LeBron James' best moments at Madison Square Garden

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LeBron James is no stranger to big performances at Madison Square Garden.

Over 26 career games at The Mecca of Basketball, James has posted averages of 28.3 points, 7.5 assists and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 50.3 percent from the field.

He is 19-7 all-time on the road against the Knicks, winning 12 of his last 15 games. James has even called MSG his "favourite playground."

He'll take centre stage again on Sunday as he suits up for his first game at the legendary arena as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Before he does, take a look back at a few of LeBron's top moments in New York City's finest basketball arena...

LeBron's 50-point performance in 2008

Result: Cavaliers 119, Knicks 105

LeBron's stat line: 50 points (16-30 FG, 7-13 3PT, 11-16 FT), 10 assists, eight rebounds, four steals

Knicks' top performer: Jamal Crawford – 25 points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals, one block

This was LeBron's fifth 50-point game of his career as he willed Cleveland past New York at The Garden.

At the time, this was just the third 50-point, 10-assist game in league history, with Stephon Marbury and Michael Jordan recording the other two.

LeBron scores 52 points in 2009

Result: Cavaliers 107, Knicks 102

LeBron's stat line: 52 points (17-33 FG, 16-19 FT), 11 assists, nine rebounds, two blocks

Knicks' top performer: Al Harrington – 39 points and 11 rebounds

LeBron erupted for 52 points on 51.5 percent shooting from the field to will his Cavaliers team to victory. This is the most points James has ever scored at Madison Square Garden, topping his 50-point performance from the season before.

This 52-point outing marked MSG as the only visiting arena in which LeBron has scored 50 points more than once.

Also worth noting: LeBron was originally credited with a triple-double of 52 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, but the next day the NBA ruled that he finished with nine rebounds, not 10.

LeBron's first triple-double in 2010

Result: Heat 113, Knicks 91

LeBron's stat line: 32 points (14-23 FG, 3-6 3PT), 11 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal

Knicks' top performer: Amar'e Stoudemire – 24 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, one steal

This game held much more significance than it might seem at face value.

In the 2010 offseason, LeBron stood up the Knicks in free agency, electing to take his "talents to South Beach" instead of The Big Apple. In his first contest against New York as a member of the Miami Heat, he dropped a 30-point triple-double in a win at The Mecca.

Boos reigned down on The King as discouraged Knicks fans made it more than clear how they felt about LeBron's offseason decision.

Author(s)
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Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.