Golden State Warriors 2015 NBA Champions!!
By Tom Withers, Associated Press
AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) dunks against Cleveland Cavaliers forward James Jones (1) during the second half of Game 6 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
CLEVELAND — As the final seconds ticked off and the Warriors began bouncing in celebration on their bench, Stephen Curry looked up and saw LeBron James coming at him.
James could do nothing more. He extended a conceding hand and congratulations.
Moments later, Curry was hoisting a trophy in the air — one as golden as his team.
Revived by Curry, their fresh-faced shooting superstar, and bonded by first-year coach Steve Kerr who made them believe, the Warriors ended a 40-year NBA championship drought on Tuesday night by finishing off James and the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers 105-97 in Game 6.
Curry and finals MVP Andre Iguodala scored 25 points apiece, Draymond Green recorded a triple-double and the Warriors — using a barrage of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to put Cleveland away — won their first title since 1975 when Gerald Ford was in the White House, disco was in vogue and Rick Barry was flicking in free throws under-handed.
And these Warriors are a lot like Barry and his old crew: fluid, balanced, together. Just like Steve Kerr hoped.
“I’m kind of speechless,” said Curry. “This is special. To be able to hold this trophy and all the hard work we’ve put into it this season, this is special. We’re definitely a great team and a team that should go down in history as one of the best teams from top to bottom. “James, who fell to 2-4 in the finals, didn’t hide his dejection.
“Doesn’t matter if I’m playing in Miami or playing in Cleveland or playing on Mars,” he said. “You lose in the finals, it’s disappointing. “After the Warriors were presented with the glittering Larry O’Brien Trophy by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, hundreds of gold-and-blue clad Warriors fans inside Quicken Loans Arena serenaded the new champs by singing “War-eee-ers, War-eee-ers” a cry that filled Oracle Arena all season and will greet the team on their return to California.
