The 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers team is one that will always be remembered, mostly because of their 3-1 comeback against the Golden State Warriors. Other than that, it was a group of players with different personalities who enjoyed playing with each other, and unironically, they still hang out with each other to this day.
Some of the team celebrated the 10-year anniversary of winning the championship, and it included Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye. Both players recently sat down on Jefferson’s podcast to talk about the 2016 championship, and they shared the one person who gave them motivation to win.
“Steph talked a lot of s–t and we love Steph. Steph’s one of the nicest human beings, but like it was kind of out of character for him to say something,” Jefferson said. “One, it’s a bar, and he’s like ‘I have great memories in Cleveland, I hope their locker room still smells like champagne.’ You say that to an opposing team that you’re playing, and I think it had been said not during the finals; it was said during the regular season that really stung. So for us, Game 6, we’re not letting them have any champagne in this building. We don’t give a s–t.”
Richard Jefferson on when Steph Curry said he hopes the locker room still smells like champagne in Cleveland 2016 finals:
“Steph talked a lot of sh*t and we love Steph. Steph’s one of the nicest human beings but like it was kind of out character for him to say something and that… pic.twitter.com/pIt821peTu
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) July 18, 2026
That Warriors team had a lot to say that season, and Klay Thompson actually woke up James during the series when he said that his feelings were hurt.
The Cavs hung on to anything they could to give themselves motivation to come back into the series, and it worked. It led to the Cavs winning their first-ever championship, and James was able to do it for his hometown.
Now, many are hoping that James returns for a third stint before he retires and helps this current roster compete for a championship.