The Golden State Warriors are the 2015 NBA Champions. The Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-97 to win the series 4-2.
These are some highlights from the series and final win:
- The Warriors won their first title in 40 years. Let’s not forget a team with no finals experience and a rookie head coach.
- LeBron James took the Cavs further than expected in my opinion, he left it all on the court. His numbers for the finals set another record: he was the first player in NBA history to lead both teams in points, rebounds and assists.
- Andre Igudola was ready when his number was called. He hadn’t started a game all season. He came to the Warriors and was convinced to take a role coming off the bench, now he’s an NBA finals MVP. Iggy took on the challenge of defending LeBron for most of the series.
- Steph Curry didn’t get a single vote for finals MVP, and Bron was only 3 votes short of finals MVP. His performance was for the ages, but I am of the belief that the MVP has to come from the winning team.
He does join an elite list of players who won their first MVP award and first title in the same season, that list includes Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem, Willis Reed and Bob Cousy
- Harrison Barnes had his first sip of alcohol Tuesday night after the Warriors won.
- Riley Curry, her mother Ayesha and grandmother Sonya are EVERYTHING! We love the Curry family.
This finals series was the highest rated finals since Jordan in 98.
It last happened in 1998, when Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls beat the Utah Jazz with 29 million people watching on NBC. Since then, the closest the series has come to 20 million viewers was 14 years ago, when an average of 18.9 million watched the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers in five games.
Now, as the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors head to Game 6 on Tuesday, with the Warriors holding a 3-2 series lead, the 20 million threshold is well within reach again.
Through Game 5, viewership on ABC this year is at 19.2 million per game, up 25 percent from last year.
- JR left the arena on his two-wheeler again. He said he will opt out of his contract this summer. The reason is because he wants a more lucrative deal, not because he wants to leave the Cavs. Some will question if he deserves more money after his performance.
- In the #PostGame press conference, LeBron looked really down. In discussing the heartbreak – losing his fourth final after going to six. He said he questions if its worst losing the finals or not making the playoffs at all.
It’s probably not a coincidence that the Warriors won their first title on Tupac’s birthday!
Rest in peace Mac Dre Warriors did it for The BAY
YaY AREAAAAAAAAAAAA, stand up.
Jill MunroeJill Munroe is a Los Angeles-based host, producer, and writer. You can find her work on sites such as FoxSports.com, EURweb.com, and MSN.com. Munroe is a current member of the African-American Film Critics Association and the National Association of Black Journalists. Munroe has also been a frequent guest on ESPN radio and Yahoo Sports. In 2015, Munroe released her first book, "PostGame Pass: access into "the life" JillMunroe.com