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Ex NBA Champion Ends Popular Shaquille O’Neal Myth to Give Due Credit to Unsung Hero in LeBron James’ Historic Finals Run in 2016

Published 10/27/2022, 10:30 PM EDT

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The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA championship win was one of the most dramatic victories in the league’s history. LeBron James-led Cavs were down by 3-1 in the Finals series. However, the team made a historic comeback to take their first championship home, with some sensational play during Game 7. James made a crucial block against the Warriors’ Andre Iguodala during the fourth quarter with a minute and a half left on the clock. His block is considered one of the greatest moments in the NBA. However, recently, former Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue gave due credit to one of the unsung heroes of the 2016 victory. He also ended the popular myth about Shaquille O’Neal.

The Cavs had a tough start to the 2016 Finals series. They lost the first two games in the series. However, LeBron James’ former team picked themselves up and won the third game. After a close Game 4 loss, the Cavs came together in their efforts to bring their first championship home. Cleveland won Game 6 and was tied with the Warriors at 89-89 in Game 7. LeBron James had just blocked a shot during a period of no scoring for almost four minutes in the fourth quarter.

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The former head coach asked Kyrie Irving where he wanted the ball, as James seemed quite exhausted after scoring 40+ points and running back and forth on the court constantly. Luckily, Irving got the ball where he wanted. He made a shot from beyond the arc and scored a three-pointer, securing the championship win for his team.

Lou praises unsung hero Kevin Love in LeBron James’ victory

Recently, Tyronn Lou talked about Kevin Love’s contribution during the 2016 championship win on The Old Man and the Three with JJ Reddick and Tommy Alter’s podcast. The three-time NBA champ as player and coach laid out his perspective as the Cleveland coach during the 2016 victory.

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During the final few moments, Kevin Love made a stop on Stephen Curry, denying him a shot which played a crucial role in the victory. The host asked Lou how confident was he about Love at that moment. Tyronn Lou said, “K Love listen, in big moments like Shaq’s out making free throws when it counts, when it counts I trust K Love to get a stop.”

Moreover, Lou shared that Kevin Love had 6-7 offensive rebounds during the final game and was huge for the Cavs when he was the coach.

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Watch This Story: “Promise Me You Won’t Go and Talk…”: 18-Year-Old LeBron James Rejected a $10 Million Check in the Hopes of a Bigger Payday 

Thus, apart from Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love took a crucial defensive responsibility in 2016. Helping LeBron James bring a championship home for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Written by:

Rohit Kumawat

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Rohit Kumawat is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing an MBA in Media and Business Management, Rohit holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He has been working as a Sports and Entertainment writer for over a year.
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Edited by:

Vineet Nandwana