The city of Cleveland had probably sunk to its darkest period in its miserable sporting history. Fanatics slumped into despondency specifically those of the Cavaliers, when in 2011 , their presumed saviour LeBron James, after seven trophy-less seasons with his home town team; made ‘the decision’ to move to South Beach and play for the Miami Heat. LeBron had apparently given up on his team, his fans and his city, who had not savoured the taste of Championship victory since the Cleveland Browns won the NFL Championship Game in 1964, two years prior to the inception of the SuperBowl.
Feelings of hopelessness escalated to outrage across Cleveland. Swallowing the bitter pill of LeBron’s highly anticipated South Beach announcement was too much, and many expressed their disappointment publicly through demonstrations, some as far as burning their LeBron James jerseys. The annihilation transcended the fans; as majority owner of the basketball franchise, Dan Gilbert vented about James’ departure, claiming that the Cavs would win a title before he could win one. James had evolved into the 21st century Judas.
Lebron moved on to Miami, teaming up with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to form the Heat’s new ‘big three’. Along with these two main superstars and the rest of the Heat lineup, James dominated the NBA for 4 seasons, making four straight Finals appearances and winning two championships (2012 and 2013) in the process; his impressive repertoire now complete.
Back in Cleveland, success continued to evade the sports fans of Ohio. For the basketball fans and the Cavs, championship credentials were still beyond the horizon. With the departure of LeBron, the Cavs acquired 2011 first round overall pick Kyrie Irving and built their team around him; but were still deficient of the missing pieces to the success jigsaw puzzle.
Meanwhile, ‘The King’ had finally reached his pedestal; he was finally a champion. Yet, somehow, that feeling of supremacy was not definite. The success, not what he had ultimately set upon this basketball journey to accomplish. A free agent in the 2014 off season, James faced another big decision.
With much speculation and rumours circling the media about James’ future, fans across the world questioned the probability of LeBron returning to his hometown team. Could he really go back and play for Cleveland, considering all the animosity and hate shown him following his departure? What guarantees do the fans have that he will deliver that long sought after title this time around?
LeBron ultimately made the move back to the Cavaliers much to the delight of his home fans. Already containing a rising star in the form of Kyrie Irving, Cavs acquired Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves to form their own big three. The team went on to finish second in the Eastern Conference with a 53-29 record and despite struggling with injuries, advanced to the NBA Finals.
Standing before them were the Golden State Warriors led by a determined Stephen Curry. Typically, LeBron took up the role of ace for the Cavs but with injuries to Irving and Love, his valiant efforts would not produce the ultimate prize. Curry, now recognized for his stellar shooting and with the league MVP already in his possession, snatched up the 2015 NBA championship as the Warriors prolonged the Cavalier nation’s wait for their year of glory.
With the 4-2 outcome of the 2014-15 finals, the Cavs began the 2015-16 season full of optimism and determined to cross that last hurdle. Cavs fans across the world were adamant that the championship would’ve been a reality had it not been for injuries to Irving and Love. LeBron and co. shared that similar confidence and were anxious to get another shot at the title. Their work was well cut out though, as the Warriors were showing all the traits of a true championship winning team.
Golden State continued from where they had left off the season prior, commencing the season with a 24-game winning streak. They went on to make NBA history by setting the best ever regular-season record of 73–9, breaking the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls record of 72–10. The Warriors broke over twenty NBA records and more than ten franchise records this season, including most wins ever recorded in a season (regular-season and postseason combined); with 88.
Steph Curry was also shattering records, as he and his ‘Splash Brother’ Klay Thompson left the league in awe with their sharp-shooter 3-point finishing. The Warriors continued by dominating in the playoffs, and when it appeared that they had reached their stumbling block, showed their championship calibre as they rallied from a 3-1 deficit versus the Oklahoma City Thunder to clinch the Western Conference title 4-3. Invincible?
As the Warriors stole every highlight reel, eclipsed record after record and won the hearts of fans worldwide, the Cavs continued to push toward their set goal. They finished the regular season with a record of 57–25 and took the number one seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2010. They carried that momentum into the playoffs, destroying the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks in the first round and conference semis 4-0, and then captured the Eastern Conference title, overcoming a Toronto Raptors team who were coming off a formidable season.
The finals beckoned, as Cleveland reached the penultimate goal for the second successive year, facing a Warriors team picked by most to repeat as champions. Golden State looked set to retain their title, as they sprung to a 3-1 series lead. But like the adage goes, “big players turn up when it matters”, and that’s exactly what LeBron James did. James led the Cavs to an improbable comeback in the series, levelling the contest at 3-3 and forcing a game 7. Kyrie Irving, who, after missing the finals the previous year, seemed to come of age, delivering big alongside James including him equalling LeBron’s forty one point tally in Game 5.
The much anticipated Game 7 saw an unyielding performance from both teams, with the lead switching over twenty times and the scores being level over ten times during the contest. As the game winded down, the scores remained tied at 89 a-piece for what seemed like an eternity, as both teams battled to close out the win. Kyrie Irving again stepped up to hit the contest-sealing three pointer, emphasizing how pivotal of a role he played in the finals. LeBron would have the final say, as he hit one of two of his final free throws, as time run out on Golden State and Cleveland finally did the impossible; winning their first NBA title with their 93-89 win and a 4-3 series score line.
Cue the celebrations, as the Cavs did the upset. They had done the impossible in more ways than one. They beat the Warriors and took the series and title on their home turf. They had finally rewritten the history books, erasing the engraved scripts of the Cleveland curse, which marred the city for generations. The Cavaliers also became the first team in NBA history to clinch the championship by overcoming a 3–1 deficit in an NBA Finals.
As for LeBron, the Cleveland son fell to his knees at the echo of the final buzzer. Filled with emotion, James shed tears of utter motivation, utter resilience and most of all utter joy; presumably for his entire city. The images of sheer relief and gratification were all too clear, as LeBron struggled through his interview to give a true definition of the significance and magnitude of this latest accomplishment, for his team, himself and most of all the people of his hometown.
LeBron James had delivered on his promise to bring a championship to Cleveland. This championship, although his third, definitely contains the most sentimental value and will warrant more euphoria than him winning another three rings. With sheer determination, audacity, guts, leadership and the will to go against all odds, ‘King James’ has placed his city back on the map, has breathed new life into the nostrils of dying, pessimistic sports fans, and in turn, finally established himself on the throne which he had acclaimed for himself ever since he hit a basketball gym.
Love him or hate him, it’s time to crown him.
