Remember the 2013 NBA Finals when Ray Allen hit the infamous shot against the Spurs? The Miami Heat were on death’s door before it happened after LeBron James failed to convert his second three-pointer. With all the hopes of the Kaseya Center manifesting a three to send the game to overtime, Allen delivered. However, his shot carries far more history than saving the Heat’s elite squadron from losing their third finals in two seasons.

Something ticked LeBron James. He went into the fourth quarter prepared to be selfish. “I literally told myself if you don’t make every play this quarter, we’re going to lose,” he recalls his mindset. And then came the ignition, surprisingly from an NBA personnel.

Before the game even ended, James noticed the personnel bringing out the “yellow rope” to prepare for the Spurs’ celebration. His glance towards the Spurs bench suggested they felt the same way – “Ready to celebrate”. However, James has always believed it isn’t over until the final buzzer sounds. So he became even more adamant.

“It was a moment I looked at NBA personnel, and they was bringing the ropes out on our home court, and it pissed me off. I was like, I don’t know how this is gonna happen, but we’re about to make this happen. I thought I was gonna be the one to make the shot,” LeBron James said on Mind the Game.

And well, as history recalls, the Heat did manage to come back from one of the most unimaginable situations. They were down 5 with half a minute remaining. And James and Allen combined to hit two famous triples to force the game to overtime and eventually win.

The NBA personnel bringing the ropes too early is what lit fire under the Heat’s belly. No wonder LeBron James felt disrespected. And from there it became more than just the game. It was personal, as he agreed.

The only harmless drawback from that game is that James didn’t get to end it as he had desired.

LeBron James wanted to be the guy

The shot from Ray Allen did a lot of good for the Miami Heat. After their 2011 meltdown, his instinctive action sealed back-to-back titles for Vice City. But even though LeBron James was instrumental in making the shot possible, it didn’t do great for his image among the NBA media and community.

The conversation is still alive today. ‘Ray Allen saved LeBron James’ legacy’. It’s not entirely true, as the Akron Hammer scored 16 of the Heat’s 30 points in the fourth quarter. However, had it happened the way he imagined, the 40-year-old wanted it to be his moment.

“I thought I would be the guy that, in my mind, I’m visioning that shit of me making that shot. I built myself up to that,” he said about the moment.

It didn’t happen that way. But it also won’t have happened without a LeBron James eruption in one of the most important games of his career. This was his moment to prove why he was regarded as the best player in the world. And he answered every call and has done so since.

Obviously, even knowing these things won’t put a stop to the narrative. But it’s still vital to consider. No legacy can be built by just the basketball player. Every great has relied on his teammates. And in that moment, although James could be seen calling for the ball, he didn’t mind having one of the most prolific three-point shooters taking the shot.