"That's a bond that can never be broken" - Tristan Thompson says the 2016 Cavaliers still have an active group chat
In a league as business-driven as the NBA, roster continuity is rare, and relationships often take a back seat to transactions. Players can work years building chemistry, only to be moved overnight. However, according to Tristan Thompson , the bond shared by the 2015-16 championship-winning Cleveland Cavaliers is anything but typical — it's lasting, active and deeply personal.
That championship core, including LeBron James , Richard Jefferson , and Kevin Love , among others, remains closely connected even today. More impressively, if Tristan Thompson is to be believed, that group just stays in touch casually.
They actively engage with each other, often discussing ongoing NBA narratives and even reacting to media takes, particularly those from Stephen A. Smith. It's not nostalgia; it's a living bond that continues to evolve.
"We also have an Instagram chat, so we just send stuff from Instagram that we see that is funny. Then I got my championship chat with myself, LeBron, J.R. Smith, Kevin Love, Channing Fry, Richard Jefferson, those are like my guys, right? That chat is active, was active 12 hours ago," Tristan said . "If Stephen A. Smith says something crazy and you're like, 'This guy is just nuts."
The 2016 Cavs were a legendary squad
The 2015-16 season didn't begin as a fairytale. Cleveland stumbled early, losing seven of their 20 games, and questions began to surface about its ceiling. However, as the season progressed, the team found its rhythm, finishing with a 57-25 record and securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference. What followed in the playoffs only strengthened their identity and connection.
They dominated the opening rounds, sweeping their first two opponents and entering the Conference Finals with an 8-0 record. Even when the Toronto Raptors pushed them to a 2-2 tie, the Cavaliers responded with composure, closing the series in six games to reach the Finals.
And then came the defining chapter. Facing the 73-9 Golden State Warriors — the greatest regular-season team ever — the Cavs fell into a 3-1 deficit. At that point, history, momentum and logic were all against them. Yet, what followed became one of the most iconic comebacks in sports history.
The Cavs won three straight elimination games, including two on the Dubs' home floor, to secure the franchise's first championship.
The bond can never be broken
Thompson emphasized that what that particular group achieved together forged a bond that goes beyond basketball. It's built on shared adversity, belief, and the kind of trust that only comes from overcoming the impossible.
"You spend so much time with those guys," Tristan added. "The time you've spent together as a team, like that's a bond that can never be broken."
So, it's safe to say that in a business-driven, fast-moving, and unapologetic league where former teammates often drift apart, or even become rivals, the 2016 Cavaliers group stands out for staying united.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
