The 5 Most intense NBA players: Where Rockets’ Russell Westbrook ranks

4. LeBron James

When it comes to competitive spirit and the will to win, LeBron James belongs near the top of the all-time list of NBA greats. Over his 16-year career, LeBron has made it to the NBA Finals nine times, winning three of those with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Perhaps the biggest testament to just how much James has been able to carry his teams was apparent in 2007 when he led a team in which Daniel “Boobie” Gibson and Sasha Pavlovic were playing substantial minutes. Granted, that team was swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals that year, but it was just a sign of things to come for LBJ.

It doesn’t matter if the Eastern Conference wasn’t exactly a warzone throughout much of the 2010s, it takes some serious intensity and dedication to make it to the NBA Finals eight straight times (from 2011-18).

Remember LeBron James' clutch fadeaway three against the Warriors in 2014? pic.twitter.com/JANnxFkach

— NBAIndia (@NBAIndia) September 12, 2016

LeBron leaves everything out on the court for the benefit of not only himself but his teammates and the city he represents. It was one thing when King James won titles alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but returning to the city where it all started and winning one for Cleveland was an otherworldly effort.

Once the game approaches crunch time and you need a big play, LeBron James is about as good an option as you can have in the league.

Next: No. 3