Icon SMI

LeBron James has done more for the Cavalier franchise than anyone who came before him. In his six years with the team he has won everything from the All-Star Game MVP to the league’s MVP and is easily the most decorated player in Cleveland sports history. Other than a championship ring, all that has seemed to be missing on his resume is a defining shot.

Not anymore.

On Friday night, James hit the shot that will be remembered by Cavalier fans for years to come.

With his team needing him more than ever LeBron took it upon himself to make sure the 20,000-plus fans at the Q went home happy. His long three-pointer with time expiring was not just any old shot.

The Cavs needed this victory to avoid losing a second-straight game to the underdog Magic. No player knew the significance of a game two victory more than King James himself.

“We just couldn’t afford to go down 0-2,” said James after the game.

LeBron has hit big shots before. He hit a buzzer-beater earlier this year in Oakland against the Warriors. He has even hit some clutch baskets in the postseason, including a couple against the Wizards in the 2006 playoffs. But his shot on Friday was different. There was more at stake now than ever before.

This is a team that won 66 games in the regular season. The NBA Championship is the ultimate goal for the Cavs and anything short of it this season will be a failure.

The Magic seemed one step closer to making that failure a reality for Cleveland, until LeBron sent them home to Orlando wondering what could have been.

“You think you have the game and you turn around and he makes a crazy shot,” said Hedo Turkoglu, who was guarding James on the final play. “Unbelievable shot.”

It seemed fitting that, on the six-year anniversary of the day the Cavs won the NBA Draft Lottery and, in essence, “The LeBron James Sweepstakes”, the former number one pick came through in the clutch like never before. With an entire fanbase on his back, LeBron rose up in triumph.

“I don’t know what to say, but he was born to do that.” said Sasha Pavlovic. “That’s amazing. I don’t know what to say. It’s unbelievable.”

It was one of those shots that define a team, that define a player. Magic Johnson had his when he hit a sky hook to win game four of the 1987 Finals. Michael Jordan had his when he made ‘The Shot’ over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 playoffs. Now, in the 2009 playoffs, LeBron James has his.