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Andre Iguodala Reveals Why LeBron James’ Iconic Block on Him During 2016 NBA Finals Doesn’t Bother Him

Published 09/18/2021, 8:30 AM EDT

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The famous rivalry between Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors stretched across four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018. One of its most enticing incidents written in the books is LeBron James’ block on Warriors’ forward Andre Iguodala during the 2016 NBA championship final.

Back in the time, the Warriors had won their first final in 2015 against Bron-led Cavaliers. Next in line, the 2016 NBA Finals were once again staged between the two rival teams. GSW, along with the star trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant, powered through the series with a 3-1 lead. However, Bron had a different plan altogether, and the Cavaliers managed to extend the series till Game 7.

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The block by LeBron James was incredible, says Andre Iguodala

On June 19, 2016, the seventh game decider turned out to be a thrilling night. With less than two minutes remaining to the final buzzer, LeBron James rushed down the court to block Warriors’ Andre Iguodala, and that became one of the best clutch moments for the King.

While reminiscing this moment on ‘Breakfast Club’, Iguodala instantly said, “It don’t bother me.”

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The 3-time NBA champion completely respects the then-Cavs duo, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. He believes that LeBron and Co. deserved that win in 2016. Iguodala also mentioned, “LeBron is the smartest basketball player ever…If a guy like LeBron James blocked your shot, he’d do that all the time. When it happened during the game, I’m like that was incredible. Damn, that was crazy. You just give them respect.”

WATCH THIS STORY: LeBron James vs Kevin Durant Duel in the 2017 NBA Finals

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Cleveland Cavaliers shocked Golden State Warriors in 2016

After that matchup, Cleveland Cavaliers recovered well from their backlog and defeated the Warriors to take the 2016 trophy home. Through the four finals when the Warriors and Cavaliers crossed paths, Steph Curry’s army won three – 2015, 2017, and 2018.

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Famously called, ‘The Block,’ it is still remembered as the best defensive play by primetime Bron. His agility and farsightedness took away the chance out of Golden State’s hands. Finally, the rival run for the two teams ended in 2018 when James left the Cavaliers.

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Written by:

Pavni Ahuja

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Pavni Ahuja is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Housing a keen interest in sports journalism, she is pursuing an undergraduate Journalism degree from Christ University. Pavni is an ardent fan of the NBA, with prior district-level playing experience in basketball.
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