2016 NBA Finals
2016 NBA Finals
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Finals, beating the Golden State Warriors 4-3. LeBron James was named Finals MVP.
The series was a rematch of the 2015 NBA Finals.
See every result since 1947 in the NBA champions by year list.
Who Won the 2016 NBA Finals?
The Cleveland Cavaliers won the series 4-3 as the Eastern Conference champion. The title was the first in franchise history.
2016 NBA Finals Series Result
| Champion | Cleveland Cavaliers |
|---|---|
| Runner-up | Golden State Warriors |
| Series result | Cavaliers win 4-3 |
| Games played | 7 |
| Finals MVP | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) |
| Season | 2015-16 |
| League | NBA |
| Trophy | Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy |
| Format | Best-of-seven, 2-2-1-1-1 |
Results checked against Basketball-Reference on November 14, 2026.
Who Was the 2016 NBA Finals MVP?
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers won the Finals MVP award. It was his 3rd Finals MVP. Since 2009 the award has been named the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
How the 2016 NBA Finals Fit in NBA History
- The series went the full 7 games, decided in a Game 7.
- For the Warriors, it was the 4th loss in the Finals.
- The Finals used the 2-2-1-1-1 home-court format that year.
2016 NBA Finals Results: Game by Game
The series ran from June 2 to June 19, 2016, in the 2-2-1-1-1 format. Golden State had home-court advantage after a 73-9 regular season, the best record in NBA history.
| Game | Date | Site | Result | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | June 2 | Oakland | Warriors 104, Cavaliers 89 | Warriors lead 1-0 |
| Game 2 | June 5 | Oakland | Warriors 110, Cavaliers 77 | Warriors lead 2-0 |
| Game 3 | June 8 | Cleveland | Cavaliers 120, Warriors 90 | Warriors lead 2-1 |
| Game 4 | June 10 | Cleveland | Warriors 108, Cavaliers 97 | Warriors lead 3-1 |
| Game 5 | June 13 | Oakland | Cavaliers 112, Warriors 97 | Warriors lead 3-2 |
| Game 6 | June 16 | Cleveland | Cavaliers 115, Warriors 101 | Tied 3-3 |
| Game 7 | June 19 | Oakland | Cavaliers 93, Warriors 89 | Cavaliers win 4-3 |
Scores and dates checked against Land of Basketball and the 2016 NBA Finals record on November 14, 2026.
How Did the Cavaliers Come Back From 3-1 Down?
No team had ever won the Finals after trailing 3-1. Cleveland did it by winning three straight, two of them in Oakland.
- Game 5: Draymond Green was suspended after reaching four flagrant foul points in the playoffs. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving each scored 41, the first teammates to both reach 40 in a Finals game. Andrew Bogut also suffered a season-ending knee injury.
- Game 6: James scored 41 again as the Cavaliers won by 14 at home.
- Game 7: the Cavaliers won 93-89 on the road to finish the comeback.
What Happened in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals?
Two plays decided it. With the score tied 89-89 and 1:50 left, James chased down Andre Iguodala and blocked his layup, the play now known as “The Block.”
With 53 seconds left, Irving hit a three over Stephen Curry for a 92-89 lead. Golden State could not answer, and Cleveland closed out a 93-89 win.
Why Did LeBron James Win the 2016 Finals MVP?
James led both teams in all five main categories across the series: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. All 11 media voters picked him.
| Stat | LeBron James, per game |
|---|---|
| Points | 29.7 |
| Rebounds | 11.3 |
| Assists | 8.9 |
| Steals | 2.6 |
| Blocks | 2.3 |
What Did the 2016 Title Mean for Cleveland?
It was the first NBA championship in Cavaliers history and ended a 52-year wait for a major professional title in Cleveland. Tyronn Lue became the 14th person to win an NBA title as both a player and a head coach.
The Warriors answered by signing Kevin Durant and beat Cleveland in the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals. The 2016 series sits in the middle of four straight Finals between the two teams, starting in 2015.
2016 NBA Finals FAQ
Who won the 2016 NBA Finals?
The Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Finals, beating the Golden State Warriors 4-3.
Who were the 2016 NBA champions?
The Cleveland Cavaliers were the 2016 champions of the NBA.
Who was the 2016 NBA Finals MVP?
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named Finals MVP.
How many games did the 2016 NBA Finals last?
The series lasted 7 games. It was decided in Game 7.
How many championships did the Cavaliers have after 2016?
The 2016 title was the first in franchise history.
Which season did the 2016 NBA Finals end?
The 2016 NBA Finals closed the 2015-16 season.
How many Finals had the Warriors lost by 2016?
The 2016 series was the franchise's 4th loss in the Finals.
The 2016 NBA Finals ended with the Cavaliers beating the Warriors 4-3, with LeBron James as Finals MVP. For every champion since 1947, see the NBA champions by year list.