[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9682-9683]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 509--CONGRATULATING THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS FOR 
        WINNING THE 2016 NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION FINALS

  Mr. BROWN (for himself and Mr. Portman) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 509

       Whereas, on June 19, 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated 
     the Golden State Warriors by a score of 93 to 89 in Oakland, 
     California, in a decisive game 7 to win the 2016 National 
     Basketball Association (referred to in the preamble as the 
     ``NBA'') Finals;
       Whereas the Cleveland Cavaliers have captured the first NBA 
     Finals victory in franchise history and have at last brought 
     the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy to Cleveland;
       Whereas the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team in 
     NBA Finals history to win a series after trailing 3 games to 
     1;
       Whereas LeBron James, who averaged 29.7 points, 8.9 
     assists, and 11.3 rebounds during the NBA Finals, led all 
     players from both teams in the respective statistical 
     categories of total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and 
     blocks and was named Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals 
     for the third time in his career;
       Whereas LeBron James became the third player in NBA Finals 
     history and the first since 1988 to record a triple-double in 
     game 7, scoring 27 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and making 
     11 assists in leading his team to victory;
       Whereas Kyrie Irving, who played a critical role through 
     the 2016 NBA Finals, scored 26 points in game 7 and hit a 
     crucial three-pointer with 53 seconds left to play in the 
     game;
       Whereas every member of the 2015-2016 Cleveland Cavaliers 
     team, including Matthew Dellavedova, Channing Frye, Kyrie 
     Irving, LeBron James, Richard Jefferson, Dahntay Jones, James 
     Jones, Sasha Kaun, Kevin Love, Jordan McRae, Timofey Mozgov, 
     Iman Shumpert, J. R. Smith, Tristan Thompson, and Mo 
     Williams, played an integral role in bringing the NBA 
     Championship to Cleveland;
       Whereas head coach Tyronn Lue and his entire team of 
     assistants and team staff worked together to put the 
     Cleveland Cavaliers players in a position to win the 2016 NBA 
     Finals;
       Whereas General Manager David Griffin and the entire 
     Cavaliers basketball front office have worked to assemble a 
     championship team and create a culture and environment that 
     fosters the very best performance and the highest success;
       Whereas owner Dan Gilbert has helped build a first-rate, 
     championship sports franchise in the city of Cleveland;
       Whereas, prior to June 19, 2016, the 3 major sports 
     franchises in Cleveland had not won a championship since 
     1964;
       Whereas on June 19, 2016, LeBron James completed his goal 
     of bringing an NBA Championship back to northeast Ohio, and 
     the Cleveland Cavaliers ended a 52-year championship drought 
     for the city of Cleveland; and
       Whereas the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers have brought pride and 
     elation to Cleveland and the entire State of Ohio by winning 
     the 2016 NBA Finals:
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Cleveland Cavaliers for winning the 
     2016 National Basketball Association Finals;
       (2) recognizes the contributions and achievements of all 
     the players, coaches, and staff who contributed to the 2015-
     2016 season;
       (3) applauds the fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers who have 
     never given up hope in the pursuit of their first ever 
     championship; and
       (4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit for 
     appropriate display an official copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert;
       (B) the coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyronn Lue; and
       (C) the leader of the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James.

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