<P> The 2016 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) 2015 -- 16 season and conclusion of the 2016 playoffs . The Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors 4 -- 3 in a rematch of the 2015 NBA Finals . It was the 14th rematch of the previous NBA Finals in history , and the first Finals since 2008 in which the number one seed in each conference met . It was the second straight rematch in back - to - back years , as the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs played each other in 2013 and 2014 . </P>
<P> The 2016 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) 2015 -- 16 season and conclusion of the 2016 playoffs . The Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors 4 -- 3 in a rematch of the 2015 NBA Finals . It was the 14th rematch of the previous NBA Finals in history , and the first Finals since 2008 in which the number one seed in each conference met . It was the second straight rematch in back - to - back years , as the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs played each other in 2013 and 2014 . </P>
when did the cavs win the nba championship
when did the cavs win the nba championship
2016
2016