If you weren’t sleeping under a rock, you probably have found out by now that the Cleveland Cavaliers have won their first NBA Championship under LeBron James’ reign. LeBron James finally brought a championship to the city of Cleveland. The game was essentially in a tight gridlock until Kyrie Irving hit a shot that will forever be in history. Despite LeBron James racking up Finals MVP, Kyrie Irving’s play in the series helped elevate the Cavaliers to another level.
Kyrie Irving had another astonishing night, finishing with 27 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, a steal and this final dagger:
It was an unforgettable shot, one that will be written down in the history books. Kyrie’s play late in the series was really what helped propel the momentum towards the Cavaliers and pull off the upset. Kyrie Irving throughout the series, hit clutch shot after clutch shot, and he says there was one thing that helped him with his mentality entering Game 7, Kobe Bryant. The Mamba Mentality, that unconscious feeling of confidence, the feeling that the basketball is 3 feet wide and you can not miss. According to Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated:
“All I was thinking in the back of mind was Mamba Mentality.” Kyrie Irving, Kobe Disciple, on Game 7 approach
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) June 20, 2016
“That shot has to be one of the biggest shots in NBA history.” Tyronn Lue on Kyrie Irving
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) June 20, 2016
Kobe Bryant finds his way back to the NBA Finals for one last time, this time in his reincarnated version Kyrie Irving. Irving’s ability to score clutch shots was truly like Mamba Mentality, level 90000. This isn’t the first time Kyrie has praised Kobe Bryant after a game winning shot, and hopefully it won’t be the last.
