LeBron James and the Miami Heat match up with Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder at 5:30 p.m. ET on December 25, 2012.

The rematch of last season's NBA championship will mark the seventh time that James has played on Christmas Day.

He has appeared on the regular season's biggest stage four times as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The past two seasons he's done so with Miami.

For his career, James enters Tuesday's contest with the Thunder averaging 27.8 points, 8.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game on Christmas Day.

His first appearance was during his rookie year, way back in 2003. 

James would not play again on Christmas Day until 2007. From there, he's played every year since.

In anticipation of the Heat's showdown with the Thunder, I've ranked James' best Christmas Day performances.

No. 6: LeBron Beats Lakers Despite Turnovers

Christmas Day, '09

In the worst Christmas Day performance of LeBron James' NBA career, he finished with 26 points, nine assists and four rebounds.

In this case, it's important to note that "worst" is a relative term.

James committed a game-high seven turnovers, but that wasn't enough to prevent Cleveland from earning the 102-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mo Williams led the Cavaliers with 28 points. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 35.

This would be the last Christmas Day game that James would play with the Cavs before fleeing to South Beach.

No. 5: James and Cavaliers Edge Past Wizards

Christmas Day, '08

James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 93-89 win over the Washington Wizards on Christmas Day, 2008.

He finished with 18 points, five rebounds and six assists on 46-percent shooting. 

Washington fell to 4-23 with the loss.

Future Cleveland Cavalier Antawn Jamison led all scorers with 28 points for the Wizards. 

Mo Williams led the Cavs with 24. James added a game-high three steals as well to go along with one block.

No. 4: LeBron Bests Wade on Christmas Day

Christmas Day, '07

LeBron matched up with his future teammate Dwyane Wade on Christmas Day, 2007.

By game's end, he totaled 25 points and 12 assists to help Cleveland secure the 96-82 win over the Miami Heat.

This was the first time that James had played on Christmas Day in three years.

Wade finished with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds in defeat. James connected on 47 percent of his field-goal attempts.

No. 3: James Drops 37 on the Defending Champs

Christmas Day, '11

LeBron James and the Heat opened their lockout-shortened season against the Dallas Mavericks on December 25, 2011.

James scored the first two points of the game and went on to score 35 more before it was decided in Dallas. 

He finished with 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals to go along with 37 points on 11-of-19 shooting.

The 37 points are currently a Christmas Day scoring high for James.

The Heat beat Dallas 105-94 despite 23 points off the bench from Jason Terry.

No. 2: LeBron Scores 34 Points as a Rookie on Christmas Day

Christmas Day, '03

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost 113-101 in overtime on Christmas Day, 2003, to the Orlando Magic.

The loss did nothing, however, to take away from a spectacular performance turned in by a rookie named LeBron James.

He did everything he could to help his Cavaliers team win that day.

James scored 34 points on 46-percent shooting to go with six assists and two rebounds.

Then-teammate Carlos Boozer added 18 points and 19 rebounds for Cleveland.

Orlando Magic forward Tracy McGrady led all scorers with 41 points. McGrady also dished out a game-high 11 assists.

LeBron had his team tied at the end of regulation before Orlando won the overtime session 16-4.

No. 1: James Triple-Doubles Against Lakers in Debut with Heat

Christmas Day, '10

LeBron James recorded a triple-double against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 25, 2010.

It was his first Christmas Day game as a member of the Miami Heat.

James finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to help earn a 96-80 road win over the Lakers.

His 27 points were 10 more than Kobe Bryant scored to lead Los Angeles.

The 11 rebounds and 10 assists were also two and three more, respectively, than any Laker totaled on the day. 

As the NBA world tuned in to see what exactly this newly constructed Heat team would look like, James offered the best Christmas Day performance of his career.