If James, at 27 years old and in his ninth season as a pro, captures the title with the Miami Heat this year, he would join a long list of stars who compiled a trophy case full of individual honors before finally claiming the ultimate team prize. Kevin Durant, 23, would be a whippersnapper compared to the all-time greats who spent years wondering if they would ever lift the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
The NBA Finals tip off Tuesday with Game 1 in Oklahoma City.
See some of the stars who needed to wait before claiming their first NBA titles>>
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