Listing the only 3 players in NBA history to record 15 blocks in a game
As a league known for its high-energy and entertaining plays, the NBA abounds with captivating players who make unbelievable moves frequently.
In fact, the dunk was the most electric of them all before the onset of the the three-point era, with players like Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Vince Carter capable of sending the crowd into a frenzy with a mere high-flying Tomahawk or Windmill Slam.
However, in the modern era, players like Stephen Curry who can rain down threes from unimaginable distances, have overshadowed the position slam dunks held before the revolution brought in by the Golden State Warriors' dynasty.
February 27, 2016: Stephen Curry hits a 38-footer with 0.6 left to give the Warriors a 121-118 OT win over the Thunder in OKC. https://t.co/mhRw0RRzYr
Take the buzzer beater by Chef Curry in the final seconds of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 27, 2016. The cold-blooded maestro, with 2.5 seconds remaining on the clock, launched a 35+ footer to clinch the game 121-118. The shot, followed by Mike Breen's signature "bang," has become one of the most memorable moments in NBA history.
That said, the sweetness and impact left by a perfectly executed block is perhaps far greater than the impact of a great dunk or a long-range three. No other move in the game is as brutal or dominating as a rejection. Also, blocks are, to this day, a rarer skill perfected by only a few. Watch the following video of Zion Williamson blocking a shot from downtown for a better understanding of this view.
3 players in NBA history to record 15 blocks
In honor of this obscure skill that has left fans and commentators speechless since the inception of NBA, we list the only three players in the history of the league to record at least 15 blocks in a game.
#1 Elmore Smith (17 Blocks)
Elmore Smith, a former LA Lakers player, is not only one of the players to record a game with at least 15 blocks but also holds the title of most blocks in a game. In a game held on October 28th, 1973, Elmore started the game against the Portland Trail Blazers for the Lakers. Elmore the Rejector contributed just 12 points to his team's 111-98 victory.
The @trailblazers had lost all 17 contests vs the @Lakers
including the game 2 days ago when Elmore Smith set the
@NBA record with 17 blocks. Smith totaled 31 blocks vs Blazers in last 2 games
4 of 4
#Blazers #ripcity #thisdateBlazerHistory #Blazers5 https://t.co/jPu3aYolwb
But despite his ordinary scoring, the 1973-74 blocks champion put on the best performance of the night. He collected a whopping 16 rebounds, and recorded 17 blocks in a single night.
#2 Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal's persona and brilliance have left a lasting impact on the NBA. Now a commentator and analyst, he was one of the most dominating centers of the game. There have been a plethora of players who have created successful careers post their NBA stints, but none have managed to remain as relevant for as long as O'Neal has.
.@Shaq got the new season fresh cut 😅 https://t.co/zBxzOG9YDf
Shaq is a man of many talents. He is the only player to have earned a doctorate degree in education, and is an honorary US Deputy Marshall, a musician and actor. But regardless of his off-court achievements and however much success they may have brought him, the 7'1" Lakers legend will always remain a basketball player first.
For how many NBA stars can boast of being four-time champions, three-time Finals MVPs, two-time scoring champions and 15-time All-Stars?
The legend of Diesel is being written even as we speak, but for today's article we must discuss the record he set on November 20,1993. In the game against the New Jersey Nets, a young Shaq donned the Orlando Magic jersey and decided to block as many shots as it took to win the game. In the 87-85 victory, he played like an overall 99 NBA2K player. His scorecard for the night read 24 points, 28 rebounds and 15 blocks. It's safe to say that at his peak, Shaquille was a player all NBA teams feared.
#3 Manute Bol
HBD to the late MANUTE BOL!
11 games with 10+ BLKS off the bench
2 of the 4 instances of a player blocking 15 shots in a game
6 of the 9 instances in NBA history when a player has blocked 10+ shots & scored 2 or less PTS
https://t.co/lgwhLXc8ls
At 7'7", Manute Bole is the second tallest player to play in the NBA. Although an insignificant scorer and an average rebounder, Bol's potential as a professional basketballer lay in his shot rejection. Widely considered one of the greatest blockers to play the game, the Sudanese national holds the record for the highest number of blocks in a rookie season.
His tally of 397 blocks in 1985-86 is also the second highest total in the history of the NBA, only behind Mark Eaton's 456 blocks in the 1984-85 regular season. A two-time blocks champion, the former Golden State Warriors center is also the only player to have recorded 15 blocks in a game on two separate occasions.
In perhaps the best performance of his NBA career while playing on February 26, 1987, Manute Bol rejected 15 of the Indiana Pacers' shots in 47 minutes of playing time. He also added 10 points and 19 rebounds to his tally that night but the highlight of his game was his 15 blocks.
After his time in the league, Bol created a legacy of humanitarian work in Sudan and surrounding nations. Becoming the voice of the downtrodden and ignored, Nute spent the remainder of his life trying to bring peace to war torn and disease struck African nations even in the face of life-threatening implications and threats for his kind actions.