Cleveland Cavaliers star in NBA pictures of the season
Published:
Robbie Purves | June 23, 2016
The NBA season produced some jaw-dropping moments and culminated in LeBron James lifting Cleveland Cavaliers’ first ever championship.
From Purple Shirt Man trash-talking with Dwyane Wade to Draymond Green becoming the archetypal villain, we take a look at some of the best moments in pictures…
Cleveland crazy for Cavaliers
For the first time in over 50 years, the city of Cleveland held a championship winning parade after NFL outfit the Browns won in 1964. Cleveland Cavaliers, who so many doubted when coming into the Finals, overcame previous champions Golden State Warriors in Game 7.
Cav’s LeBron James was greeted as a hero, standing in the back of a Rolls Royce making his way through downtown Cleveland. King James returned to his hometown team in 2014 and promised Cavaliers a championship. Two years later he fulfilled his promise.
LeBron leads Cavs to glory
LeBron was named the Finals MVP and sealed his place among the greatest ever, with jaw-dropping performances against a side that broke the regular season win record.
Cavs defied the odds by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit, a feat never before done in the NBA Finals.
Draymond diminishes Dubs dominance
With a punch to LeBron’s groin and getting sucked into a physical battle, Green may have cost his team a championship.
The suspension was devastating to Dubs and played a part in turning basketball fans against the Warriors and root for the Wine and Gold.
Purple Shirt Man
With Miami Heat facing elimination in Charlotte after losing three straight games, Dwyane Wade was at his playoff best, burying Charlotte Hornets with 23 points to force a Game 7.
Charlotte possessed a rather confident fan that night, who repeatedly trash-talked Wade court-side. The supporter known only as ‘Purple Shirt Man’, soon regretted his antics as Heat won the series 4-3.
Adams excels
One of the stories of the Playoffs, was the emergence of Oklahoma City Thunder’s New Zealander, Steven Adams.
The Kiwi was a real dominating force in the paint, collecting rebounds and blocking shots. Thunder pushed Golden State to a nail-biting seven games.
Basketball says bye to Kobe
After 20 years with Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant hung up his jersey for good.
The five-time NBA Champion signed of with a mammoth 60 points in his final game, outscoring the entire Utah Jazz team 23–21 in the fourth quarter.
Warriors break win record
Steve Kerr’s Golden State broke the regular season win record, with their final regular season game over Memphis Grizzlies – surpassing that of Chicago Bulls’ 1995/96 72 wins.
Warriors were by far the best team in the regular season, but does it really matter when Steph Curry didn’t collect a second ring?
