June 19, 2016. Oracle Arena is vibrating. The air is thick, like you could reach out and grab a handful of the tension. Cleveland and Golden State are locked in a 89-89 stalemate. Nobody has scored for nearly four minutes. It’s ugly basketball. Desperate basketball.
Kyrie Irving misses a floater. Andre Iguodala grabs the rebound. He pushes. He finds Steph Curry, who gives it right back. It looks like a guaranteed two points. A layup that would likely break the Cavaliers’ spirit. But then, it happened. Iguodala blocked by James.
The Physics of a Miracle
Let’s be real, LeBron James had no business making that play. When Iguodala crossed half court, LeBron was still trailing by nearly twenty feet.
Sports Science later clocked LeBron at a top speed of roughly 20.1 miles per hour. To put that in perspective, he covered about 60 feet in just under three seconds while tracking a professional athlete who already had a head start. He didn't just run; he hunted.
What most people forget is the role of J.R. Smith. Honestly, without J.R., the Warriors take the lead. Smith forced Iguodala to double-pump—a tiny, split-second hesitation—which opened a window of exactly 0.20 seconds.
LeBron launched. He hit a vertical of 35 inches. He pinned the ball against the glass at its highest point.
Why it wasn't goaltending
There’s always that one guy in the comments saying it was goaltending. Look at the tape. The ball was still on its way up. It hadn't touched the backboard yet. James’ hand was clean. While his left hand did graze the rim, NBA rules specify that touching the rim only matters if it vibrates the cylinder or happens while the ball is on the ring. It was a perfectly legal, superhuman rejection.
What Andre Iguodala Actually Heard
Iguodala has been remarkably cool about being on the wrong side of history. He’s talked about it on podcasts for years. His most famous description? It sounded like an M80 firework.
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"It was the loudest sound I ever heard. BOOM!"
He didn't even see LeBron. He just felt the backboard vibrate. He thought he had a clean look, but LeBron’s "chase-down" was a signature move for a reason. James actually told his teammates earlier that season to just "run in front" of the guy on a break—don't foul, just slow them down—because he was coming for the ball. J.R. Smith followed the script perfectly.
The Legacy of the 2016 Finals
This wasn't just a block. It was the moment the 52-year "Cleveland Curse" started to dissolve. If that layup goes in, the Warriors—the 73-win, "greatest regular season team ever" Warriors—likely win the title.
Instead, the game stayed tied. Kyrie hit "The Shot" over Steph Curry a minute later. Kevin Love played the defensive possession of his life. But the momentum shifted the second LeBron’s hand touched that leather against the glass.
Iguodala blocked by James became the definitive image of LeBron’s career. It’s the play that validated his return to Ohio. He finished that Game 7 with a triple-double: 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. But those two points he prevented were arguably more important than any he scored.
Breaking Down the Aftermath
After the buzzer, the images were iconic. LeBron on the floor, weeping. The "Cleveland is a City of Champions Again" headlines.
But for the Warriors, it was the beginning of the end for that specific roster. It led to the pursuit of Kevin Durant. It changed the entire trajectory of NBA history.
If you're looking to understand the technical brilliance of that play today, you have to look at the "tracking" data. James didn't just sprint blindly. He slowed down slightly around the three-point line to stay in Iguodala’s blind spot, then accelerated for the jump. It was a calculated, predatory defensive maneuver.
Lessons from "The Block" for any athlete:
- Never quit on the play: LeBron was behind the play and could have easily given up on a "sure" basket.
- Trust your teammates: J.R. Smith’s contest was the "alley" to LeBron’s "oop."
- Conditioning is everything: This happened with less than two minutes left in the 100th game of the season for these players.
If you want to relive the moment, the best way is to find the high-speed phantom cam footage. You can see the ball compress against the glass. You can see the sheer force LeBron used. It remains the gold standard for "clutch" defense in basketball.
Watch the defensive rotations of the 2016 Cavs if you want to see how that team stayed in games they should have lost. Study the way James positions his body to avoid the backboard while still getting maximum extension. It’s a masterclass in athletic geometry.