LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Finals Sunday night, and the internet celebrated the only way it knew how – with a meme. This time, instead of using the go-to Crying Jordan meme, users got crafty and a new image was born with Crying LeBron.
After the Cavs scored the win over the Golden State Warriors 93-89, James was photographed hugging teammate Kevin Love. The meme was generated not much later and soon a Crying LeBron Twitter page sprung up.
and so it begins… pic.twitter.com/qkgC6TYPYB
— Crying lebron (@CryingIebron) June 20, 2016
The title is the first major sports championship win for a Cleveland team since 1964. The Akron, Ohio native left the Cavs in 2010 only to return four years later. He hoped to end the city’s title dry spell after coming back home. Before then, James joined Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade with the Miami Heat, winning two titles.
“I don’t know why the man above give me the hardest road, but… the man above don’t put you in situations that you can’t handle,” James told ESPN after winning the championship. “I just kept that same positive attitude. Instead of saying, ‘Why me?’ I said, ‘This is what He wants me to do.’ And Cleveland, this is for you.”
The excitement launched several memes, and Twitter was especially eager to share.
Crying LeBron’s face was plastered over the faces of the Warriors, signifying their loss.
https://twitter.com/SoftGlas/status/744729465163554821
Shaun Sundholm blended crying LeBron and crying Jordan into one teary image.
Is this a thing yet? #cryingLebron #cryingJordan pic.twitter.com/102v5iS2bi
— Shaun Sundholm (@f_letter) June 20, 2016
Warriors point guard Steph Curry’s wife Ayesha was not immune to the meme.
https://twitter.com/MakeupWhoreder/status/744735482827968512
And Fahd Ahmed Hides used the crying image to signify how he felt about Monday approaching.
https://twitter.com/FhdAlsallal/status/744728736910696450
Eric Rosenthal urged someone to pass the baton by placing James’ crying face over Jordan’s own during this Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech in 2009.
Someone put LeBron's crying face onto Jordan during his speech pic.twitter.com/cRwLc3ZnQU
— Eric Rosenthal (@ericsports) June 20, 2016
And his request was answered by Andrew Lawandus.
Congrats to @KingJames and the @cavs #CryingLeBron pic.twitter.com/NCHi77VwL4
— Andrew Lawandus 🇱🇧 (@lawandus_) June 20, 2016
