Golden State Warriors are NBA Champions.
The Oakland side won the title for the second time in three years, on Monday night. They defeated 2016 champions Cleveland Cavaliers 129-120 to win the best-of-seven series 4-1.
Kevin Durant was named the Finals MVP after scoring 39 points in the win. Durant joined the Warriors at the start of the season, and alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the team has become the most dominant in the NBA.
Having lost Game 4 in the Finals, and the chance to go unbeaten the in the Playoffs, the Warriors did not need a second opportunity to win their second title in three years. The team are only the second to achieve a 16-1 record, following in the footsteps of the 2001 LA Lakers.
Championship squad 🆠#DubNation pic.twitter.com/FCEk4zSe2F
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) June 13, 2017
Despite being on the losing side, LeBron James scored 41-points in defeat, and was the game's top-scorer. Despite the loss, James admitted he had no regrets.
"I left everything on the floor every game, all five games. So for me personally I have nothing to be - I have no reason to put my head down."
"I have no reason to look back at what I could have done or what I shouldn't have done or what I could have done better for the team. I left everything I had out on the floor every single game for five games in this Finals, and you come up short."
For Durant, the win validates his move to the Warriors at the start of the season, from Oklahoma City Thunder. Throughout the season, he has been the subject of abuse over his move.
KD & Steph celebrate as NBA Champions!! #NBAFinals #DubNation #ThisIsWhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/83SPAoQWWf
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2017
"The toughest challenge was to come in here and see how I can help Steph get better, see how I can help Klay get better, Draymond, Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee, the whole team, just see how I can help them get better, that was more important to me than anything."
"Proving haters wrong, like that's cool, that's cool for me to talk about it on Instagram or Twitter. But like you don't concern me, I'm coming in and working every day, seeing how I can be the best teammate I can be, the best player I can be."
For the third year in a row, the Warriors and the Cavaliers met in the Finals. Don't count out a repeat once more next season.
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