LeBron Explains the Origin of His Fadeaway: “After the Finals Loss to Dallas”
A painful defeat – perhaps the worst of his career – changed the way LeBron James approached the game: that’s when his fadeaway was born
Over the years, LeBron James has continued to add new tools to his offensive arsenal, constantly finding ways to remain effective. Among them is the turnaround fadeaway, which has become one of the most reliable shots in his game.
A move that not only expanded his repertoire, but also recently entered the history books: it was with that very shot that James knocked down the basket that allowed him to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and become the player with the most field goals in NBA history.
James himself explained when that shot truly became part of his offensive toolkit.
The Lesson of the 2011 Finals
The turning point dates back to one of the most painful disappointments of his career: the 2011 NBA Finals lost to the Dallas Mavericks.
When we lost the Finals to Dallas and I played terribly
LeBron James
That series represented a key moment in his offensive evolution, pushing him to develop new solutions to be more effective against set defenses.
In the years that followed, that move became one of his most frequently used weapons in one-on-one situations.
The Elbow Situation
The game against the Denver Nuggets also ended with a small physical concern. James did not finish the game due to elbow discomfort.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick explained that the player had ice on the joint immediately after the game.
He has ice on his elbow right now and it will be evaluated
JJ Redick
Redick said, suggesting that the Lakers’ medical staff will monitor the situation over the next few days.