Nobody thought the Cavs had much of a chance in the 2015 Finals against a record-setting 73-win Warriors team. Sure, Cleveland had LeBron James. But they were down 3-1 in the series and had lost to this same team a year earlier. The city of Cleveland was also nursing a 52-year championship drought across all of its major sports.
Draymond Green’s suspension in Game 5 opened the door a sliver. Two gritty Cavs wins later, Golden State hosted a tense Game 7. With less than two minutes remaining and the score tied at 89, LeBron had the defining moment of his career.
Golden State forward Andre Iguodala took off for a layup in the open court that looked like it would give the Warriors the lead. LeBron sprinted from out of nowhere though, pinning the ball on the glass to preserve the tie game. Moments later, Kyrie Irving buried a dagger 3-pointer that eventually led to a 93-89 win for Cleveland.
LeBron’s fingerprints were all over the series. He led both teams in points, rebounds and assists. None of his plays were as important as that chase down block. It ended Cleveland’s curse and brought a ring to his home state.
MORE: Back to The Sporting News' 140 Greatest Sports Moments of All Time
MORE:Why LeBron James is NBA's GOAT