This Day In Cavs History: 2016 NBA Championship Ring Night

Seven years ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated their NBA Finals victory while Game 2 of the World Series was happening next door.

Throughout the 2023-24 NBA season, Spencer Davies is going to turn back the clock to milestone moments and important dates in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ past with “This Day In Cavs History.” Whether they’ve been good or bad, these events were significant in the franchise’s 53-year existence.

Who in Northeast Ohio could ever forget Oct. 25, 2016? Not only were the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrating their NBA Finals triumph over the Golden State Warriors, but next door the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) were hosting Game 2 of MLB’s World Series on the same night.

It was a truly electric time for everybody in the city. Inside then-Quicken Loans Arena, the Cavs were presented with their championship rings one-by-one. After that, along with the fans, the team watched as the first banner in franchise history was raised to the rafters.

Smiles, cheers and tears filled the air in honor of Cleveland’s legendary 3-1 Finals series comeback against the Warriors, who won a league-record 73 games in the regular season.

It may have been the Cavs’ first title in franchise history, but it was the city’s first major sports championship since 1964. JR Smith couldn’t hold back his emotions as he saw history unfold before his eyes, knowing he’d be immortalized forever with his teammates.

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; General view during the ring ceremony and NBA championship banner raising ceremony before a game against the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena / Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

That night, the Cavs took care of business and routed the New York Knicks by a final score of 117-88. Kyrie Irving led the way with 29 points, four rebounds and a couple of steals. LeBron James recorded a 19-point, 14-assist, 11-rebound triple double, while Kevin Love poured in 23 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.

It also should be noted that one year later, on the same date, LeBron passed Zydrunas Ilgauskas for the most games played as a Cavalier in franchise history.