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What’s the most famous crossover in NBA history ready go!
The first thing that likely came to most of your minds was Iverson’s iconic shake of Michael Jordan back in 1997, the month before Iverson would go on to win Rookie of the Year.
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After he shook the greatest, Iverson recalls running into him at a Charlotte Hornets game. AI approached MJ and told him he was his hero, to which Jordan replied, “Well, I couldn’t have been too much of a hero to you if you crossed me like that.”
Fanboy City:
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Iverson’s timeless impact on the game has maybe diminished some of the greats from that era. When was the last time you heard Tim Hardaway’s name. The dude recorded 5,000 points and 2,500 assists, second fastest in NBA history after Oscar Robertson and I haven’t thought about him in 10 years. (He also holds the NBA record for the worst single-game shooting performance in NBA history, going 0-for-17 against the T-Wolves in 1991, but who’s counting?)
Point is, we forget that Tim Hardaway arguable had a tighter crossover than AI’s. Hardaway’s was quick, low, close to the body, basically unguardable. And his praise for his dribbling prowess has faded in the annals of time. He recently opened up to NBA.com‘s Scott Howard-Cooper about AI jacking his shine, and Iverson’s responded to the shade to Bleacher Report.
Bleacher Report: Did you hear what Tim Hardaway said about your crossover?
“I’m going to tell you this and I tell everybody this: Allen Iverson carried the basketball,” Hardaway told NBA.com‘s Scott Howard-Cooper. “I had the original killer crossover and people are doing my move. They’re not doing Allen Iverson’s move. They’re not doing nobody else’s move. They’re still trying to perfect my move as the killer crossover and it’s my move, all right? That’s the way it is. I brought a unique style to the game.”
Iverson: Yeah, I heard about it.
Bleacher Report: Any response?
Iverson: I carried my crossover all the way into the Hall of Fame. So, there you go.
This jab is more pointed when you consider that Tim Hardaway is the only member of ‘Run TMC’ that hasn’t (yet?) been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Chris Mullin — the C — made the Hall of Fame in 2011 and Mitch Richmond — M — in 2014. Hardaway deserves the recognition.
[h/t Bleacher Report]