The Miami Heat successfully defended his NBA title after overcoming a resilient effort from the San Antonio Spurs in a classic seven-game Finals series.

James captured his second Finals MVP award, and more importantly, his second championship ring following an outstanding close-out performance that drawn comparison to other NBA greats like Los Angeles Lakers' great Magic Johnson and Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan.

When asked what's the difference between now and the last time he played the Spurs in the finals, James responded with a simple answer.

"I said before the series that I was a better player than I was last time I faced the Spurs," James told the media after their 95-88 victory at American Airlines Arena. "I just trusted all the work that I put into my game."

James is apparently right on with his answer. The four-time Finals MVP racked up 27 points and 12 rebounds and dealt the telling blow on the Spurs by knocking down two back-to-back jumpers, including a dagger to give the Heat a four-point lead with 27 seconds left.

"LeBron is the greatest player in the world. He deserves everything he gets right now," Miami Heat President Pat Riley told reporters after garnering his third NBA title since joining the franchise in the late 90s.

James, who tied the record of Boston Celtics great Tom Heinsohn for the most points in the deciding game of an NBA Finals series, credited his latest title to the hard work he put throughout the post-season.

"I work on my game a lot throughout the offseason," said James, who joined Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan to win back-to-back finals MVP in the last 23 years. "I put a lot of work into it and to be able to come out here and (have) the results happen out on the floor is the ultimate. The ultimate. I'm at a loss for words."