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Kyrie Irving was the last NBA player to hit the game-winning shot in a Game 7 of the NBA Finals. In 2016, his three-pointer sealed a historic comeback that etched the names of Irving and LeBron James forever in NBA history, along with their other Cavaliers teammates.
Going into Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Irving appeared on NBA TV to preview the final game of the season and also recalled his own experience from nine years ago.
“Oh man, well first off, it's an honor to be here, thanks for having me, guys, be part of this great conversation. It's nothing like being at the pinnacle of the basketball world right now, especially the NBA. I mean, playing into the last, literally the last day of the season, something you kind of dream of as a kid. I pray that all your families are doing well, too. Man, for me, I'm excited just to see a new champion parade, you know, so to say, I'm ready to see this new blood, this new generation, kind of get to it."
“They're part of history now, you know, we haven't had a game seven since 2016, that's an incredible feat. I still remember game seven like it was yesterday. A lot of the guys from the 2016 team remember that as well, I mean, we etched our names forever, and one of the hardest, toughest sports championships. We beat each other up all season, we get to the playoffs, and we rough each other up even more so. And then you're battling your brothers, you're battling your peers. You're trying to find little weaknesses to take advantage of."
"But I feel like all that kind of goes out the window once game seven hits, and it's about the best last man standing. So, I'm excited for these young guns to get to it and some of the veterans that are playing.”
While speaking of his own 2016 experience in particular, Irving recalled how nervous the time was for both teams. He also claimed he caught Stephen Curry off guard with the final shot.
"I really felt like [Steph] didn't have an idea I was gonna go to that shot either."
"Game 7. I barely slept the night before. My hands were sweaty. I was incredibly nervous. It was legacy on the line."
CLUTCH GAME 7 FINALS MOMENTS
— NBA (@NBA) June 21, 2025
2016: Kyrie Irving pull-up triple with under a minute left to complete the Cavs 3-1 comeback pic.twitter.com/e8qgvWyeFu
In Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Irving had 26 points, including the final shot over Stephen Curry that sealed a historic comeback after being down 3-1 in the series. He averaged 27.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in that series to co-pilot the comeback alongside James. Some would even believe that he deserved the Finals MVP award over James for his performance in this series.
The stage is set for Game 7 of this season's NBA Finals, and all eyes are now on the Pacers and the Thunder to deliver a new champion to all basketball fans like Irving watching the exciting match-up. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite to win the Finals MVP award if the Thunder wins this game. But Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers may have other plans.
More must-reads:
- Warriors still positioning themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
- Warriors' Stephen Curry believes NBA players are 'underpaid'
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Warriors still positioning themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
Things have largely gone cold on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade front, but that does not mean teams are not thinking of the possibility of that changing. Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard noted that the Warriors are being cautious in negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, as he could be possible trade bait if Antetokounmpo is traded by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Warriors are adamant about not giving away Kuminga for less than his full trade value, which is why his situation remains unresolved with August looming. Kuminga and the Warriors have yet to agree on a contract, and it remains unclear when the situation will be resolved. He has a $7.9 million qualifying offer on the table, and signing it would allow him to approve any trade he is involved in. If he signs a multiyear extension, he would not be eligible to be traded until January, which could complicate things if Antetokounmpo decides late in the offseason that he wants a move. Presumably, Kuminga would be a key part of any trade the Warriors make involving Antetokounmpo. However, with no market materializing, there seems to be a growing chance he could remain with the team next season. The former No. 7 overall pick averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.8 steals per game last season. He appeared in 47 games, making 10 starts and averaging 24.3 minutes per game. However, he has been unable to consistently lock down a major spot in coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, which reportedly led to some tension between the two last season. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, still seems unlikely to be traded, but teams are still going to prepare for the possibility.
Important trade stalls as Maple Leafs dangle bottom-six forward
The Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking for a solution to their bottom-six surplus, and veteran forward Calle Jarnkrok remains at the center of trade discussions. However, according to The Fourth Period, trade talks surrounding the 33-year-old winger have failed to gain momentum. They write: “He has a $2.1M cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list. The market hasn’t been vibrant, to this point, but the Leafs will continue to dangle him.” Why can’t the Maple Leafs find a taker for Jarnkrok? Jarnkrok has quietly been on the trade block for much of the offseason, but general manager Brad Treliving has yet to find a taker. After adding several depth forwards this summer, the Leafs now face a crowded bottom six — and Jarnkrok’s age, injury history and $2.1M cap hit through 2025–26 aren’t helping his value. Since joining Toronto, Jarnkrok has appeared in only 71 games over two seasons, scoring a modest 28 points. While his defensive versatility and penalty-killing ability are assets, his declining offensive production and durability concerns have made teams wary. With training camp approaching, the Maple Leafs may be forced to keep Jarnkrok on the roster — or retain salary in a deal — if they want to create space and flexibility. Dropping his cap hit down to just over $1M would open up the market a little. Until then, the Swedish forward remains a trade candidate in limbo. This isn’t great news as moving Jarnkrok from the roster is an important item on the team’s to-do list. Treliving would like more cap space, and with Jarnkrok and David Kampf both still on the roster, it hampers the GM’s ability to do other things.
New suitor emerges for Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez
The Arizona Diamondbacks have plenty of suitors for third baseman Eugenio Suarez. A new team has reportedly entered the market for his services. Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Phillies have reached out regarding Suarez. While Lauber did not provide any indication as to whether or not those talks have gained traction, the Phillies are an intriguing suitor for the Diamondbacks' third baseman. The Phillies' interest may be a recent development. Jon Heyman of the New York Post speculated on Friday that the Phillies could emerge as a suitor in the wake of third baseman Alec Bohm landing on the injured list with a fractured left rib. Suarez is in the midst of what is arguably his best season thus far. He has produced a .249/.321/.587 batting line in 421 plate appearances entering Saturday with 36 homers and a major league-leading 87 RBI. Suarez would be more than just another powerful bat in the lineup. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Bryce Harper are both left-handed hitters — adding Suarez would provide more balance in the batting order. He would also provide a counter against opposing managers bringing in a lefty reliever to face Schwarber and Harper. The biggest question would be how the Phillies would handle an eventual logjam on the roster. Bohm is expected to return from the IL in mid-August and would not have a clear path to regular at-bats if Suarez were acquired. Schwarber could theoretically return to left field to open up playing time at the DH spot, but his outfield defense is mediocre at best. However, as the Phillies are also looking to upgrade the outfield, where Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh have been disappointments, adding Suarez could solve several problems in one fell swoop.
ESPN Predicts Mets-Twins Trade One Week Before Deadline
The New York Mets are a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East, but their pitching staff is still injury-ravaged despite the recent returns of Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. Brandon Waddell (hip), Dedniel Nuñez (elbow), Max Kranick (flexor), Paul Blackburn (shoulder), Tylor Megill (elbow), Griffin Canning (Achilles), Drew Smith (elbow), A.J. Minter (lat), Danny Young (elbow), and Christian Scott (elbow) are alll on the Mets' IL. The MLB Trade Deadline is July 31 at 6 p.m. EST, so the front office has one week to add healthy arms from around the league this season. ESPN's David Schoenfield predicted on Thursday that New York would trade for a Minnesota Twins reliever. "One guarantee of the trade deadline: The Mets will add to the bullpen, probably with more than one trade. Though the rotation still ranks fifth in ERA, that was built off a hot start," he wrote. "More importantly, the only Mets starter to complete six innings since June 7 has been David Peterson. As a result, manager Carlos Mendoza has run relievers Reed Garrett, Huascar Brazoban, Jose Butto and Ryne Stanek into the ground. The bullpen had a 2.78 ERA through May, but that figure is over 5.00 since the beginning of June (ranking near the bottom of the majors)." "The Twins have two high-profile relievers in [Jhoan] Duran and [Griffin] Jax, both of whom are under team control through 2027, so they'll be much more expensive than your usual short-term relievers if the Twins decide to trade one or both," he continued. "Duran would be harder to deal -- but bring more in return -- so we'll say Jax will go. Don't be fooled by his 4.09 ERA: He has 68 strikeouts and 12 walks in 44 innings with a 97-mph heater. He's an elite strikeout reliever, the type you want on the mound in October." The Mets are hot despite their injuries, as they're on a four-game winning streak and just swept the Los Angeles Angels. Next up is a road trip against the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. New York right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will face Giants right-hander Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08 ERA) on Friday.
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