LeBron James' Chase-Down Block Ranks 10th on Sporting News' Greatest Moments List

The former Cavaliers star's iconic play in the 2016 NBA Finals is recognized as one of the greatest sports moments of all time.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 4:52am

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Former Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James has been named to Sporting News' list of the 140 Greatest Sports Moments for his iconic chase-down block against the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. The play, which ranked 10th on the list, preserved a tie game in the final minutes and helped the Cavaliers complete their historic comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to win the championship, ending Cleveland's 52-year title drought.

Why it matters

LeBron James' chase-down block is considered one of the most memorable and impactful plays in NBA history. It not only saved the game for the Cavaliers in a pivotal moment, but it also cemented James' legacy as one of the greatest players of all time and helped bring the city of Cleveland its first major sports championship since 1964.

The details

With the game tied at 89 and under two minutes remaining, Golden State's Andre Iguodala broke away for what looked like an easy layup. However, James sprinted from out of nowhere and emphatically pinned the ball off the backboard, preserving the tie. Moments later, Kyrie Irving hit a dagger three-pointer to give the Cavaliers a lead they would not relinquish, leading to a 93-89 victory and the first NBA title in franchise history.

  • The chase-down block occurred in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals on June 19, 2016.
  • The Sporting News' list of the 140 Greatest Sports Moments was published on March 20, 2026.

The players

LeBron James

A 23-time NBA All-Star and four-time champion who spent 11 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, leading them to their first NBA title in 2016.

Andre Iguodala

A veteran forward for the Golden State Warriors who was on the receiving end of LeBron James' iconic chase-down block in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

Kyrie Irving

The Cavaliers' star point guard who hit the game-winning three-pointer shortly after LeBron's chase-down block, sealing Cleveland's first NBA championship.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody thought the Cavs had much of a chance in the 2015 Finals against a record-setting 73-win Warriors team. Sure, Cleveland had LeBron James. But they were down 3-1 in the series and had lost to this same team a year earlier. The city of Cleveland was also nursing a 52-year championship drought across all of its major sports.”

— Stephon Noh, Writer

“Golden State forward Andre Iguodala took off for a layup in the open court that looked like it would give the Warriors the lead. LeBron sprinted from out of nowhere, though, pinning the ball on the glass to preserve the tie game. Moments later, Kyrie Irving buried a dagger 3-pointer that eventually led to a 93-89 win for Cleveland.”

— Stephon Noh, Writer

What’s next

The Sporting News is expected to release a documentary or special feature highlighting the top 10 moments on their list in the coming months.

The takeaway

LeBron James' iconic chase-down block in the 2016 NBA Finals not only saved the game for the Cavaliers but also cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. The play's recognition as the 10th greatest sports moment of all time by Sporting News underscores its significance in NBA history and the impact it had on ending Cleveland's long championship drought.