“My Head’s Wobbling Around”: LeBron James’ Teammate Recalls Visiting Hospital After Guarding Stephen Curry

From 2015 to 2018, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors were the biggest rivals in the NBA. This was due to their four consecutive clashes in the NBA Finals. Leading the Cavs at the time was LeBron James, as he and his team struggled to best the Warriors' captain, Stephen Curry.

One of James' former teammates, Matthew Dellavedova, shared a story about a time he had to defend Curry. Apparently, in Game 3 of the 2015 NBA Finals, Steph sent Dellavedova to the hospital. It wasn't due to Curry hurting the former Cavs guard, but it was simply due to intense exhaustion from chasing the Warriors star around.

"I mean, obviously it’s like an impossible task chasing Steph around," Dellavedova shared with former Cavs forward Richard Jefferson. "He never gets tired. ... I just remember coming to timeouts, and Mike Miller and James Jones are just like grabbing me by the shoulder, saying, 'You got to get every loose ball.' My head's wobbling around."

"So I get in the locker room, they do the talk, but I start cramping," Dellavedova continued. "They like cut my tights. They’re trying to rub ice. My quads are cramping. My hamstrings are cramping. So you can’t stretch one or the other. I’m just in a world of hurt. ... I think Steve and the doctor were like, 'Yeah, your best shot at getting ready for the next game is going to the hospital and just getting an IV overnight.'"

Unfortunately for Dellavedova, his exhaustion from Game 3 affected him for the rest of the series. While he did finish the series against the Warriors, his shooting efficiency and defensive quickness were noticeably less effective.

With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love out of the picture due to injuries, and Delly exhausted, the team lost another important piece in its attempt to beat the Warriors in the 2015 NBA Finals.

From Exhaustion to Redemption: Dellavedova's 2016 Championship Run

The Cleveland Cavaliers' battles with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals were one of the most memorable eras in NBA history. Cleveland finally reigned triumphant after beating Golden State in the 2016 NBA Finals. It's one of the biggest wins in league history and is still celebrated to this day.

With that said, the 2016 Cavaliers recently reunited earlier this summer to celebrate their 10th anniversary of winning the title. LeBron James, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Richard Jefferson, Tristan Thompson, Matthew Dellavedova, and Channing Frye all linked up in Europe to celebrate their accomplishment.

In a recent episode of Jefferson's show, Dellavedova shared his thoughts on reuniting with his former buddies.

"My first thought was excitement," Dellavedova said on the Richard Jefferson Show. "I missed J.R the most; he always had my back. It was like we were back in 2016."

While that particular Cavs team only managed one championship together, their accomplishment has undoubtedly solidified their bond and friendship off the court.