The 2018 NBA Finals produced one unforgettable moment that basketball fans still discuss today. It wasn’t about the Golden State Warriors’ dominant sweep of Cleveland.

The iconic moment had nothing to do with Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant’s performances.

LeBron James’ heroic efforts with limited support weren’t the story either, despite Kyrie Irving’s trade to Boston leaving the Cavaliers short-handed.

JR Smith’s mental lapse cost the Cavaliers everything

The defining moment came from JR Smith’s inexplicable blunder in Game 1’s final seconds. With the score tied late in regulation, George Hill missed a crucial free throw.

Smith grabbed the rebound but then dribbled away from the basket, apparently thinking Cleveland was ahead or expecting a timeout.

That play forced overtime, which Golden State won decisively 124-114. The momentum shifted permanently to the Warriors, leading to a complete 4-0 sweep.

On the Podcast, Smith reflected on the situation and acknowledged his mistake while explaining his confusion in the moment.

“Next time George get the ball on a free throw, I’m like, alright. Bet. We get the ball. We call time out, whatever. They gonna try a foul anyway. So we do what we normally do,” Smith explained.

The moment LeBron’s championship dreams died

“Get the ball. Nobody call time out. Dribble it back out then. Game go game had to be over,” he continued.

Smith only realized his error after seeing LeBron frantically pointing toward the basket, signaling him to attack. By then, it was too late.

“I look at LeBron. Bron, like, pointing like this. Oh, this was like, Oh, man. And then after that, I was just like, I know this s__ didn’t just happen. Not in the finals,” Smith recalled.

“I was so bent on going the other way and trying to steal the rebound because I was like ‘If the ball come this way I’m dead anyway’, so I’m thinking if the ball go that way I can at least try and top it somewhere.”

Even Warriors players couldn’t believe what they witnessed

Smith wasn’t alone in his confusion. Former Warriors player Nick Young recently revealed his shock at Smith’s decision to dribble away from the rim instead of attempting a game-winning shot.

The 2018 Finals marked the end of an era for LeBron and Cleveland, losing three of four consecutive Finals matchups against the Golden State dynasty.

That single play became the defining moment that sealed their fate and denied them another championship opportunity.

It also proves how important for a team to secure Game 1 in the NBA Finals that have a lot of pressure.