NBA History: Revisiting the top 5 moments from a memorable 2015-16 season

#3 Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan retire

Three of the best the NBA has ever offered

Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan have won 11 NBA rings, awarded 4 MVP trophies, and 48 NBA All-Star game appearances between them. It was sad to see them all retire in '16, yet honoring their time in the NBA is essential. Their Hall of Fame class of '20 can be considered the best of all-time. They had so many battles late in the playoffs as competitors, and are as great a representation of the NBA as any trio that has ever lived. They each put a stamp on the game in such different ways with totally different personalities. Their personalities are what each are known for, and though Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan are still with us, Kobe Bryant's family will always be in our thoughts. With Kobe Bryant's passing in January of 2020, a sadness was cast over the NBA. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony was a big help, yet Kobe Bryant you are missed.

KG told Marc Spears:

"That was our parallel. As much as he wanted to win, I wanted to win. As much as he thought he was the best, I thought I was the best. It was great back and forth, it was great competition. I don't think I'm the only one in here that thinks Kobe Bryant is missed. I miss him everyday and what he brought not just to the game of basketball but to sports period."

Tim Duncan as well to Spears:

"I think that's what I appreciate about remembering playing against him and being on the court with him. A fierce competitor and always demanding more of his team and his teammates than probably was possible but he wanted to win that much, he wanted it that much and it was an honour to share the court with him."

Welcome home #20HoopClass. 🏆🏀 pic.twitter.com/p8XCIy7M30

— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) May 16, 2021

#2 Steph Curry is voted unanimous MVP as Warriors go 73-9

Curry's unanimous MVP year is as great a season as sports as seen

in 2016, Steph Curry put up insane numbers. His averages of 30.1 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds don't jump off the page until digging a little deeper. Curry shot 50% from the field - including a ridiculous 45% from the arc - and 90% from the charity stripe. Nothing was charity for Steph that season. He led the Warriors to an NBA record 73-9 season and was unanimously named MVP. Think about it: of all the legends that played in the NBA, Curry is the only one who won first place on every ballot. Of the shots taken that season, 50% of Steph Curry's attempts from the field were behind the arc. Wow. His season is arguably the greatest the NBA has recorded.

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers come back from 3-1 in NBA Finals

In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers won their first NBA championship

As historic as the Golden State Warriors were in the 2016 regular season, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were a little better. Having lost to the Warriors the previous year in the Finals without Kyrie Irving for much of the series, it did not appear that anyone could overtake a Warriors' squad that just didn't lose. LeBron averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks -- including an all-time chase down block of Andre Iguodala; Kyrie Irving was 27, 4 and 4, and hit one of the biggest shots in NBA history in the clutch to defeat the defending champs in 7 after being down 3-1. Many what-ifs exist about the classic series, yet beating one of the best all-time teams has done wonders for LeBron James' legacy.

In defeat, Steph Curry said this to ESPN:

“It’s not a good feeling,” Curry said. “At the end of the day, we want to keep this memory so that it will fuel us as we stay together as a team. Because like Draymond said, this ain't the last time you’re going to this stage. Just a tough feeling.”

He wasn't lying.

BleacherReport: Five years ago today, LeBron, Kyrie and the Cavs made history vs. the Warriors 🔥Only team to come back from a 3-1 lead in the Finals pic.twitter.com/LPfJE1mtX2

— Koncorde Krash (@Koncorde_Krash) June 19, 2021