NBA Finals 2017: Joel Embiid, Clint Capela and Juancho Hernangomez make their predictions for Warriors vs Cavs
The trio were in London ahead of a trip to Cardiff for the Champions League final
THE NBA Finals starts overnight with the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers to meet in their third clash of a hotly-anticipated grudge match.
The Cavs are the defending champions, but the Warriors - who won their crown in 2015 - have added one of the world's best in Kevin Durant to one of the most talented squads ever.
Ahead of the Finals, SunSport caught up with a trio of NBA stars who were in London.
Joel Embiid, Clint Capela and Juancho Hernangomez were in the capital ahead of another trip - to watch Real Madrid and Juventus in the final of the Champions League.
All three players grew up playing football well into their teens before their size and athleticism saw them each make the switch to basketball.
Former No 1 pick Embiid came off back-to-back season ending injuries to have one of the most exciting rookie seasons ever for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 23-year-old Cameroonian would have been the runaway leader in the Rookie of the Year race - except he was again injured after just 31 games.
Capela, born and raised in Switzerland, replaced former Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard in the Houston Rockets' starting line-up and - along with new head coach Mike D'Antoni and MVP candidate James Harden - helped the club reach the conference semi-finals in the play-offs.
Hernangomez and his Denver Nuggets narrowly missed out on the post-season but Mike Malone's team have a very bright future.
The Spainard had a breakout performance against the Warriors in February, posting a career high 27 points in a standout win.
But Hernangomez, whose brother Willy plays for the New York Knicks, doesn't have a master plan the Cavs could lean on.
He said: "The basketball they play in the regular season is completely different to what they play now.
"LeBron [James] when he plays his that way, it's impossible to stop him.
"They are the best two teams in the world, they have the best players.
"You never know, it's really hard to bet on one team. LeBron can get 40 points and kill somebody.
"I can't wait to see it."
When asked for a prediction, the power forward ummed and ahhed before saying: "I think Golden State will win... I can't tell you [in how many matches]."
But Capela, who improved in every major statistical category this season thought Cleveland - massive underdogs in the betting - would win.
And it was that man LeBron whose name cropped up again.
"I think the Cavs are going to win. At some point LeBron is going to make the difference," Capela said.
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"It's not going to be easy, six or seven games.
"Warriors have Draymond [Green], [Kevin Durant], Stephen Curry. [Klay] Thompson can come through.
"They have improved a winning team.
"A championship team with improved players."
But Capela stuck to his guns, stating that the Cavs would defend their title in "six".
With the three heading to Cardiff for the Champions League final, they were just as keen to talk football as basketball.
Embiid nailed his colours to the mast straight away.
"I've been supporting Madrid for a long time, since I was young.
"I have different teams I like, in France it used to be Lyon, in England it's Arsenal, AC Milan.
"But it's always been Real Madrid."
The Cameroonian wouldn't entertain anything but a Real Madrid win.
Hernangomez, also being Spanish, wanted Real to win - and said "it's going to be a really interesting game."
Capela didn't reveal his team but said: "[I'm a] vig football fan. Big bleeping football fan.
"I'm very excited, I watch football every week, Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, I watch lots of games.
"Juventus have a tremendous defence this year, they've only conceded three goals.
"I'm really excited and Real Madrid play so good on offence.
"I'm a big Cristiano Ronaldo fan so I want Real Madrid [in this game]."
Fans in the UK can follow the 2017 NBA Finals on BT Sport or via NBA LEAGUE PASS at