If you were sitting on your couch in June 2016, you probably thought it was over. Honestly, everyone did. The Golden State Warriors weren't just winning; they were a 73-9 juggernaut that looked like they’d been built in a lab to destroy the concept of "fairness" in basketball. They had a 3-1 lead. History said it was a wrap. No team had ever come back from that deficit in the Finals. Ever.
But then, the Cleveland Cavaliers did the unthinkable.
The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Finals 2016, beating the Warriors in a seven-game slugfest that essentially rewrote the legacy of LeBron James and ended a 52-year championship drought for the city of Cleveland. It wasn't just a win. It was a heist. It was a narrative miracle that shifted how we look at "inevitable" dynasties.
The 3-1 Hole: Why Nobody Believed
Let’s be real: Game 4 felt like the funeral. The Warriors walked into Cleveland’s building and took a 108-97 win. Stephen Curry dropped 38. The Cavs looked slow, disjointed, and—frankly—outmatched.
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At that point, the "LeBron can't win in Cleveland" crowd was getting loud.
Then, everything started to get weird. In the closing minutes of Game 4, LeBron and Draymond Green got into it. LeBron stepped over Draymond, Draymond swung his arm, and the league offices stepped in. They assessed a flagrant foul on Green after the fact. Because of his accumulated points during the playoffs, he was suspended for Game 5.
Was it the turning point? Maybe. But even without Draymond, Golden State was still at home for Game 5. They just needed one more win to start the parade.
Game 5 and 6: The Duo That Went Nuclear
If you want to know who won the NBA Finals 2016, you have to look at the box scores for Games 5 and 6. It’s some of the most ridiculous basketball ever played.
In Game 5, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving did something no teammates had ever done in a Finals game: they both scored 41 points. Just total, unadulterated dominance. They silenced Oracle Arena.
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The series shifted back to Cleveland for Game 6, and LeBron did it again. Another 41 points. He was playing like a man possessed, blocks at the rim, daggers from deep, and this terrifying defensive intensity that seemed to rattle the Splash Brothers. Suddenly, the "unbeatable" 73-win Warriors were headed to a Game 7.
The Greatest Game 7 Ever?
Game 7 was ugly. It was nervous. It was exactly what a championship game should be. Neither team could pull away. It was basically a backyard brawl where every bucket felt like it took ten minutes to earn.
Then came "The Block."
With the game tied 89-89 and less than two minutes left, Andre Iguodala went up for what looked like a guaranteed layup on a fast break. Out of nowhere, LeBron James pinned the ball against the backboard. It was a play that defied physics.
A few possessions later, Kyrie Irving stared down the unanimous MVP, Stephen Curry. He pulled up for a three-pointer that seemed to hang in the air for an hour. Swish.
Then, the most underrated part of the whole night: Kevin Love, who had struggled all series, found himself switched onto Curry on the perimeter. Love "clamped" him. He stayed in Curry's jersey, forced a missed shot, and the rest is history.
Key Stats From the 2016 NBA Finals
| Category | Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers | Runner-up: GS Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Series Result | 4-3 | 3-4 |
| Finals MVP | LeBron James | N/A |
| LeBron's Game 7 | 27 PTS, 11 REB, 11 AST | N/A |
| Draymond's Game 7 | N/A | 32 PTS, 15 REB, 9 AST |
The Aftermath: Why This Still Matters
This series changed the NBA. If the Warriors win this, maybe Kevin Durant never goes to Golden State. Maybe the "73-9" record is held up as the greatest season in sports history without the "but they lost" asterisk.
For Cleveland, it was redemption. LeBron's "Cleveland, this is for you!" scream on the court remains one of the most iconic moments in sports broadcasting. It validated his return to Ohio and cemented his place in the GOAT conversation.
How to Apply the 2016 Cavs Mindset
- Ignore the "Impossible" Label: If the 2016 Cavs listened to the analytics after Game 4, they would have stayed in the locker room. Sometimes the data doesn't account for raw will.
- Adjustment is Everything: Tyronn Lue made the bold choice to stop showing film after losses. He wanted his team to play "random" and fast to disrupt the Warriors' rhythm. It worked.
- The Power of One Stop: You don't have to be the best all the time. Kevin Love was criticized all series, but he made the one defensive stop that mattered most in the final minute.
If you’re looking to relive the magic, the best move is to watch the final five minutes of Game 7 without any distractions. Pay attention to the defensive rotations; that’s where the game was actually won. You can find the full game archive on the NBA's official YouTube channel or through NBA League Pass.
Check out the official NBA season archives to see the full game-by-game breakdown of how the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off the greatest comeback in basketball history.