tank rookie year but to see him now is crazy

[@christianr1941]

@@moneyman4740i wouldn’t say skinny but he had a way not athletic build than how bulky he looks now

[@moneyman4740]

@@christianr1941 facts

[@BigBagOfFrikenAirFak]

Gilbert can see into the future.

[@stevesibaja3123]

21 Year Old Young LeBron James🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀💪💪💪💪💪

[@elijahpfeifer6811]

This game was like “alright yeah this kids real”

[@ellandlord2456]

Dude averaged 35 in his first playoff series

[@AndyZach]

@@ellandlord2456 That's about the same as he averaged in 2018.

[@ellandlord2456]

Forgiven Sinner 14 years later the king still sits on his throne.

[@TootieOrchid]

Anybody else here 17 years later? Crazy this man longevity we will never see anything like it again

[@NguyenTrungTin-yh2tb]

aye, you are the one poking bears, arent u?

[@Youweetaybosh]

😢😢

[@Youweetaybosh]

My cavs just lost to the knicks so I had to go back and remind myself how special lebron was to cleveland

[@FireAngelChris]

Wow Gilbert was spot on

[@carterbilbro4615]

How do you average 35 in your first playoff series😂😂😂

[@christianr1941]

Young goat things

[@therandomguy6354]

be LeBron

[@bryanjimenez6575]

You have a sorry ass team lol

[@tgbhybbcarr2452]

Its lebron 😂 somehow hes gonna do it

[@rapereggae7961]

@@bryanjimenez6575 usually if u have a sorry ass team u won’t make it to the playoffs doe

[@nabielshadiq6728]

imagine telling someone in 2006 that 16 years later hes still dropping 30 point triple doubles on your favourite player

[@FireAngelChris]

*18 years later

[@saucesauce1392]

On ya new favorite player too and now his son maybe will too on the same team 🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️

[@jss4877]

The PA announcer was so funny 🤣. LLLLeeeeEEBbroooooOOnnnnN JaaaaaaaaaaaaMMMMes

[@domingolabong6317]

Lebron in the young age play deferent High level of play ❤️👑

[@foreverpattk]

This man is a blessing to Basketball. Overcame so many obstacles and expectations. What Gilbert said was spot on, you could see in LeBrons early age, his basketball intelligence was off the charts.

[@pabloescobar800]

Only 21 years old! GOAT!

[@indolfoquintero1088]

2:55-3:20 aged very well. Now he's a threat and made Jordan come out with a documentary. Even this version of Bron would have given Jordan a run for his money!! I mean come on he would have ran over him.

[@themambaking8399]

Yeah because Jordan is a bum he could not even guard Larry Bird one on one or magic .

[@robertcurington3657]

Which era tho? 80s MJ or 90s MJ? Because when MJ mastered the game of basketball buddy was unstoppable

[@cryptochofo7288]

@@robertcurington3657 any era MJ lls, Bron has like 3 diff eras himself. Just like MJ would dog Bron, Bron would Dog MJ just as much

[@thrizzol6269]

Exactly. Lebron doin him in

[@caoimhinyt9765]

Meta World Peace said that Bron could have gone pro at the age of 15.

[@jcupgif]

idk why but lebrons handle look so much more clean here , he doesn’t dribble as much nowadays

[@starkill3r966]

Jacob Degroat I’ve noticed that too, his dribbles are a lot more stiff at points, not as fluid as his earlier years

[@xavierrodriguez7938]

He's looking to pass more now at this time he had to do it all

[@geordiejones5618]

he came into the league as an oversized combo guard and was until around 2007, then was a scarier version of charles barkley, and he's been post dominant ever since. he's slowed down his pace a lot since he was so damn young and fast it kinda makes sense that his handle would be more like a 4/5

[@SaintFrenchy]

Ryan Sansaricq no need for a handle if you can’t stop him when drives. Best rim attacker since MJ

[@geordiejones5618]

@@SaintFrenchy oh for sure. I'm just saying thats why his handle is different he's literally a more advanced and skilled player now. He has a lot more options to score ans of course he's always been like a top 5 passer after every point of his career.

[@AndyZach]

I've never seen this highlight before. I missed Lebron's early career from 2003 to 2010. No local TV access for this Cleveland expatriate.

[@akeme25]

That’s weird because a lot of his early Cleveland games were on primetime TV

[@AndyZach]

@@akeme25 I missed them. I didn't even hear of Lebron until 2007 or 08. I only got to see the Cavs on network TV during the playoffs. We didn't have cable TV until 2004, and that was basic.

[@RubyMaster_mlbb]

At least yall live in US and start life with basketball and nba meanwhile im from iran and heard about basketball when i was like 14 and since then im watching every playoff game but keep that in mind games usually start at 3 or 4 am here

[@jamaineberry20]

League pass by NBA existed around that time like it does now to see non national tv NBA games

[@mrblue3879]

Luka and LeBron both had amazing playoff debuts

[@sharifbrown3567]

Facts

[@Truthorfib]

When Lebron retires who is next in line? 🤔

[@sharifbrown3567]

@@Truthorfib Luka and Giannis are ruling the 2020s no Question

[@mrblue3879]

@@Truthorfib Luka or Tatum Zion is a possibility too

[@Truthorfib]

@@sharifbrown3567 I think until Giannis gets a more reliable Jump Shot, he wont make it to King status. It's something always exposed in the playoffs. But when he finally does gets one 🤯

[@jordanwilliams8014]

Look at a young Savannah 4:10

[@knucklesaukuso5086]

and Lebron’s mum

[@giuliadelorenzi5545]

Incredible duel vs agent zero

[@yessssir23]

goat debate goes on and on and on... LMAO - I think you can't compare his game to MJs... SO: BOTH GOATS

[@geordiejones5618]

The people who announced his high school games saw some Magic and some Jordan. And he was absolutely deserving of those comparisons. He bridges both parts of the offense, and he's a six time 1st team all defender, and in his 17th year playing at an all defensive and 1st team all nba level. He might never have 6 rings but he can walk away from the game at like 42 or 45 knowing that he alone had every advantage built into his body and mind that every basketball player could want.

[@roctivareved7145]

Just watched the lakers beat the warriors in game 1 of the western conference semis. Can't believe it's been this long how he's playing at a superstar level.

[@singingchef23]

The hate for this kid is illogical. His size is weighed so heavily against him, he makes the difficult look so easy nothing he does is impressive anymore, sad.

[@desmondhackney889]

singingchef23 “ kid”😂

[@singingchef23]

@@desmondhackney889 well I have my first NBA game ticket stubs. It was the Buffalo Braves so hes a child to me since I have 2 his age and older.

[@ESPLTD782]

“I was nervous as f”. Lol

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

LJ is amazinh

[@justinjackson5899]

I was 5 years old at this time damn 😭

[@jamaineberry20]

I was 19 years old at this time the 2000s was a amazing time

[@nba_nfl_highlights2071]

*Who is watching in 2019*

[@geordiejones5618]

This is why Lebron was top 5 in MVP voting for 13 consecutive seasons (06 to 18)... only Kareem is close to that level of consistency (12 seasons in a row top 5) and he did it when the league wasn't nearly as a talented.

[@christianr1941]

2020

[@tandinyeshey1074]

2020 for me...

[@deerucker08]

It’s crazy how physically imposing he was at 21..

[@johnpestano22]

Bron said he butterflies at tipoff but by the way he played you wouldn't think he did

[@officialburrito3874]

Wow, those deep 2s… really shows you how the game has changed

[@Shaaammbles]

The other 21 yrs old that I can think of being this dominant in a series is Luka Doncic vs clippers.

[@chik007]

I don't know why the other Lebron fans turned into haters. This is the young Lebron carrying his team at age 21. Until now year 2024 he is still making buckets, adjusting his game and adapting some skills to keep up to today's NBA.

[@chrisa4276]

Now he is the playoffs

[@Ulyseon]

Didnt know lebron until 2007 been a fan since then

[@ahmetk.435]

Popular basketball player for me in all positions : Jordan , Kobe , Lebron . Centers : Hakeem Olajuwon , Shaq , Kevin Garnett . PG : M. johnson , Mıke Bibby , Tony Parker . SF : Robert Horry , S. Piipen , C . Mullin.

[@jamwam11]

Bruh, wtf 😂😂 idk Bron was like this back day. I wished I would’ve watched him grow…..

[@jamaineberry20]

He was drafted number one out of highschool for a reason

[@shaneth138]

@@jamaineberry20 Ha I remember the Cavs saying that they wouldn't trade the #1 pick that year even for a prime Shaq haha that's how good of a high school player Lebron was.

[@therealvlad2720]

LeBron🤴🦁

[@unoastro8949]

Dwight actually think Simmons is a young Lebron. Lmao.

[@jamaineberry20]

first playoff game a classic performance

[@lunarluger3498]

My goat , bahhhhhh

[@jonathanwilliams0824]

Stop it!!! You know good and dang well that Michael Jeffrey Jordan is the greatest NBA player of all time!!!!

[@shaneth138]

You hear that??? Bahhhhhh BAHhhhhhhhhh..... GOAT.

[@luce.3560]

should’ve been this playoffs too

[@shaneth138]

Jordan's first playoff game. 23, 10 assists 4 rebounds, 7-19 fg 36% L....Lost the series in 5.

[@rapereggae7961]

That’s unfair lol. There is games and games, series and series. Can’t compare that

[@rafaelmeza725]

4-6 finals record 😂

[@shaneth138]

@@rafaelmeza725 and? 99.9% of league history would kill to be 4-6 in the finals. 4 fmvps is the second most in history genius.

[@Trap323a]

drop this bron in '88 and he will dominate!!! Wizards was a top 3 defense in the league...

[@Sbrabson04]

This is back when the Cavs jerseys were fire. We had fire throwbacks we’d wear as well! So sad to see what they’ve become although I semi like the jerseys we have now, material isn’t the quality it was back in the day tho

[@andrewgravagna]

Who’s here after JJ’s Pod?

[@judedestin8575]

A playermaker with over 40k points..top 10 ten all times in assists and still managed to break a record that is so hard to break but is still behind MJ.. Cmon ppl I love MJ but we have to open our eyes here .. if we are talking about scorers how is not up there with melo? Kobe? KD? MJ?

[@shaneth138]

Hahaha Melo belongs nowhere near the discussion of best scorer. I truly don't get how people think of Melo when they think best scorers ever. He has ONE season where he averaged more than Lebron.

[@judedestin8575]

@@shaneth138 that can be a good discussion to have

[@ballzproduction8964]

This year I wasn’t even born yet

[@PHuckinCHAMPS26]

0:43 interesting looking at this scroll of accomplishments sitting here in April 2024 (18 years later…)

[@d8cx6s]

Imagine having mjs accolades and lebrons stats, that would be the greatest player no doubt

[@yusufyldrm8321]

GOAT is comin...

[@r91976]

GOAT

[@lulyoungin4211]

Goat

[@2brazyy1804]

Bro was not nervous

[@sharriff100]

Goat, James

[@ericwatkins668]

"32, 11 and 11"

[@redwall2793]

@ 5:58 🤩

[@icetrae169]

A year later he's in the finals

[@afrmdaplace]

Bro look how young he was already doing niggas🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️ 30 point triple double in his first playoff game cmon now

[@Dennis-nx8vr]

damn 2005 to 2018 in post season

[@alexjolley9654]

Who’s here after Gilbert’s insta post?

[@kevinconroy6606]

I swear Lebron had an extra growth spurt and grew another 2+” taller over then next 3 seasons

[@discipleteo3763]

Here after dude said he was so nervous his stomach was hurting all day

[@lairjmjcccb]

Top 2. Not 2. The GOAT.

[@rasheemfoster87]

🏀🔥🔥

[@heightsfynest6023]

Real basketball right there no 3 point contest 😂 miss that early 2000s era hip and nba was at its best

[@KingEDZKY]

Hmmm, so this was the day Playoff Bron was born.

[@hiphopnewsdaily9016]

Like if your here from mind the game pod😂

[@zekefrfr]

Lebron should have won the 2006 mvp

[@a1enterprise405]

This new NBA has nothing on the old league

[@Preciousakinyomi]

Oh I see why people call him the goat 🐐

[@marvelous1204able]

How in the world people down play him look at the type of stuff he has done at 21 years of age

[@madejson87]

how can i download that i mean full game

[@thereal_notoriousakagdubb3486]

Cleveland Cavaliers made the 1st NBA playoffs since 1997-98?

[@kxssxox6949]

Anyone here after hearing how Lebron didn't want to lay an egg?

[@teddyfromtheblock7272]

Here after the Gilbert arenas vlad interview

[@johnpestano22]

LBJ sliced up WAS defense

[@johnpestano22]

the following year CLE went to the finals

[@fishbone3333]

Remember Gilbert Arenas? Me neither.

[@officialtbhoops]

Hubie Brown has been stating the obvious his whole career, dude is so overrated as a commentator

[@martinbonsu6972]

Now this nigga the oldest to accomplish any record now

[@NoName-ry9wv]

So it took Lebron his 3rd season to make the playoffs????

[@johansencontreras2186]

Yes

[@jamaineberry20]

Yea the 200s era was tough the best defensive era first 2 year players making the playoffs especially when u lottery pick number one u going to the worst team in the NBA

[@airt698]

As a Laker fan it is heartbreaking for me to see all this talent this gift that LBJ has and year after year he just chokes! I try to put my finger on it, is it coaching, is it his entourage? What is it that he is lacking that Kobe and Curry have? Anyone with the answer is more than welcome to reply. But I've had it with LBJ already as a Laker...He doesn't got that IT factor that Kobe and Magic Johnson have

[@RugumiTenshi]

Kobe and Curry? Shouldn't you ask how Curry and Kobe don't have as many FMVPs as LeBron? If anything your answer is.. you're a fake Lakers fan, how can one be so UNGRATEFUL after getting a chip at 2020....there's a lot of teams that don't even have a ring...you're a Kobe fan not a Lakers fan, sad to say

[@MrTimLee84]

What the actual hell are you talking about. Yes I'll give you 2011 but he been a beast since then.........and just so we clear kobe and curry are nowhere close to bron all time.....just so we clear lol

[@airt698]

@@RugumiTenshi He is 3 and 7 in the Finals and he has missed Playoffs 2 of his 4 years as a laker and got bounced in 1st round in 2021 and all because he trys to be a GM and I'm done with him. call me what you want I get to voice my opinions its a free country homie

[@airt698]

@@MrTimLee84 He is 3 and 7 in the Finals and he has missed Playoffs 2 of his 4 years as a laker and got bounced in 1st round in 2021 and all because he trys to be a GM and I'm done with him. call me what you want I get to voice my opinions its a free country homie

[@killinghawkz]

@@airt698 stupid...he missed playoffs as a laker most of the time because of injuries at least he has a chip...also why Aren't you counting his 4th chip clown he has 4 titles not 3

[@2K6Ohio]

A

[@creativusllc]

.

[@l.m.4life71]

This guy was always stat padding.... plays the same exact way... that's why hes 3-6 and should be 1-8...... trash....

[@Mckylan]

L.M. L.M. His team was so bad and he was averaging 31 I believe. Look at all the accomplishments he posted 😂

[@l.m.4life71]

@@Mckylan trash ..

[@Mckylan]

L.M. L.M. He was 21 and he beat a wizards against a prime Gilbert. He’s never lost in the first round and the year after he got to the finals lol. Game 5 he had 48 pts and scored his teams 29/30 pts with 25 straight and he was only 22. Lebron is the 2nd greatest stay mad 😂 he joined a 17 win cavs team who missed the playoffs 5 years straight prior n in only 2 years they are In playoffs n gets a triple double his debut n next year is in the finals. Keep hating cuz he proves the haters every single time.

[@l.m.4life71]

@@Mckylan look.... hes trash.

[@knucklesaukuso5086]

L.M. L.M. Your trash you emotional minion LMMFAO

[@freddygol9943]

GOAT

[@ellandlord2456]

GOAT JAMES 🐐