National Basketball Association

Warriors' Andre Iguodala on LeBron's epic Finals block: 'That [expletive] was dope'

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:50 p.m. ET

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Andrew Lynch

It is, without a doubt, one of the greatest plays ever in all of sports.

With just less than two minutes remaining in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, the Warriors and Cavaliers were tied at 89-all. Golden State's Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala led a two-on-one fastbreak against J.R. Smith. The outmatched Cavs guard did what he could to alter Iguodala's path to the rim ever so slightly — and in so doing, gave LeBron James time to chase the Warriors down for one of the most epic blocks you'll ever see:

That famous rejection — "The Block" — will define LeBron's career. The play was so breathtaking, in fact, that even its victim had to marvel at its splendor, as Iguodala is man enough to admit that LeBron got the best of him.

Via ESPN.com:

"I'm like, 'Man, that s--- was so dope to me, too.' I was a fan. That s--- was amazing. When he blocked it, I was like, 'Damn, somebody got shot.' I thought it was funny. Somebody just made a good play. What you want me to do? If you enjoy the game of basketball, you should just be like, 'Dude made a great play. F--- it.'"

That's quite a bit of vulgarity, but you can't blame Iguodala for that. When the play happened in real-time, I let out more than my fair share of f-bombs.

Iguodala also broke down the play and pointed out that Smith's momentary defense enabled LeBron's epic chasedown:

"I looked back at it too, and had I came in from a different angle, I could have [dunked it]," he explained. "But you know who made the play? J.R. made the play. Because I came in thinking dunk and then I took off and he swiped [at the ball] and I had to move the ball. If you look, I moved the ball [to my right]. I just tried to finish the play.

"People don't realize, somebody just made a great play. There's nothing to change about somebody making a great play because I even thought I could have went off to the other side [of the rim], but [LeBron] was so high over the rim, he would have had both sides covered. I mean, I wouldn't have changed anything about it. If somebody just makes a great play, you just give them respect for making a great play."

Let's stop for a moment to reflect on Iguodala's appreciation for the moment. Most people would be extraordinarily bitter about letting a 3-1 Finals lead and a second championship slip through their fingers. Some might go so far as to claim that LeBron goaltended the shot, although it's clear from multiple replays that the block was clean. Iguodala, though, took it all in stride. Sometimes, you get bested on the court. No biggie.

As for J.R.'s part in the play, LeBron himself admitted earlier this summer that he couldn't have done it without Smith:

"I always tell J.R. and Shump and Kyrie and all our guards, if you see me running, if you can just make the offensive player just change his momentum just a little bit, it’ll give me enough time to track it. It’ll give me enough time to track it down.

"Buy me a second. If you look at the play, J.R. swung over top, and Iguodala had to scrunch just a little bit instead of going up and jamming. And he had to scrunch just a little bit, and that gave me the split second to either – and I was ready."

"I was ready," might be the biggest understatement of the year. Just ask Iguodala.

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