They were without Kyrie Irving and without Gordon Hayward, but the Boston Celtics had the Cleveland Cavaliers on the ropes. In just his first NBA season, Rookie of the Year candidate Jason Tatum had led Boston all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals and one win away from the Championship series. Cleveland’s star power forward Kevin Love was removed from Game 6 with a potential concussion and would be unable to compete in Game 7. With a lackluster supporting cast, it seemed as if it was solely the King versus the city of Boston. The up and coming stars – Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart – paired with the veteran prowess of Al Horford down low meant LeBron James had no chance. An impossible task to win a Game 7 at TD Garden with a crowd hungry for the blood of the King. But there is one think I have learned from watching the NBA… don’t ever bet against LeBron James.

Junior High Sports Editor for The Shield Zachary Velez wrote an article a few months ago reviewing this year’s NBA trade deadline in which he named the Cavaliers as winners. They shipped out recently acquired Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder for an amalgam of talent including Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr. At the time, no one knew if these moves were enough to keep LeBron away from free agency allow him to continue to call Cleveland his home. But after a brief, early winning streak following the trade, the Cavaliers never seemed regain their top form of the championship season. Cynics not only questioned the trades, but also doubted whether LeBron would come close to getting to his eighth consecutive NBA finals. After refusing to play in garbage time against the Toronto Raptors in the conference semis, Hood has yet to see the floor, while Nance and Clarkson are merely fillers off the bench. Even long-time veterans J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver have had cold spells from the 3-point line this season. So how did this team make it all the way to the Finals? The answer is by riding the back of LeBron James, the best basketball player of all time.

He’s a 14-time all-star, 4-time MVP, 3-time Finals MVP, and 3-time NBA champion. James’ presence on any roster makes the team a virtually lock to make the playoffs, if not one capable of advancing a few rounds. But were the Cavs better off keep the team they put together following the Kyrie Irving trade? Should they have called Irving’s bluff and made him play out his contract?

There is no doubt that if Irving had remained in Cleveland, this team would not be seen as underdogs. Keeping veterans Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade around did not work out as planned as the two former stars were sent packing. An argument can be made that no superstar has ever had to endure as much of a roster turnover as LeBron. According to analysts at Bleacher Report, this is the worst supporting cast that he has ever had while advancing to the finals. But that is exactly what he did with his dominating performance in Boston. So now, there is a good chance that many of you disagree with the statement I made regarding Lebron’s status as the “greatest player of all time.” Most people would say this unofficial title belongs to Michael Jordan. Some younger fans might defer to Kobe Bryant. And the older generation will be partial to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Although I never witnessed the “spectacle” that was Michael Jordan, I still believe in my contention that LeBron is the best. Championships alone do not define a player’s greatness, especially in a sport as team oriented as basketball. Jordan was a part of a dynasty in Chicago, leading the Bulls to six championships in eight years (with two titles for the Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets sandwiched in between). Jordan played alongside Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, Horace Grant, and Scottie Pippin. Don’t get me wrong, Jordan will always be one of the best to play the game and his career numbers can attest to that. But LeBron’s ability to single-handedly carry a team of mediocre players past the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals proves his dominance and puts the King in a league of his own. I mean, James was never eliminated in the first round of the playoffs like Jordan, who was actually swept in one series. Whether down 2-0 or 3-1, there is no deficit too great that would have me questioning if LeBron was capable of leading the comeback. If the King can pull off a series win against the star-studded Golden State Warriors, he will solidify his legacy as the greatest of all time. And even if he does not pull off the upset, he is certainly in the conversation with the best to ever play the game.

But with the way these playoffs have gone so far, I certainly would not bet against LeBron James.