By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Russian center Timofey Mozgov reminisced of winning the 2016 NBA championship title with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the unprecedented comeback from 3-1 down to the Golden State Warriors in the Finals.
“When we played the Finals there were polls. They showed who supported the Cavs and who supported Golden State. So about 85% was rooting for Golden State. Only Ohio and a few other places supported us,” Mozgov said in an interview with Raw Take. “When we were losing 3-1, people were hating on us. And then, over just a week when we won four games in a row and turned the series around, everything flipped from bottom to top.”
“It felt like the entire country did. “People went ‘oh this is the American dream. The boys who won against all odds'”
Mozgov also talked about Lebron James’ impact that went beyond his on-court contribution.
“If Lebron only played like he played and didn’t do his locker room speeches, we wouldn’t have won. As good as he was on the court, if he didn’t motivate the team as he did, we wouldn’t have won. He motivated us and made sure that we had the right attitude.”
“When we were trailing 3-1 not one player on the team thought we’d lose, thanks to him.”
Mozgov is still recovering from leg problems that kept him sidelined in 2018-2019. He will be forced to miss the 2019 World Cup.
“I’m going through treatment here now. I already feel better. I hope it will get much better,” Mozgov said.