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LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 with one goal in mind: winning a championship for his hometown team. James would accomplish that goal in 2016 as the Cavaliers stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to stun the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
James basked in the glory of that triumph and would have hoped to form a dynasty with the Cavaliers. He suffered a massive blow in that quest just a few weeks after that iconic Game 7 win over the Warriors, though, thanks to Kevin Durant.
Durant joined the Warriors in the 2016 offseason to completely shift the balance of power in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James and Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant watch on during a game at Footprint Center.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Cavaliers managed to return to the Finals in 2017 but were blown away in five games by Durant and the Warriors. To make matters worse for James, his co-star Kyrie Irving would then request a trade in the offseason and was shipped to the Boston Celtics.
The Cavaliers would still make it back to the Finals in 2018 to face the Warriors, but there was little doubt about the outcome. The Warriors ended up sweeping them, and Game 4 would prove to be James' last game as a Cavalier, as of now.
James left for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 to bring an end to his second stint with his hometown team. It was an era that promised much but ended with just one championship.
Durant is the one often blamed for the Cavaliers never becoming a dynasty with James. On Friday, a fan on X reacted to Irving's highlights from the 2017 playoffs by blasting the Phoenix Suns star for ruining what could have been a dynasty in Cleveland.
Durant responded to the fan, and it's safe to say he isn't feeling too sorry about the consequences of his decision.
"I rejoice every morning that it didn’t happen."
Joining the Warriors led to Durant winning two championships, and he isn't regretting that move. They nearly three-peated, but Durant ruptured his Achilles and Klay Thompson tore his ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors would win the championship, and that series would turn out to be Durant's last as a Warrior. He joined the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 but has not won a title since.
Continue reading...
James basked in the glory of that triumph and would have hoped to form a dynasty with the Cavaliers. He suffered a massive blow in that quest just a few weeks after that iconic Game 7 win over the Warriors, though, thanks to Kevin Durant.
Durant joined the Warriors in the 2016 offseason to completely shift the balance of power in the NBA.
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Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James and Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant watch on during a game at Footprint Center.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Cavaliers managed to return to the Finals in 2017 but were blown away in five games by Durant and the Warriors. To make matters worse for James, his co-star Kyrie Irving would then request a trade in the offseason and was shipped to the Boston Celtics.
The Cavaliers would still make it back to the Finals in 2018 to face the Warriors, but there was little doubt about the outcome. The Warriors ended up sweeping them, and Game 4 would prove to be James' last game as a Cavalier, as of now.
James left for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 to bring an end to his second stint with his hometown team. It was an era that promised much but ended with just one championship.
Durant is the one often blamed for the Cavaliers never becoming a dynasty with James. On Friday, a fan on X reacted to Irving's highlights from the 2017 playoffs by blasting the Phoenix Suns star for ruining what could have been a dynasty in Cleveland.
Durant responded to the fan, and it's safe to say he isn't feeling too sorry about the consequences of his decision.
"I rejoice every morning that it didn’t happen."
Joining the Warriors led to Durant winning two championships, and he isn't regretting that move. They nearly three-peated, but Durant ruptured his Achilles and Klay Thompson tore his ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors would win the championship, and that series would turn out to be Durant's last as a Warrior. He joined the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 but has not won a title since.
Continue reading...
