Stephen Curry once admitted he couldn't stop Kyrie Irving's iconic 3-pointer in the 2016 NBA Finals: "I was right there, tried not to foul, I stayed in front and contested"

Stephen Curry once admitted he couldn’t stop Kyrie Irving’s iconic 3-pointer in the 2016 NBA Finals: “I was right there, tried not to foul, I stayed in front and contested” originally appeared on Basketball Network.

The 2016 NBA Finals were undoubtedly memorable given the unexpected twists and turns. With that being said, Kyrie Irving’s game-winning 3-pointer over Stephen Curry will always remain one of the main highlights of the unforgettable seven-game series.

A rematch from the 2015 Finals, with the Golden State Warriors prevailing over the Cleveland Cavaliers previously. Given the commanding 3-1 lead, it looked like history would repeat itself. However, LeBron James would not let this one slip so easily, especially with Irving by his side.

The Cavs won the next two games to tie the series at 3-3, with the Dubs still having the home-court advantage in Game Seven. Trading punches, there came a time when neither side could drain a shot until Irving took matters into his own hands, with 53 seconds left in the game.

A game-winning 3-pointer that etched his name in history. Unable to stop him, Curry did not have any regrets when it came to his defense.

“You could tell that’s a shot he’s worked on. I was right there. Tried not to foul. I stayed in front and contested. He just made an amazing shot. You have to give him credit. There’s nothing I’d do differently on that play,” said Curry, who was recently named the first-ever unanimous MVP in 2016.

Good defense but better offense

Interestingly, Klay Thompson had been assigned defensive duties on Irving. But a timely screen from J.R. Smith had Curry switching with his Splash Brother. The Chef was locked in despite the sudden adjustment but could do nothing to combat Uncle Drew’s wizardry.

Irving sank the 3-pointer, which gave the Cavs a 92-89 lead with less than a minute remaining. He ended the fourth-quarter scoring dry spell and helped Cleveland snap its 52-year championship drought. The first team to ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.

It was an emotional moment for James, considering his history with the franchise and city. None of this would have been possible without Irving, who averaged 27 points during the Finals and shot 40 percent from the field.

Mutual respect between Curry and Irving

Two generational guards known for their one-of-a-kind skill sets, Curry and Irving, were drafted two years apart. It’s no surprise, they were positioned as rivals, especially given their history in the Finals. Nevertheless, the two shared a common admiration for each other.

While Curry gave his flowers to Irving regarding the 2016 Finals game-winner over him, the latter never hesitated to acknowledge what No. 30 has meant to the game.

“I just show respect to the guys like that. He has put in a ton of work for our league, he has set the bar for a lot of us point guards of where we want to be, we are still chasing his legacy,” said Irving about Curry in 2024.

Both Curry and Irving have been game-changers when it comes to the point guard position in the NBA. Blessed with marksmanship and ball-handling skills, the two veterans have inspired a generation.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.

Stephen Curry once admitted he couldn’t stop Kyrie Irving’s iconic 3-pointer in the 2016 NBA Finals: “I was right there, tried not to foul, I stayed in front and contested”

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