University of Tennessee Athletics
NBA Champion: Jordan McRae
June 19, 2016 | Men's Basketball
After enduring a circuitous route to the NBA, former Tennessee basketball standout Jordan McRae (2010-14) reached the pinnacle of the sport Sunday, as his Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
McRae becomes just the second Vol ever to earn an NBA Championship ring, joining former All-American forward Reggie Johnson (Philadelphia 76ers, 1983). Former Tennessee All-American forward/center Austin “Red” Robbins was a member of the Utah Stars ABA Championship team in 1971.
A 2014 Tennessee graduate (Sociology/Criminal Justice) who scored more than 1,500 career points as a Vol and helped lead the Big Orange to the Sweet Sixteen as a senior, McRae scored four points on 2-of-2 shooting against the Warriors in Game 3 of The Finals on June 8. Cleveland won that game, 120-90.
McRae also made a playoff appearance against the Detroit Pistons on April 20, totaling five points on 2-of-2 shooting in a Cavs first-round win.
Prior to the playoffs, the Midway, Georgia, native made 15 appearances for the Cavs and also played in seven games with the Phoenix Suns this season. His regular-season averages included 4.5 points and 1.1 assists in 8.9 minutes per game. He shot .436 overall and .455 from 3-point range.
Cleveland’s championship is its first in franchise history and is the first major-sports title for the city in 52 years.
McRae was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 58th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and was quickly acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers via a draft-day trade. After stints in the Australian NBL (Melbourne United) and the NBA D-League (Delaware 87ers), he made his NBA debut earlier this season with Phoenix. The Suns signed him to consecutive 10-day contracts before he joined the Cavs on a 10-day deal in February.
He signed a multi-year contract with Cleveland on March 9.
