Real Madrid center Edy Tavares became the all-time leading shot-blocker in Liga ACB history on Sunday, surpassing Fran Vázquez’s long-standing benchmark of 738 blocks during a victory against Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos at the Movistar Arena.
The Record-Breaking Block in Madrid
The milestone arrived 36 seconds into the second half when the 2.20-meter center rejected an attempt by Balsa Koprivica to reach 739 blocks.
Officials immediately halted the game to mark the achievement. Tavares’s wife and children joined him on the court alongside team captain Sergio Llull, who presented the center with the match ball for his personal trophy case, while the Movistar Arena crowd and his teammates delivered a sustained ovation.
“It has been a surprise. I am a player who doesn’t like the spotlight and didn’t want the game to stop, but it is something I will remember forever,” Tavares said after the game.
Tavares also acknowledged the player whose mark he broke, noting that Vázquez served as an important career benchmark. “Fran Vázquez was always a motivation and a reference for me,” the Cape Verdean center said.
A Dominant Defensive Trajectory
The record caps a defensive career in Spain’s top-tier league. Tavares began his ACB career with Gran Canaria, where he recorded 122 blocks before moving to the NBA. Following his return to Europe in 2017 to sign with Real Madrid, he established himself as a dominant presence in the paint, accumulating 615 blocks with the club by the start of Sunday’s match.
Tavares has led the Liga Endesa in blocks during eight separate seasons: 2014–15 with Gran Canaria, and seven campaigns with Real Madrid (2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–2025). His highest single-season output with Real Madrid came in 2021–22 with 80 blocks, while his personal best for blocks in a single game stands at eight against Casademont Zaragoza on November 2, 2025.
Those defensive metrics have translated into individual accolades. Tavares has been named the competition’s best defender six times, capturing the award in every season since its creation in the 2020/2021 campaign. Since his return to the ACB, Tavares has put more blocks than 12 entire teams.
All-Time ACB Shot-Blocking Leaders
With his 739th block, Tavares reshaped the upper echelon of the league’s historical leaderboard. Los máximos taponadores históricos de la ACB son:
- Tavares: 739
- Fran Vázquez: 738
- Romay: 671
- Singleton: 588
- Sabonis: 528
The milestone arrived during a demanding stretch for Real Madrid, which entered the weekend as the league’s undefeated leader across domestic and European competition under head coach Pedro Martínez, despite playing without injured contributors Théo Maledon and Mikael Jantunen.
Looking Ahead at the Club Level
Beyond capturing the overall league record, Tavares stands on the verge of claiming another historic milestone. Having recorded 617 blocks specifically in Real Madrid’s jersey, he sits within striking distance of surpassing Fernando Romay as the club’s all-time leading shot-blocker.
“I should be in the best physical shape possible to push the record as high as I can so that whoever comes next will find it hard to reach. I will keep working to stay at the very top competing in a team like Real Madrid, which gives you no room to relax,” Tavares said.
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