--- description: Noted basketball enthusiast Rihanna stole the show at the first game of the NBA Finals, where she not only taunted KD but dabbed on a fan. title: Rihanna Dabs and Heckles at the First Game of the NBA Finals image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt163674f5407b745a/6988cfe7bc6cfc5cfd3e1a56/rihanna-kevin-durant-nba-finals.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Rihanna Was the Real Winner of Game 1 of the NBA Finals  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 2, 2017 3:29 PM CUT  OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 01: Recording artist Rihanna attends Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 1, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 01: Recording artist Rihanna attends Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 1, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)Thearon W. Henderson—Getty Images  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 2, 2017 3:29 PM CUT The [Golden State Warriors](http://time.com/4351966/golden-state-warriors-nba-city-thunder/ "undefined") beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in [the first game of the NBA Finals](http://time.com/money/4798003/cavaliers-warriors-nba-finals-tickets-prices/ "undefined"), but the real winner of the night was none other than noted basketball enthusiast, [Rihanna](http://time.com/4762629/rihanna-queen-met-gala-2017/ "undefined"). The bad gal held court on the sidelines, where she effectively upstaged one of the biggest rivalries in the league, wreacked havoc on the hearts of sports commentators and heckled fans and players alike as only she could. Fans should have known that this game would belong to Rihanna when the[ _Anti_](http://time.com/4198509/rihanna-anti-review/ "undefined") singer caught the attention of ESPN commentator and former coach Jeff Van Gundy at the same time that LeBron James was making a magnificent dunk. While Van Gundy’s fellow analysts were talking about the play, all he could do was marvel that Rihanna had just walked by him. > [](https://twitter.com/sdbcraig/status/870455101978284032) But the fun didn’t stop there. Rihanna, [a longtime super fan of James](https://www.instagram.com/p/BG3JMOMhMwA/ "undefined"), got into the spirit of the game by bowing to King James and then pettily dabbing on a Dubs fan. > [](https://twitter.com/World%5FWide%5FWob/status/870481182504497152) It appears she took her investment in the competition between the Cavs and the Warriors very seriously by taunting the Warriors’ Kevin Durant while he was making free throws. It looks like KD didn’t really appreciate it. > [](https://twitter.com/World%5FWide%5FWob/status/870478597252943872) > [](https://twitter.com/JBlock49/status/870481315937869824) Even though her favorite King James didn’t take home a win that night, one thing is certain: Rihanna is the real MVP. > [](https://twitter.com/murrminks/status/870479722949427200) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4802935/rihanna-nba-finals/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4802935/rihanna-nba-finals/"},"headline":"Rihanna Was the Real Winner of Game 1 of the NBA Finals","datePublished":"2017-06-02T15:29:46.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:44:08.471Z","description":"We all know who the real MVP of this game was","url":"https://time.com/4802935/rihanna-nba-finals/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Basketball","Lebron James","Kevin Durant","Rihanna","NBA","Sports"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt163674f5407b745a/6988cfe7bc6cfc5cfd3e1a56/rihanna-kevin-durant-nba-finals.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt163674f5407b745a/6988cfe7bc6cfc5cfd3e1a56/rihanna-kevin-durant-nba-finals.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"2017 NBA Finals - Game One","caption":"2017 NBA Finals - Game One","creditText":"Thearon W. 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