It took 9 long years but LeBron James finally has his first ring!

The Miami Heat were the underdogs going into the NBA Finals series against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. But the Thunder didn’t have LeBron’s steely determination or his fiery will to win.

“Happiest day of my life,” said LeBron after the Heat defeated the Thunder 121-106 to win the NBA title Thursday night in Miami.

“It means everything,” James said after the game. LeBron hoisted the NBA trophy before accepting his Finals MVP award. “I made a difficult decision to leave Cleveland but I understood what my future was about. I knew we had a bright future… This is a dream come true for me. This is definitely when it pays off.”

After the game, an emotional LeBron embraced his fiancee Savannah Brinson and their children LeBron James Jr., 7, and Bryce Maximus James, 5.

In post game interviews LeBron said, “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. You just put a lot of hard work into it and one day it will pay off for you. It paid off for me tonight.”

The win was bittersweet for Chris Bosh who welcomed a son, Jackson, during the playoffs. Bosh kissed his baby on the court after the game.

Gabrielle Union was supportive of her man Dwyane Wade. Wade won his 2nd championship title in his 9 year NBA career.

Wade celebrated after the game with his sons who he said were his motivations for playing.

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  • Photos: Getty Images, NBA.com, Reuters Pictures, AP, Twitter.com