Timofey Mozgov says he was surprised to be left out of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ recent championship reunion in Europe. The former center told Sport Express that no one from the title-winning group reached out to invite him.
The trip brought together several core members of the Cavaliers’ 2015-16 championship team, including LeBron James, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, and Tristan Thompson. Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova joined later, but Mozgov was not part of the planning despite his role in the playoff run.
Mozgov’s reaction
Speaking with the Russian outlet, Mozgov said he had seen the video from the gathering and made it clear he would have accepted an invitation. He added, “Yes, I saw the video of that party. No one wrote or called me. If I’d been invited, I’d have gladly joined. Of course, I’d have loved to be there too, to drink some wine,” when asked whether he had been included.
The omission stands out because Mozgov played 13 games during Cleveland’s championship postseason and was part of the roster that reached NBA immortality. His presence in that run made the snub noticeable, especially with the reunion framed around the team’s title-winning bond.
A reunion that stirred more than nostalgia
The European get-together also sparked online tension when Smith said Kyrie Irving had been invited but did not join the trip. Irving did not respond with more drama, but he later posted a quiet appreciation graphic on Instagram showing the full championship roster.
Mozgov spent eight NBA seasons overall, with his career also including stops with the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Brooklyn Nets. He was known for his size and interior defense, and his role with Cleveland marked the peak of his NBA run.
More than a decade after the championship, the reunion showed how much team dynamics can change even after a title is won. For Mozgov, the message was simple: he saw the party, but no one asked him to be there.
