Rock Around The Block Quiz - NBA Shot Blocking | Basketball

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Answer: Led the NBA in blocked shots in a season

When he came into the National Basketball Association, he was known as Lew Alcindor. By 1971, he was known as Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Elmore Smith was the first player to lead the league in shots blocked but four of the next seasons saw Kareem lead the league while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and later the Los Angeles Lakers.

2. Victor Wembanyama

Answer: Led the NBA in blocked shots in a season

Victor Wembanyama was the first pick in the 2023 NBA draft. The 7'4" center went to the San Antonio Spurs after playing his teen years in France. In the 2023-24 season and the next year, "Wemby" dominated the paint and led the NBA both seasons.

3. Hakeem Olajuwon

Answer: Led the NBA in blocked shots in a season

In 1990, 1991, and 1993, the "Dream", Hakeem Olajuwon, led the NBA in blocked shots. One of the preeminent defensive centers in NBA history, Hakeem led the Houston Rockets to two NBA titles in the mid-1990s. Olajuwon grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and played college basketball for the University of Houston.

4. Manute Bol

Answer: Led the NBA in blocked shots in a season

One of the tallest players to ever wear an NBA jersey, Manute Bol measured 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m). He played college ball for the Bridgeport Purple Knights before joining the Washington Bullets. Manute led the lead in blocked shots in his second season and in 1989. He retired as the only person with more career blocked shots than points scored in NBA history.

5. Andrei Kirilenko

Answer: Led the NBA in blocked shots in a season

Nicknamed AK-47 for his initials and uniform number, Andrei Kirilenko led the league in blocked shots while playing forward. Almost every season ending blocked shot leader played center. The ultra-athletic Kirilenko led the league in 2005 while playing for the Utah Jazz. He grew up in Russia.

6. Dikembe Mutumbo

Answer: Led the NBA in blocked shots in a season

Commercials were made with Dikembe Mutumbo wagging his finger saying "no". This was his signature move after blocking a shot in the NBA. The former Georgetown Hoya led the NBA in blocked shots for three consecutive seasons beginning in 1994 while playing for the Denver Nuggets.

7. LeBron James

Answer: Did not lead the NBA in blocked shots

"King" James may be a statistical legend in the National Basketball League but he never led the league in blocked shots. James came into the NBA straight out of high school and has consistently moved around the NBA beginning with Cleveland, then Miami, back to Cleveland, and finally with the Los Angeles Lakers.

8. Shaquille O'Neal

Answer: Did not lead the NBA in blocked shots

The most surprising player to have never led the NBA in blocked shots for a season is Shaquille O'Neal. The athletic big man dominated in college while playing for LSU. After becoming the first pick in the NBA draft to the Orlando Magic, Shaq was a perennial all-star center. While always near the top of the season-ending block shot list, he never led the league.

9. Bob Lanier

Answer: Did not lead the NBA in blocked shots

Bob Lanier was a defensive and offensive force for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970s and early 1980s. While the impressive big man was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, he never was a dominant shot blocker.

10. Joel Embiid

Answer: Did not lead the NBA in blocked shots

Joel Embiid played college basketball for the University of Kansas before becoming the third draft pick in the 2014 draft to the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel was born in Cameroon and started playing basketball at age 15. Nicknamed "The Process", Embiid was a consistent NBA all-star but never led the lead in shots blocked.

Source: Author GBfan

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Rock Around The Block Trivia Quiz

NBA Shot Blocking

The NBA did not officially keep record of blocked shots until 1973. Therefore, names like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell never lead the NBA in that category. Place these NBA players in lists of lead the league in blocked shots or not?