The 2016 NBA Finals were nothing short of a thriller, given all the suspense elements associated with it. LeBron James secured his place in history, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a championship in a spectacular fashion and ending the more than five-decade-long dry spell for the franchise.
High on confidence from the 2015 Championship, the Warriors took a 3-1 lead in the Finals, with many calling it a done deal. However, things took a sudden turn, with James and Irving scripting the greatest comeback in Finals history. Going down to the wire, the series left us with several unforgettable moments.
Among them was James handing Andre Iguodala a vicious chase-down block in the final moments of Game 7. During a 2016 interview with Business Insider, The King shared his genuine feelings about the play and where it ranked in his all-time highlights.
“I would have to say, just coming off the top of my mind, that would definitely rank No. 1 – just because of the magnitude of the game and what was going on at that point in the game. I had to run through a couple guys and get around a couple guys to get to that position. And it was a big moment, not only for that particular moment in the game, but for Cleveland sports history now that you can look back upon it. A lot of people are saying so,” stated James.
“A lot of people will base a game-winning jump shot, or dunk, or something that happened offensively. But for my legacy to be a block or something defensively to help us win, that’s the ultimate for me,” mentioned James, who reportedly clocked 19 miles an hour between the halfcourt and block.
The Block
On the road for Game 7, the Cavaliers carried momentum into the matchup. Still, the title-deciding contest came down to a tense, nail-biting finish. Tied at 89-89 apiece with 4:39 seconds remaining in regulation, both sides entered a scoring drought, missing consecutive shots.
However, with just under two minutes on the clock, the Warriors had a chance to take the lead as Irving missed a floater, with Iguodala collecting the rebound. Sprinting towards the opposite side, he passed the ball to Stephen Curry, who returned it almost immediately with a bounce pass. Setting in motion for layup, Iggy was denied access, with The King delivering an iconic block.
The rest, as they say, is history. With 53 seconds left, Irving drained the shot of shots to put Cleveland ahead. The Cavs went on to make history as the first team to ever rally back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals.
Iggy stood stunned
Certainly not the moment Iguodala would want tied to his Hall of Fame legacy. Nevertheless, he did not shy away from giving James his flowers, even mentioning how J.R. Smith had a vital role in it. During an old episode of the “Come and Talk 2 Me” podcast, Iggy looked back and recalled this play, which is without a doubt the most famous and unforgettable block in the entire history of the Association.
“I always say I give a lot of love to J.R. Smith for the block, cause J.R. set the stage for it. When I went up to lay it up, it really sounded like an M80, like fireworks. It was like, BOOM! And I felt him block it, not on my body, but just the vibration of the backboard. I was like, ‘Oh, sh-t, what was that?’ I didn’t even see him block it, I just heard boom,” expressed Iggy.
“The Block” will surely hold special status in LeBron’s all-time career highlights. It was a moment that saw the 6’9″ forward turn superhuman with his speed and athleticism and deliver the city of Cleveland its first and only Championship.