Andre Igudola Reflects on LeBron James’ Iconic Block in 2016 NBA Finals

In Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, OG Anunoby cemented himself in NBA history in a couple of different ways, most notably with his tip-in of Jalen Brunson's missed three point shot to win the game for the Knicks and secure the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

But just seconds before, Anunoby made a different and yet similarly iconic play when he chased down De'Aaron Fox and blocked a free throw attempt that would have improved the San Antonio Spurs' lead to three points. 

It's the kind of play that will go down in history , but despite it's significance, it's still somehow the second-most iconic block in NBA finals history. 

The block ahead of it is LeBron James' chase-down block of Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, immortalized by announcer Mike Brown's call of "blocked by James!" 

That block effectively sealed the game for the Cleveland Cavaliers and helped them complete the first and only 3-1 series comeback in NBA Finals history, bringing the Cavaliers their first-ever championship. 

It's one of the defining moments of James' career and a decade later, it still haunts Iguodala, as he revealed in an interview with Richard Jefferson. 

“All I heard was like a sonic boom. It sounded like somebody got shot. It was loud… when I heard it, I’m waiting on the whistle for a goal-tend," Iguodala said (via The Richard Jefferson Show). "I still go outside and these punk ass kids, my daughter has been abused by ‘blocked by James’  walking down the hallways."

That goaltending call that Iguodala was waiting on never came and it all ended with the Cavaliers raising the Larry O-Brien trophy and spoiling the Golden State Warriors' regular season record 73-9 season. 

Playing on the biggest stage in the NBA in what became the most iconic rivalry of the 2010s between the Warriors and the Cavaliers, featuring players like James and Steph Curry, sets anyone involved up to be a part of history one way or the other. 

For Iguodala, he ended up on the wrong side of history in that moment when he was left to the mercy of James at the height of his Hall of Fame powers. 

Looking at the big picture, Iguodala made it out okay considering that he has four championships to his name with the Warriors outside of that 2016 loss and by no means is he the singular face of the all-time collapse that the Warriors were guilty of. 

That being said, he is the face of the most iconic moment in that series and years later he, and apparently his daughter, have to bear the weight of that moment.