LeBron James, his legacy as one of the game’s greats now secure, led Miami Heat to their second straight NBA title on Thursday with a 95-88 win over San Antonio Spurs.

James, the sport’s biggest star playing at the peak of his powers, dominated the decisive seventh game of an epic series through a combination of athleticism, pinpoint shooting and sheer force of will.

The critics who slammed him when he left his former team Cleveland to join Miami in search of an elusive championship ring, then questioned his nerve when the Heat lost the 2011 finals to Dallas, were silenced.

When it really mattered, in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a Game Seven decider, he scored a game-high 37 points and pulled in 12 rebounds.

“The vision that I had when I decided to come here is coming true,” said James, who was also named Most Valuable Player of the Finals for the second year in a row.

“Through adversity, through everything we’ve been through, we’ve been able to persevere and win back-to-back championships. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”

Miami were the overwhelming favourites to take the title after winning a franchise-record 66 games during the regular season, including 27 in a row.