“To be able to have a dream, to be able to have a vision, to make it come into fruition, it’s a beautiful thing” —- LeBron James

As we all know LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in Game Seven and won their first NBA championship and complete a historic comeback.

With the victory over the Stephen Curry’s top-seeded defending champions, the Cavaliers became the first team to rally from a 3-1 series deficit in the best-of-seven NBA Finals and win the title.

For James, who showed an incredible basketball mental toughness, the win not only marks his third championship following two wins with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, but it fulfills his promise to deliver a title to his home state.

Before the Championship, LeBron had spent the weekend watching old Muhammad Ali fights, in awe at the champ’s perseverance.

His longtime friend and adviser, Nike executive Lynn Merritt, had suggested he study the way Ali carried himself in those epic 12- and 15-round fights. The way Ali took punches, knowing his opponent would eventually tire. The way he taunted opponents, flaunting his superior skill and talents, knowing he would get into their heads.

His teammates needed something else. Something they could connect to that would make them believe this series was not over.

LeBron gathered everyone in the Cavaliers locker room before Game 3 and played a portion of Steve Jobs’ commencement address to Stanford University in 2005.

James won consecutive Finals MVPs in 2012 and 2013, when he notched his first two titles with the Miami Heat. He returned to Cleveland as a free agent in July 2014.

In addition to delivering the city its first major sports championship since 1964, James led the Cavs in becoming the first team in NBA history to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to win the Finals.

Over the last three games, when they were one loss away from their season ending, James averaged 36.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 3.0 steals while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from deep.

That is why he’s an all-time great. It’s also why he was named the 2016 Finals MVP, and joined Michael Jordan as the only players to ever win four regular season MVPs and three Finals MVPs.

Following a personal rite of spring he began several years ago, LeBron James has begun preparing for the upcoming NBA playoffs by limiting his access to social media in order to avoid outside distractions as he and the Cavaliers make another run at an NBA title.

LeBron James believed that mental toughness and resilience are tremendously important for the game. Before this championship, the Cavaliers were beaten by Toronto Raptors by 99-97 even though they were in control for the first 36 minutes.

Later LeBron told the reporters that they were beaten up mentally. “When you lose the way we lost, mental mistake after mental mistake, those hurt more than anything when you can play better mentally,” he said. “People get so caught up on the physical side of the game. We lack mental right now, and we’ve got to continue to get better with it.”

LeBron James could be emotionally impacted from every source imaginable — the press, teammates, coaches, family and friends — and undoubtable has thoughts and feelings which are not always positive. However, he knows he is more than what he thinks or feels and is able to stay focused on playing his game.

It is easy to get distracted by emotions unless you have a strong mental game in basketball. When you doubt yourself, slow your pace, breathe and play your game with confidence.

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