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OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 19:  LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers blocks a shot by Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers blocks a shot by Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Andre Iguodala Talks LeBron James' Blocked Shot in Game 7 of 2016 NBA Finals

Alec NathanOct 27, 2016

Golden State Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala etched his name into NBA lore when he secured an out-of-nowhere Finals MVP award in 2015, but he became a part of league history for a different reason last June when LeBron James denied his efforts at the rim with a chase-down block to help secure a Game 7 victory for the Cleveland Cavaliers.ย 

Speaking to ESPN.com's Chris Haynes, Iguodala broke down James' block and gave a pair of Cavaliers props for making the play possible.ย 

In addition to Jamesโ€”who pinned the ball against the glass and kept the score knotted at 89 with 1:51 remaining in regulationโ€”Iguodala credited J.R. Smith for making a play that forced him to take a wider path to the bucket.ย 

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"But you know who made the play? J.R. made the play," he said. "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."

Iguodala was also candid in his assessment of James' play and how he dealt with the feeling of being turned away with a shot to give his team the lead:ย 

"

I'm like, 'Man, that s--t was so dope to me, too.' I was a fan. That s--t 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--k it.'

"

And while Iguodala admitted he could have possibly changed the outcome if he had approached the rim from a different angle, he conceded that James likely would have blocked his shot regardless of which side he took off from.ย 

"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," he said. "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."

Based on the way things played out for the Warriors, Iguodala's ability to take things in stride is rather commendable.

And with Golden State's collapse a thing of the past, all Iguodala and the Warriors can do at this point is gear up for a shot to exact revenge against James and the Cavaliers if the two sides meet in the Finals for a third straight season. ย 

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