Kellerman Claims LeBron Was 'Worth Two Stephs' in 2016 Finals

ESPN analyst says LeBron James clearly outperformed Stephen Curry when it mattered most in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 12:35pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic interplay between two basketball players, their forms and movements deconstructed into sharp, overlapping planes of color and line.A cubist interpretation of the epic 2016 NBA Finals clash between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, capturing the intensity and drama of their on-court battle.Boston Today

ESPN analyst Max Kellerman made a bold claim that LeBron James was far superior to Stephen Curry in the 2016 NBA Finals, saying James was 'worth two Stephs that year' and 'was so much better than everyone on the planet' when it mattered most.

Why it matters

The 2016 NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cavaliers is considered one of the most dramatic championship series in league history, with the Cavaliers overcoming a 3-1 deficit to win the title. Kellerman's comments reignite the debate over who was the better player between James and Curry during that pivotal matchup.

The details

In 2016, the Warriors set the NBA record for most wins in a regular season at 73-9, and Curry won the first unanimous MVP award. However, the Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the championship, with James putting up historic numbers. Kellerman said that while Curry had the better regular season, James was 'easily the best player in the world' and 'was worth two Stephs' in the Finals when it mattered most.

  • In the 2016 NBA Finals, the Warriors took a 3-1 series lead over the Cavaliers.
  • The Cavaliers then came back to win the series 4-3, overcoming the 3-1 deficit.
  • Kellerman made his comments about LeBron and Curry's performances in the 2016 Finals on the 'Game Over' podcast with Rich Paul.

The players

LeBron James

A 4-time NBA champion and 4-time NBA Finals MVP, considered one of the greatest players of all time.

Stephen Curry

A 4-time NBA champion and 2-time NBA MVP, known for his elite shooting ability and transforming the game of basketball.

Max Kellerman

An ESPN analyst known for his bold takes and analysis on NBA and other sports topics.

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What they’re saying

“LeBron was easily the best player in the world. Easily. Not close. In retrospect, LeBron was worth two Stephs that year. He was so much better than everyone on the planet in 2016 when it mattered most.”

— Max Kellerman, ESPN Analyst

The takeaway

Kellerman's comments reignite the debate over who was the better player between LeBron James and Stephen Curry during the 2016 NBA Finals, a series that saw the Cavaliers overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the championship. While Curry had the better regular season, Kellerman argues James was the superior player when it mattered most in the Finals.