Modern rivalry
Curry’s new basketball order met LeBron’s return to Cleveland in the only four-year run of identical Finals opponents in NBA history.
The story in one sentence
Curry’s new basketball order met LeBron’s return to Cleveland in the only four-year run of identical Finals opponents in NBA history.
Team-building decisions can reshape an entire era.
The greatest regular season does not guarantee the championship.
A rivalry can be historically great even when its final series tally is uneven.
Timeline
2014
LeBron James returned to Cleveland to join Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. In Oakland, Steve Kerr unlocked a homegrown core led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
2015
Injuries removed Love before the Finals and Irving after Game 1. LeBron carried Cleveland to a 2–1 lead, but Golden State’s smaller lineup and Andre Iguodala adjustment delivered the Warriors’ first title in 40 years.
2016
Curry became the first unanimous MVP and Golden State won a record 73 regular-season games. Cleveland then became the first Finals team to recover from 3–1 down, finishing Game 7 with the block, the shot and the stop.
Western finals · Warriors recover
Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Finals · the 3–1 comeback
Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers
2017
Kevin Durant joined the Warriors after their Finals loss. The resulting team went 16–1 in the postseason and beat Cleveland in five, with Durant claiming Finals MVP.
2018
LeBron’s 51-point Game 1 was undone in overtime after the infamous late-game rebound confusion. Golden State swept the series, finishing the four-year rivalry with three championships to Cleveland’s one.
Watch the history
2016 NBA Finals Game 7
A winner-take-all Finals matchup between Cleveland and Golden State, loaded with legacy pressure and late-game stakes.
2015-16 Regular Season
Golden State and Oklahoma City played a February overtime classic between title contenders and MVP-level stars.
2018 NBA Finals Game 1
Cleveland and Golden State opened another Finals series with an all-time individual performance and late confusion.
2018 Western Conference Finals Game 7
Houston and Golden State met in a winner-take-all conference finals game with a Finals berth at stake.