Nine years ago today, the Cleveland Cavaliers won their first championship in franchise history, beating the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.
The Cavaliers are the only team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
Cleveland icon LeBron James reacted to the nine-year anniversary of the Cavaliers’ lone title by posting a video to his Instagram story of him popping champagne in the postgame locker room at Oracla Arena on June 19, 2016.
James wrote, “What a time it was!”
The Cavaliers won Game 5 at Oracle Arena by a final score of 112-97. James and Kyrie Irving both scored 41 points.
Cleveland then won Game 6 at home by a final score of 115-101. James went off for 41 points again. He also had eight rebounds, 11 assists, four steals and three blocks.
Game 7 was back in Golden State and it’s still to this day one of the best games in NBA history. The Cavaliers won, 93-89.
James had his famous chase-down block on Andre Iguodala and Irving hit the game-winning 3 over Stephen Curry.
James put up 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 7. He finished the seven-game series with averages of 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks.
“I told the guys before we left (for Game 5), I was like listen, we’re gonna win Game 5,” James said on the Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash. “I can feel it. We’re gonna win Game 5. I know you guys are upset about losing Game 4 at home, but whatever you got, just bring it with you to Golden State. I promise you if we get back to Cleveland for a Game 6, there will be a Game 7 and I’ll take it from there.
“I just need y’all to lock in. I know y’all not gonna have much sleep. You’re not gonna sleep after losing Game 4 because we had our chances.”
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