I worked with Triumph Books to publish “Cleveland Is King” in 2016 after the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Championship. This book went on to make the New York Times Best-Sellers list. Below is an excerpt from the final submission for the book recapping LeBron and the Cavs Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Page No. 26: “Crowned”
Cleveland, this is for you. The simple words of LeBron James that boomed through the national airwaves following Game 7 of the NBA Finals met the masses gathered in his city’s streets with the grace of Shakespearean prose. James had defined his wonder of will on basketball’s biggest stage, and delivered on a promise to rise above 52 years of defeat with one glorious victory.
From Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland to Akron General Hospital, the spirit of every soul ever born to the The Land of Northeast Ohio smiled proudly on its favorite son. On June 19, 2016, the kid from Akron had made them all champions.
“I’m coming home with what I said I was going to do,” LeBron James said after helping his Cavaliers become the first team to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to win the NBA Finals. “I can’t wait to get off that plane, hold that trophy up and see all our fans at the terminal.”
James capped off an MVP performance in the NBA Finals with a 27-point, 11-assist and 11-rebound triple double. He played all but one of the 48 minutes required to decide the greatest Game 7 in NBA history. As the final buzzer signaled an end to the 93-89 battle, Tyronn Lue sobbed on the Cleveland Cavaliers bench while James collapsed to the very hardwood he had just conquered.
His team had defeated a collection of Warriors from Golden State who very much deserved the title they bravely fought to defend. On this night, however, Cleveland was king–and its city would rejoice forever.
“It’s not even a relief, it’s excitement for us–as a team, as a franchise, as a city, as a community,” LeBron said. “To be able to continue to build up our city, continue to be an inspiration to our city, it means everything and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
With 53 seconds remaining, Kyrie Irving rose up to hit the biggest shot in Cavs franchise history when he connected on a 25-foot three-pointer with Stephen Curry defending to provide his team with a 92-89 advantage. The heroic dagger from the Cavaliers point guard who suffered a season-ending injury on the same court 12 months earlier gave Irving his 26th point of the contest.
“I was just thinking that the next team that scores has a great chance of winning that championship, and I hope we can be that team that’s on that end,” Irving said about his go-ahead three-pointer.
It was the second triple he buried on the night, to go along with six rebounds, bettering the 17 points totaled by the two-time MVP he started opposite. Irving would finish the series with averages of 27 points, four rebounds and four assists on over 40 percent shooting from beyond the arc. If not for his superstar teammate, it was an effort worthy of the trophy bearing Bill Russell’s name.
It’s a fools-errand to attempt to describe what LeBron James actually did throughout the 2016 NBA Finals—especially during Games 5, 6 and 7. We all witnessed it. We all saw it. He gave us all memories unique to the emotions that raced through our veins as we watched. James turned professional sports into a fairytale as he furiously chased a championship he promised to deliver.
He gave children and adults alike all reason to hope, and all reason to dream. He played like the Chosen One, he led like the King, and he continued to make his case as one of the very best to ever play the game he so very much loves. If history requires numbers to quantify his brilliance, LeBron offered 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists throughout the series to earn the Finals MVP Award. He poured his heart on the floor for 42 minutes per night, smashing chase-down blocks off the backboard that seemed to shatter both the glass and spirit of his championship-caliber opponent.
Standing in the crossroads of defeat, trailing the 73-win Warriors 3-1, James made the wish of a Cleveland resurgence appear more real with every shot he fired. He relentlessly pursued a dream his city so desperately shared, and inspired his teammates to continue the fight in face of adversity. James would believe in Kevin Love and the All-Star forward delivered in the deciding moment by collecting 14 rebounds and finishing with a game-high plus/minus rating of +19 in Game 7.
LeBron implored J.R. Smith to keep shooting, Iman Shumpert to keep defending, Tristan Thompson to keep scrapping, and they all showed up alongside their leader. More than he did it for legacy and legend, LeBron did it for them, and he did for us, reminding all who witnessed his finest achievement that victory is always within reach for those who dare to believe.
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