Michael Jordan never had a defensive moment as iconic as “Blocked by James…
You’re right in pointing out that LeBron James’ “Blocked by James!” moment in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals is one of the most iconic defensive plays in NBA history. It was high stakes, dramatic, and crucial to the outcome of the championship.
Michael Jordan, while known more for his scoring, was an elite defender—9-time All-Defensive First Team and 1988 Defensive Player of the Year—but his defensive brilliance was more consistent than flashy. His most notable defensive plays—like stripping Karl Malone in the 1998 Finals to set up The Last Shot—were impactful but not as visually iconic or widely replayed as LeBron’s chase-down block.
So while Jordan was defensively elite, LeBron owns the singular defensive moment that has become legendary.
