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Allen Iverson made one of the most iconic moves in NBA history when he crossed over Michael Jordan on March 12, 1997. It was a move that was so exquisite in timing and precision that made “His Airness” look foolish.
Four years later, “AI” executed another move, this time so much simpler than the one he performed against Jordan. Iverson stepped over a fallen Ty Lue on the sidelines in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Kevin Hart, in an episode of “Cold As Balls,” had to ask Iverson if he had ever talked about it with the current LA Clippers coach. Here’s what Iverson had to say about it:
“No. I was a little embarrassed, man. It was terrible. That’s my guy, man.”
Ever since that meme moment happened, Allen Iverson has been asked a ton of times about it. He has consistently expressed no realization of the “heat of the moment” thing and he was so locked in.
The play happened in overtime in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with 55.2 seconds left on the clock. Philly isolated Iverson on the right mid-block with Ty Lue guarding him. Allen Iverson hesitated with jab steps before eventually springing to his right and going back with a between-the-leg dribble.
Lue, a dogged defender in his career, fell to the floor as Iverson’s shot went in. The basket made it 103-99 with 47.6 seconds left. “The Answer,” who was so focused on his shot, stepped over the seated Lue as he went back to the 76ers’ side of the court.
The Staples Center crowd was stunned by both Allen Iverson’s shot and the step over Ty Lue. Philly stole Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals to grab home-court advantage. The LA Lakers, though, will win the next four games to win the championship.
Ty Lue hasn’t held even a bit of a grudge against Allen Iverson for stepping over him
Some players have held grudges at opponents who have posterized them or had them on the receiving end of highlight reels. Not Ty Lue, though. He took Allen Iverson’s step over with a hilarious view of how history will look at him.
Here’s what the former NBA journeyman had to say on “The Old Man and The Three” about the incident in 2001:
“I contested it, I fell and he stepped over me. I fell when I contested it. I fell into his foot, like, I rolled my ankle a little bit, fell down, he made a shot, and stepped over me like ‘Oh! That’s a step over!’ I’m like, ‘Okay, well, I mean, it’s AI’. That’s my guy.”
“I think Doug Collins put a lot on it too though. Like ‘Oh! He stepped over him!’ and that add an extra to it and it became more and more but you know, it is what it is. You play hard, you’re gonna get dunked on, you’re gonna get crossed over, you’re gonna get a lot of things."
"And then guess what? I’ll always be in NBA history. They’re gonna show it all the time. So I’m always gonna be relevant no matter what happens!”
Guess the Lakers players!
