(Getty)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are NBA champions, and as if there was ever any doubt, hometown hero LeBron James is Finals MVP for the third time of his career.
Congrats to the #NBAFinals MVP @KingJames
Leading Cleveland to the city’s first championship in 52 years, James was very clearly the best player throughout the entire series, leading everyone in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. After a series-clinching triple-double, which made him just the third player in history to record one in a Game 7 of the NBA finals (joining Jerry West and James Worth), he finishes with ridiculous averages of 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks.
LeBron is sick. 41, then 41, then triple-double in Game 7, two wins on road and history made. And absolutely did it his way. Much respect.
36.3 points, 11.7 boards, 9.7 assists, 3.0 steals, 3.0 blocks in three elimination games against a team that won a record 88 games. #LeBron
The debate is over on LeBron James.
I was in Cleveland the night LeBron left. Those folks were crushed. Unlike anything I’d ever seen. This is cool to see. Celebrate.
While Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson undoubtedly both deserve credit for their contributions–Irving, in particular, was unstoppable on offense at times and hit the series-clinching three in the final minute–but James was simply transcendent for so much of the last seven games, willing his team back from a 3-1 series deficit.
There was talk that LeBron was going to receive MVP even if the Cavs lost, but there’s no need to worry about that now.