Allen Iverson steps over Lue and Lakers to win Game 1 of the NBA Finals

The 2000-01 campaign was the best season of Allen Iverson’s storied career. He successfully moved from point guard to shooting guard under head coach Larry Brown, averaging 31 points, 4.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds. He was named league MVP for his efforts and led the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA Finals matchup with the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers.

During the waning moments of Game 1, with the Sixers clinging to a two-point lead, Iverson measured his defender–Tyronn Lue–in the right corner. He took one hard dribble right before coming back with a crossover between his legs. As he gathered to score, the lightning-quick cross forced Lue to lose his balance while contesting Allen’s shot.

With the Los Angeles guard falling to the deck, Iverson buried a 20-foot jumper right in front of the Lakers bench. As the statement shot finalized its descent through the net, A.I. took a demonstrative step over his fallen defender that would live forever before discussing the upset win with Lewis Johnson on NBC.

ALLEN IVERSON POSTGAME INTERVIEW | 76ERS vs LAKERS JUNE 6, 2001

“Allen, you have ended the 19-game winning streak by the Lakers,” Lewis Johnson said as the postgame interview began following a 107-100 win for the 76ers to open the 2001 NBA Finals.

“No one expected that to happen. You were hot early, you cooled off because of the defense from Tyronn Lue. How did you get it back?”

Iverson replied first in reference to Lue, “He was holding me the whole time once he got on me.” Before adding, “But that’s just the way we are. We play hard. We came in here expecting to win.
Everybody already counted us out.

“And we’re not going to act like we won it all right now. Because we still have some more business ahead of us. We’re just going to keep playing hard and whatever happens, happens.”

“Since you have shocked everybody, what do you take out of this game for Game 2?”

“That we know we can win,” A.I. responded. “We knew we could win before we came here. Everybody counted us out like I said.

“They thought we were going to get swept. That’s like a slap in the face for everything we worked for all year. And I’m just happy my teammates hung in there and we got a win.”

Despite Game 1 breaking Philly’s way on the strength of 48 points from their superstar guard, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s Lakers would win the next four to clinch the title. Iverson totaled 23, 35, 35 and 37 points in each of those four games to go along with his one historic step into basketball folklore.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Long before that trip to the NBA Finals, Hall of Fame coach John Thompson dismissed critics and recruited Allen to Georgetown despite an arrest in high school for his role in a bowling alley fight. But under Thompson’s guidance, Iverson flourished in college, doing enough to improve his draft stock and come off the board with the first pick overall. He’d quickly prove the Sixers right for taking him, too, earning Rookie of the Year honors during a season that included another iconic crossover.

On March 12, 1997, playing at home against the Chicago Bulls, Iverson collected the basketball on the wing before retreating to the top of the key. At that moment, Michael Jordan switched out in defense of the rookie sensation that everyone was talking about. The hometown crowd rose to their feet as Iverson gave Air Jordan a slight cross and shake before quickly bringing the ball back to see if M.J. would bite on the move.

Following a brief reset, the Rocky Balboa of basketball shook his shoulders once more before executing the cross that left Jordan stunned. The 17-foot jumper that followed would prove pure before Mike ever knew what hit him.

As the most explosive player in the league with the ball in his hands, Iverson would use a combination of speed and toughness to become an 11-time All-Star. He’d also secure his spot on seven All-NBA teams while winning four scoring titles. Along with leading his team to an Eastern Conference championship in ’01 as the shortest league MVP ever, Iverson was twice named the most valuable player of the All-Star Game.

In 2016, A.I. was officially inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. He had become an icon for a generation. He was a basketball playing superhero whose Reebok’s served as his proverbial cape. Allen inspired the next wave of basketball stars who followed him into the league with his unwavering expression of self and relentless style of play while leaving his mark on the game forever.

There may have been questions surrounding Allen Iverson at various points in his basketball journey. Some people didn’t like the way he dressed or the candid nature of his sound-bites. But even when they counted him out, he’d always find a way to take that colossal step and prove he was The Answer.

Written By Brendan Bowers | @BowersCLE

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