LeBron James' Cleveland Years: the NBA Superstar's First Seven Seasons in the League

LeBron James was much-maligned in Cleveland for signing with Miami after his seven-year contract with the Cavaliers was up.

His decision to leave the Cavs and sign a free-agent contract with Heat invoked anger, frustration and disappointment in Cleveland fans, many of whom hated to see their hometown hero head out.

The most outspoken and vitriolic of those responses came from Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert, who lambasted his former star for leaving.

Gilbert may not have liked the manner in which James left - LeBron revealed his decision on the aptly-named live ESPN show, "The Decision," rather than first telling the Cavs of his plans - or the fact that he left at all.

But he sure seemed to forget, really quickly, all that James had done for his franchise over the previous seven seasons.

What exactly did James do?

• He made the Cavaliers relevant to people outside Cleveland, for one thing, which is something that hadn't been done in a long time, if ever.

• He led the team to its first-ever NBA Finals appearance.

• He guided the Cavs to the postseason for the first time after a seven-year drought.

• He navigated Cleveland past the opening round of the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons.

• He helped the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 15 seasons.

Here's a closer look at James' seven seasons with the Cavaliers:

2003-04 Season

After being picked No. 1 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft, James runs away the with Rookie of the Year award following a season in which he averages 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. He is also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after playing in 79 of a possible 82 games for the Cavs.

2004-05 Season

James ups his averages to 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while starting 80 games for the Cavs. He is named to the NBA All-Star team for the first time, a feat he will go on to match during each of the rest of his five seasons in Cleveland.

2005-06 Season

In his third season in the league, James leads Cleveland to its first postseason appearance since 1998 - a feat he and the Cavs will duplicate each of the next four seasons - and with a 4-2 series win over Washington, he guides the team past the first round for the first time since 1993. The Cavs lose to Detroit, 4-3, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. En route to his second All-Star game appearance - and first All-Star MVP award - as well as an All-NBA First Team selection, James turns in a career-high 31.4 points per game during the regular season, and also averages 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists; in the playoffs, he posts 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.

2006-07 Season

James guides the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1992, and to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, averaging 25.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game during the team's 20 playoff games. Cleveland sweeps Washington in the first round, beats New Jersey 4-2 in the conference semifinals, defeats Detroit 4-2 in the conference finals and loses 4-0 to San Antonio in the finals. James turns in 27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game during the regular season during another All-Star season.

2007-08 Season

James earns league scoring champion honors, is named NBA All-Star Game MVP for the second time and the All-NBA First Team after pouring in 30.0 points per game to go with 7.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists during the regular season, then turns in averages of 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists in the postseason as Cleveland tops Washington 4-2 in the opening round before losing 4-3 to Boston in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

2008-09 Season

After earning the NBA MVP award, James turns in career playoff highs of 35.3 points and 9.1 rebounds to go with 7.3 assists as the Cavs sweep through the first two rounds of the playoffs, blanking Detroit and Atlanta, before losing 4-2 to Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals. He finishes the regular season with 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game in a career-high 81 of 82 games, to go with NBA All-Defensive First Team and All-NBA First Team honors.

2009-10 Season

James nabs his second consecutive NBA MVP award after scoring 27.8 points per game with 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists during the regular season. He earns his sixth All-Star Game appearance and is named to the All-NBA First Team for the fourth time and the All-Defensive First Team for the second time. Cleveland reaches the Eastern Conference Semifinals, defeating Chicago 4-1 in the first round before losing 4-2 to Boston as James scores 29.1 points per game, ups his career playoff high with 9.3 rebounds per game and posts 7.6 assists per game.

Sources:
LeBron James, NBA.com
LeBron James Profile, Yahoo! Sports
2010 NBA Playoffs Bracket, ESPN
2009 NBA Playoffs, Wikipedia
Cleveland Cavaliers Playoff History, Yahoo! Sports