LeBron James is the megastar of his generation, so it’s only fitting that he’s become a Christmas Day fixture across two decades. Time and time again, the King has given NBA fans impressive Christmas performances against a variety of worthy opponents.

As James prepares for his 18th consecutive Christmas game, fans can take a trip down memory lane and relive his greatest performances on December 25th.

5. LBJ vs. Shaq and The Flash, 2007

In December 2007, the Miami Heat were just over a year away from their first NBA title. That means the Christmas 2007 roster featured Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal, two forces to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference. James, meanwhile, didn’t have a Diesel-like vice president in the Cavaliers’ lineup.

Still, LBJ did what he does better than most players in NBA history: make his teammates look very, very good. James finished the game with 12 assists, a testament to how he got scorers like Drew Gooden and Daniel Gibson going. He did this while also leading the team in scoring with his 25 points at a rate of 47.4%. The final score was 96–82 in favor of the Cavs.

4. A rare Christmas triple-double, 2010

For years, NBA fans dreamed of a duel between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals. Although it never came to fruition, the 2010 Christmas game was a sight to behold as Bron and Kobe Bean went at each other. Although the game ended in a one-sided 96-80 win for the Miami Heat, the clash between two generational stars was must-see television.

How did LeBron get his way in this game? By recording a triple-double on Christmas Day, something only three other players in NBA history had accomplished to that point. James finished the game with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Bryant now had 17 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

3. Excellence Among Future Hall of Famers, 2012

A blockbuster game between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder took place on December 25, 2012, featuring Olympians, champions and MVPs of the past, present and future. It was also a rematch of the 2012 NBA Finals, where James won his first NBA title. Six months after that victory in the final, James was still the most dominant player in the game.

With all due respect to Russell Westbrook (21 points, 11 rebounds double-double), Kevin Durant (33 points, seven rebounds) and Dwyane Wade (21 points on 47.1% shooting), James was the star of the night. His 29 points on 12-for-20 shooting highlight his scoring dominance, and his eight rebounds and nine assists highlight his versatility.

2. A thrilling win in Cleveland, 2016

After the Cavaliers won the NBA Championship in 2016, the Golden State Warriors wasted no time in bringing in some serious reinforcements. Their game-changer came in the form of Kevin Durant, who played his first Christmas game as a Warrior on December 25, 2016.

Durant’s presence made the Warriors-Cavs matchup an even more interesting spectacle, and he actually scored 36 points in the exciting affair. But the king and his cohorts would not be turned away. Despite losing more than two possessions in the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers battled back to secure the 109-108 win. James (31 points and 13 rebounds) simply couldn’t be defended.

1. Exceptional Goalscorer, 2011

In terms of scoring performance, James’ best games on Christmas Day were his stint with the Lakers in 2021 and his performance in a Miami jersey in 2011. Since his 38 points in 2021 came as a result of the Dallas Mavericks’ 124-115 win in the Sand went, his 37 points in 2011 make a better case for being called his best Christmas game ever.

James also had ten rebounds and six assists in this game between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks, which was special for two other reasons. First, it was a rematch of the dramatic 2011 NBA Finals, which the Mavs won. Second, this game took place on the opening night of the 2011–2012 season, the start of which was delayed due to a lockout. A dominant LBJ performance was a great way for the NBA to kick off a new season.