LeBron James 'cements position as the GOAT' after stunning NBA Finals graphic

LeBron James has reaffirmed his status as the greatest player of all time, after stunning NBA Finals graphic

In a pulsating finale to the first game of the NBA finals, the Indiana Pacers secured a 111-110 victory, despite only leading for 0.3 seconds.

It means the Pacers take a 1-0 lead in the series ahead of the second game which will be played in the early hours of Monday morning.

Tyrese Haliburton’s late basket was the latest game-winning shot in an NBA finals since Michael Jordan's buzzer beater 28 years ago.

Back in 1997, Jordan's end of game heroics ensured his Chicago Bulls side beat Utah Jazz in the first match of the NBA finals.

The Bulls went on to win the series 4-2, to clinch Jordan's fifth championship.

However, a new graphic has revealed that James truly is the most clutch player in the NBA finals when it matters most.

LeBron James leading the way

It shows that the 40-year-old leads the way in the most go-aheads, or game-tying points in the last five seconds of the fourth quarter in the playoffs since 1997.

He leads from Reggie Miller and Haliburton, who are both tied on five.

Miller, like Haliburton, played for the Indiana Pacers, from 1987-2005.

Although Miller never won a Championship, he was named in the 'All-NBA team' three times.

What did NBA fans say on X?

Following Haliburton's last gasp winner, the graphic quickly went viral on X, sparking reaction amongst basketball supporters.

Many fans saw it as an opportunity to highlight the brilliance of James and his ability to score late points in crucial matches.

@LakersLead said: "but LeBron isn’t clutch????"

"They tried to tell us LeBron wasn’t clutch," @playoffskee added.

Others used the graphic to fuel the ongoing argument over who is the greatest basketball player of all time.

James is often compared to Michael Jordan, who won six NBA championships, and Kobe Byrant, who won five rings.

The Los Angeles Lakers star sits just behind them on four, but he was has championships at each of the three clubs he has played for.

He won the NBA finals in both 2012 and 2013 with Miami Heat, before emerging victorious again in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In 2020 he won his fourth NBA crown with his current team, the Los Angeles Lakers, although there is speculation over his future.

@TheJamesEdrick wrote: "Seeing Kobe [Bryant] and [Steph] Curry stans working overtime daily on this app to downplay LeBron while he shows up on these lists every other game."