Sports page roundup: Cleveland Cavaliers win first NBA Finals

Newspapers across Ohio celebrated the Cavaliers’ first title in franchise history with front pages dedicated to their NBA Finals win.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers ended their city’s 52-year championship drought with their 93–89 Game 7 victory in the NBA Finals on Sunday night, which newspapers across Ohio celebrated with front pages dedicated to the Cavaliers’ first title in franchise history. 

A Cleveland team had not won a championship since the Browns in 1964, giving the city the longest stretch of futility among all cities with three or more professional sports teams.

When LeBron James returned to his home state of Ohio to play for the Cavaliers after spending four seasons with the Miami Heat, he promised the city a championship. He delivered on his promise on Sunday night, earning NBA Finals MVP after his 27-point performance in Game 7.

Check out the newspaper fronts chronicling Cleveland’s history-making night below.

• KAY: Cavs win NBA Finals: A guide to Cleveland’s championship drought​

Monday's Chicago Tribune sports cover w/ @TeddyGreenstein @ChiTribSkrbina and #NBAFinals https://t.co/Lp35vfabK8 pic.twitter.com/X9yxSDANvZ

— Chicago Tribune Sports (@ChicagoSports) June 20, 2016

Sports front: LeBron brings it home; Dustin Johnson wins U.S. Open for first major title. @APSE_sportmedia pic.twitter.com/fwR4IgV8fl

— Mike Persinger (@mikepersinger) June 20, 2016

Tomorrow's Akron Beacon Journal. pic.twitter.com/r3zjIat51K

— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) June 20, 2016

Sports front page for @recordpub's Monday, June 20, 2016 edition. A piece of history! @APSE_sportmedia pic.twitter.com/Zj9z5yAAeQ

— TomNader_PortageSports (@Tom_Nader) June 20, 2016

Here's tomorrow's @semissourian sports front. Newspapers are just way more fun. @APSE_sportmedia pic.twitter.com/FfUkaROcTU

— Trent Singer (@trentsinger) June 20, 2016

@APSE_sportmedia Tomorrow's front page: @NBA, #USOpen, @ges88_ pic.twitter.com/9AhxwArdKF

— Jackie Domin (@jackie_domin) June 20, 2016

Put together the whole six-page Sports section solo tonight. No problem with NBA Finals, US Open. @APSE_sportmedia pic.twitter.com/yNDTHbErTI

— Micah Rice (@col_mrice) June 20, 2016

Newsday's Monday Back Page
LeBron brings home a title for Cleveland #NBAFinals @NewsdaySports @APSE_sportmedia pic.twitter.com/8dp79aEKwV

— Joe Manniello (@joe_manniello) June 20, 2016

A1 front page for @recordpub's Monday 6.20.16 edition. Pick it up in the morning for 50 cents! @APSE_sportmedia pic.twitter.com/U5qqgPrc26

— TomNader_PortageSports (@Tom_Nader) June 20, 2016

Here's our @nydnsports back page. @cavaliers @theplaindealer @apse_sportmedia @kingjames https://t.co/S4rtTauXss pic.twitter.com/5Rk1PHSC7i

— Back Page Guy NYDN (@BackPageGuyNYDN) June 20, 2016

Monday's sports cover: Warriors' historic season ends with Finals loss (#NBAFinals: https://t.co/xmV4RulRuK) pic.twitter.com/hn62Nad6xh

— Bay Area Sports HQ (@BayAreaSportsHQ) June 20, 2016

Monday's news cover: #Warriors dethroned (#NBAFinals: https://t.co/xmV4RulRuK) @timkawakami pic.twitter.com/5uV722vMfB

— Bay Area Sports HQ (@BayAreaSportsHQ) June 20, 2016

The Cavaliers became the first team in NBA Finals history to win after facing a 3–1 series deficit.