Who Was the Winner of NBA 2018? Complete Championship Recap and Analysis
Let me take you back to that incredible night in June 2018. I still remember sitting in my living room, surrounded by friends who couldn't decide whether to cheer for LeBron's heroic solo act or the Warriors' dynasty. When the final buzzer sounded at Quicken Loans Arena, the Golden State Warriors had completed their sweep against the Cleveland Cavaliers, claiming their third NBA championship in four years with a 108-85 victory in Game 4. That 2018 championship run was particularly fascinating because it represented something different from their previous titles - it was more about mental toughness than pure dominance.
What many casual fans forget is how close the Warriors came to not even making the Finals. The Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets stretched to seven games, with Chris Paul's hamstring injury in Game 5 becoming one of those "what if" moments that still haunt Rockets fans. I've always believed that series was the true NBA Finals that year - the level of basketball was just extraordinary. The Warriors were pushed to the brink, down 3-2, before clawing back with two consecutive wins. That Game 7 where the Rockets missed 27 consecutive three-point attempts? I've never seen anything like it in all my years watching basketball.
The championship series itself felt almost anticlimactic after that brutal Western Conference battle. LeBron James was practically carrying the Cavaliers on his back throughout the playoffs - his performance in Game 1 of the Finals was absolutely legendary, scoring 51 points in what many consider one of the greatest individual Finals performances ever. But when J.R. Smith's infamous clock mishap cost them that game, you could feel the air go out of Cleveland's sails. I remember texting my basketball group chat right then: "That's the series." And unfortunately, I was right.
Kevin Durant took home his second consecutive Finals MVP, averaging 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists throughout the series. Steph Curry's shooting, Draymond Green's defense, and Klay Thompson's two-way play created what I believe was the most complete version of that Warriors team. What made them special wasn't just their talent - it was their basketball IQ. They played like they could see two moves ahead of everyone else.
The legacy of that Warriors championship continues to influence how teams are built today. The emphasis on three-point shooting, positionless basketball, and having multiple playmakers - these concepts that the Warriors perfected have become standard across the league. Even looking at international basketball, you can see their impact. Speaking of international basketball, it reminds me of how dominant players can transcend their leagues. Just like June Mar Fajardo capturing his ninth PBA MVP in the Philippines demonstrates sustained excellence in professional basketball, the Warriors' core group maintained that championship level for years.
What's interesting about championship teams is how they handle adversity. The Warriors faced significant challenges throughout that 2018 season - injuries, fatigue from their long playoff runs, and the constant pressure of being the team everyone wanted to beat. Yet they found ways to win when it mattered most. That mental toughness separates good teams from championship teams. I've always believed that championship DNA isn't about never struggling - it's about finding solutions when conventional methods fail.
Looking back, the question of "Who Was the Winner of NBA 2018?" has layers beyond just the final score. The Warriors won the championship, but LeBron's incredible playoff performance cemented his legacy before moving to Los Angeles. The Rockets demonstrated they had built a legitimate challenger. And the league as a whole saw the blueprint for modern basketball perfected. Five years later, I still find myself analyzing that season, that playoff run, and particularly that championship series. It represented the culmination of a dynasty while simultaneously showing the cracks that would eventually lead to its dissolution. The Warriors would make one more Finals appearance in 2019 before the team's core began to separate, making 2018 the last championship of their historic run. Sometimes you don't fully appreciate what you're witnessing until it's over - and that 2018 championship was definitely one of those moments.