As the Golden State Warriors took a 3-0 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals, Stephen Curry found himself on the verge of winning his third NBA championship in a span of four seasons.
But according to one of his teammates at the time, the two-time NBA MVP was actually upset after the game as it appeared clear he had just missed out on finally being named the NBA Finals MVP for what would have been the first time in his career.
“I remember, they was neck and neck, KD and Steph,” Nick Young said of Kevin Durant and Curry while appearing on Gil’s Arena. “And then Steph had one bad game. KD was hitting. Locker room, Steph’s head was down, damn near tears. Yeah, after a a win, he wanted to win that b****. KD was trying to give it to him. Like, KD won it the year before. He was trying to give it to him, but Steph couldn’t hit a shot.”
Steph Wanted The Finals MVP 🏆 pic.twitter.com/cQbuChUQcz
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) June 11, 2024
The game Young is was referencing appears to be Game 3, in which Durant scored 43 points, including a dagger 3-pointer to seal the game, while Curry scored just 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting. The Warriors would go on to win Game 4, with Durant being named the series MVP for the second straight year. Curry, however, would eventually capture his elusive first NBA Finals MVP award four years later when the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.