Iman Shumpert and JR Smith were very valuable pieces for the 2016 NBA champions Cleveland Cavaliers. This duo landed from New York trying to make more than they did with Carmelo Anthony in the Big Apple. At the time, they joined a Cavaliers team trying to win its first NBA championship ever, but it seems like they didn't realize how important that trade was for them.
During a recent one-on-one conversation, the duo sat down to discuss what they initially thought when the trade was announced and how things changed for them after realizing they were put in an excellent position to win the Larry O'Brien trophy.
In the beginning, they weren't very happy about leaving New York, since the Knicks appeared to have the intention to keep building something good. However, it was pretty clear that the Cavaliers were the team to beat in the Eastern Conference after landing LeBron James and Kevin Love.
Once they learned about their new destination, things were a lot easier for Smith and Shumpert, who were happy to join the King and the Cavs team that would go to four consecutive NBA Finals.
“We get traded and I’ll never forget my heart dropped. I’m sick,” said Shumpert but once the two found out where they were going, their mood turned to a much happier one. “We’re going to Cleveland. Like we’re going, you looked at me like dog… I don’t think you see what I see, but we finna go get some jewelry.”
In the end, they only won one championship, but that's a lot more than many other players had during their careers. They found themselves in the best position to compete for a championship and maximized their opportunity. Some say the Cavaliers could have made something more in 2018, but JR Smith's infamous blunder during the final seconds of Game 1 ruined their chances.
Still, they knew they would win some jewelry in Cleveland and that's exactly what they did. In the end, it all worked out for the Cavaliers and especially Shumpert and Smith. They're both out of the league right now, but nobody can change the fact that they are NBA champions.
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