The 5 best blocks in basketball history: From LeBron’s chase-down to Giannis’ title-saver

A block is defined as a defensive player using their hand to touch the ball while an opponent is shooting, preventing the ball from going into the basket without committing a foul. A great block has a huge psychological effect, boosting a team's morale and deterring the opponent. In this article, basketscores.com looks back at the 5 best blocks in basketball history.

The 5 best blocks in basketball history

This top 5 list reflects the author's personal opinion.

5. Wilt Chamberlain on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

This occurred during the 1972 NBA Western Conference Finals. In the six-game series, Wilt Chamberlain was credited with blocking Kareem a total of 17 times. In Game 3, Wilt blocked Kareem five times in just 12 minutes, preventing the Bucks star from scoring during that stretch. In the series, Kareem averaged 33.7 points per game, but his field goal percentage (FG%) dropped to 45.7% (compared to 57.4% in the regular season), largely due to Wilt’s presence under the basket.

Kareem’s skyhook was considered unstoppable, but Wilt was one of the few players who could block it directly. There are rare clips showing Wilt blocking Kareem’s skyhook twice in the same possession. Wilt didn’t just wait under the rim; he actively jumped to meet the ball at its highest point.

At that time, Wilt was dealing with a serious injury and was 36 years old, while Kareem was only 25. Thanks to Wilt’s defense, the Lakers defeated the Bucks 4-2, advanced to the Finals, and won the 1972 NBA championship. Wilt Chamberlain also won the Finals MVP that year.

4. LeBron James on Tiago Splitter (2013 Finals)

The next moment came in the 2013 NBA Finals. In Game 2, fourth quarter, the Miami Heat were leading the San Antonio Spurs by 19 points. Tiago Splitter received a pass from Tony Parker and attempted a one-handed dunk. LeBron James jumped and used his right hand to block the ball just above the rim.

The ball was stopped mid-air instead of being deflected, showing the incredible strength of LeBron’s wrist and arm. The American Airlines Arena erupted. Right after the block, LeBron assisted Ray Allen for a three-pointer, helping spark a dominant 33-5 run for the Heat. After the game, Tiago Splitter admitted: “He stopped it. It was a great play from a great player.”

3. Tayshaun Prince (2004 ECF)

Next is Tayshaun Prince’s block on Reggie Miller in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals, considered one of the greatest chasedown blocks ever. In Game 2, the Detroit Pistons were leading the Indiana Pacers 69-67 late in the game.

After a turnover by Chauncey Billups, Reggie Miller got the ball and drove for a layup to tie the score. However, Tayshaun Prince sprinted from the other end of the court and used his long reach to block the ball right at the rim before it touched the backboard.

After this play, the Pistons gained momentum to defeat the Pacers 4-2. They then advanced to the Finals and upset the Lakers “super team” to win the championship.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021 Finals)

A rare modern moment, executed by one of the NBA’s top stars. In Game 4, the Milwaukee Bucks led the Phoenix Suns 101-99. Devin Booker drove to the basket and threw an alley-oop pass to Deandre Ayton. As Ayton went up for the dunk, Giannis Antetokounmpo quickly recovered, jumped, and blocked the attempt with his left hand.

Giannis was initially focused on Booker, so his ability to recover and block the alley-oop was remarkable. This play secured the Bucks’ Game 4 win, tying the series 2-2 instead of falling behind 3-1. It became the key turning point in their championship run.

1. “The Block” (2016 NBA Finals)

LeBron James appears again with the legendary “The Block.” It happened in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. With 1:50 left in the fourth quarter, the score was tied 89-89.

Kyrie Irving missed a shot, Andre Iguodala grabbed the rebound, and along with Stephen Curry, started a fast break. Iguodala received the return pass and went for a layup, but LeBron James chased him down and blocked the shot against the backboard.

According to statistics, LeBron ran about 18–19 meters in less than 2.7 seconds, reaching a top speed of over 32 km/h. This play led to Kyrie Irving’s decisive three-pointer shortly after, helping the Cavaliers become the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals. It is still widely regarded as the greatest block in NBA history.

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