The 2016 NBA Finals were one of the most memorable in league history. What started as a beatdown for the Cleveland Cavaliers ended up becoming the biggest comeback in league history after the LeBron James-led team returned from a 3-1 deficit and beat the Golden State Warriors in an incredible series.
After doing the same to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals, the Dubs didn’t think they could have the same fate, but a couple of factors helped the Cavaliers on their way to the championship, including LeBron and Kyrie Irving playing at a great level, leading their squad to the longed-for title.
Many people have blasted the Warriors for blowing a 3-1 lead in the biggest series of all, calling them out for playing badly when they needed to win just one game. Well, for Steph, they didn’t lose the series, they were beaten by the Cavs in a dog fight. During a 2020 interview on SHOWTIME’s “All the Smoke,” the 2x NBA MVP claimed that more than the Dubs losing the series, the Cavs ultimately beat them.
“‘16 was, you know, just an up and down crazy playoffs run, Finals. In the Finals, I think the wheels fell off and Kyrie and LeBron played unbelievable for three straight games. I don’t think people talk about that part of it as much, it’s always like we all suck. We got beat, we didn’t lose. We got beat. So at the end of the day, when we all hosting our own podcast, and when I look across the room and see Kyrie and LeBron and Kawhi and Kyle Lowry, I’d be like, ‘yo, that was fun as hell, bro.’”
Curry gave props to his former rivals but gave a strange reason why the Warriors couldn’t win the 2016 NBA championship, too. Yes, the Cavs played incredibly from Game 5 through Game 7, but the Dubs only needed one win to secure the title. Still, nobody will change Steph’s mind, and he seems fine with all of that now.
That series was incredible, it had a lot of emotions, controversy, big shots, epic performances, and more. It was the perfect closure to arguably the greatest season in NBA history. The Warriors could have finished a season with the best regular-season record and a championship to top it off.
