History has been made.
The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Finals, defeating the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in Sunday’s deciding Game 7.
This is the first major sports championship that a Cleveland team has won since 1964.
"M-V-P!" @kingjames holds up the #NBAFinals & Finals MVP trophies! 🏆🏆 https://t.co/tKVcsd5gze
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2016
In perhaps the biggest game of his career, LeBron James had the game of his life.
James was named Finals MVP after scoring 27 points, 11 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists.
The vote was unanimous, according to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
James scored his 16th triple double in the playoffs and seventh in an NBA Finals game — only two other players had recorded triple doubles in a Finals Game 7, according to ESPN.
“Cleveland, this is for you!” James, an Akron, Ohio, native, shouted through tears in a post-game interview with ESPN.
🏆 @Usher, @KyrieIrving & @RealTristan13 celebrate the @cavs NBA title! #NBAFinals https://t.co/iUTjHEHbLY
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2016
James returned to his hometown team in 2014 after an acrimonious split in 2010. He joined the Miami Heat with fellow All-Stars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, winning two titles there.
He decided to return to the Cavs in 2014 hoping to end the title drought for Cleveland.
“The people of Cleveland deserve this more than any other people I’ve ever seen or met or felt,” Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said. “No group deserves this more. No fan base deserves this more. I’m speechless and proud of everybody.”
When asked why this championship felt different, James kept his answer simple: “I’m home.”
“This is what I came back for,” he said. “It doesn’t feel real.”
LeBron goes ALL IN for the @SAPSports Performance of the Night. https://t.co/9ABPfSLBGx
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2016
Climbing out of a 3-1 hole
The Cavs have clearly relished the role of underdog.
Cleveland faced a historic Warriors team that defeated them in the 2015 NBA Finals, only to come back and set the record for the most wins in a regular season with a 73-9 record.
Their best player, Steph Curry, had just won consecutive MVP awards and absolutely shattered the record for most three pointers made in a season.
“Everybody counted us out — and that’s when we strive the most,” Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. “That’s definitely when I strive the most.”
Lue himself stepped into the head coaching gig in the middle of the season, after former head coach David Blatt was fired.
No team had ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Finals. In fact, only three teams out of 33 have forced an NBA Finals Game 7 after trailing 3-1. The other two teams are the 1951 New York Knicks (against the Rochester Royals) and the 1966 Los Angeles Lakers (against the Boston Celtics).
What a time, #DubNation. #StrengthInNumbers pic.twitter.com/LTaVFimdHh
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 20, 2016
But the Cavaliers fought back, tying the series 3-3 after a 115-101 win at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Thursday night. LeBron James, the Akron, Ohio, native who returned to the Cavaliers with the goal of leading Cleveland to a championship, scored 41 points in each of the last two games. He is the first player with consecutive 40-point performances in the NBA Finals since Shaquille O’Neal did it in 2000.
Meanwhile, the Warriors looked rattled Thursday night. Stephen Curry, who has won the last two NBA regular-season MVP awards, fouled out in the fourth quarter Thursday night. Upset with the call, Curry threw his mouthpiece into the stands and was ejected. It was the first ejection of his career. On Friday, the NBA announced Curry was fined $25,000 for throwing the mouthpiece.
“It’s obviously frustrating fouling out in the fourth quarter of a clinching game and not being out there with my teammates,” Curry said following Game 6. “It got the best of me, but I’ll be all right for the next game.”
The ultimate respect! #ThisIsWhyWePlay https://t.co/qRJPAGP0Fu
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2016
unbelievable series to watch, congrats to cleveland. very well deserved. lebron and kyrie were next level good.
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin23) June 20, 2016
Lebron did it. Everybody be quiet.
Goodnight.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 20, 2016
#ThisIsWhyWePlay #NBAVine https://t.co/NsB3dqLEQe
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2016
Congrats to the @cavs and the City of Cleveland. One heck of a series.
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 20, 2016
26pts. 10reb. 11ast. This is @KingJames' 16th playoffs triple-double, 7th in an #NBAFinals game #StriveForGreatness pic.twitter.com/kU2QAe2nGW
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 20, 2016
Curry hits from way outside on #NBAonABC. #NBAFinals #WARRIORSvCAVS #Game7 https://t.co/dWKGT4vR4U
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2016
12 more minutes… #Game7 #StrengthInNumbers pic.twitter.com/rxyIOCIavO
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 20, 2016
Thompson muscles through the paint for a lefty hook on #NBAonABC. #NBAFinals #WARRIORSvCAVS #Game7 https://t.co/Ptnfnc7VOp
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2016