When Allen Iverson stepped over Tyronn Lue June 6, 2001, the NBA world went crazy! But the reason why is much deeper than him pulling off a wild ankle breaker.
Do you remember that one time when the great Allen Iverson broke Tyronn Lue’s ankles and stepped over him?
Of course, you do. Every basketball fan knows it.
But do you know why it’s a significant event? And why basketball fans still talk about it?
Well, it’s because of a lot of things and to fully grasp it, we have to travel way back to 1996.
The Beginning of Kobe and Iverson’s Rivalry
In 1996, Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant were drafted into the NBA.
Kobe was a young teen filled with confidence and potential. Iverson was a college star who was slated to be great.
Right off the bat, the two players were competitive with each other, especially since Iverson played for Kobe’s hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
The first time Kobe played in Philly that season, the fans booed him and the Los Angeles Lakers, and cheered for Iverson.
And knowing Kobe, those taunts just made him want to work a little harder so that one day, he can shush the crowd.
After they graduated from their rookie seasons, Iverson was awarded the Rookie of the Year trophy while Kobe was awarded with this insane work ethic that he would later dub the “Mamba Mentality.”
To really understand this work ethic, you have to read this story from A.I., where he recounts an event from their rookie season.
Via The Player’s Tribune:
“Remember when I came out to L.A. for the first time our rookie year? You picked me up at the hotel and we went out for some food, and you asked me what I was getting up to later.
“I said I was going to the club. I mean, we in L.A.! I’m going to the club, Kobe. Come on, man.
“And what did you say?
“‘I’m going back to the gym.’
“You’re probably the only dude in the history of the game where the mystique wasn’t exaggerated. The Mamba was no myth, man. It didn’t even do you justice. One, two, three in the morning, we knew where you were.”
The 2001 NBA Finals
By the time the 2001 playoffs came around, both players, who had kept their on-court rivalry alive, had accomplished a lot.
Iverson was the MVP that season and was a perennial All-Star. He was also the scoring champion and steals champion that year.
As for Kobe, he made a name for himself on the west coast. He was a perennial All-Star as well and won his first NBA championship title the previous season.
In the first playoffs, both fought in their respective conferences and made it to the Finals. But their journeys were very different.
Kobe, Shaquille O’Neal, and the Lakers annihilated the west coast, sweeping every team that they encountered.
Allen Iverson and the 76ers had to grind their way to the final stage.
And this here is one of the reasons why the “Step Over” was so significant.
Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals
It was Game 1 of the Finals. June 6, 2001.
The two teams were competitive with each other and anyone could’ve taken the W.
As a matter of fact, in the final seconds of the game, both teams had a chance to claim the victory.
But neither did.
So, the game went into overtime. And this was where Iverson unleashed “The Answer.”
He scored 7 of the 76ers 13 points in OT and was responsible for delivering the final dagger.
With less than one minute left in the game, Iverson called for an ISO against Lue.
But see, Lue was giving Iverson all sorts of trouble throughout the game with his active hands and relentless defence.
But Iverson wanted all of that heat.
So, he got into the triple-threat and tried to create some free space. Once he got a couple of inches to breathe, he attacked the baseline.
Lue stuck with him.
So, Iverson pulled the ball back and went up for a fadeaway.
Swish.
Lue tried to contest the shot but when he landed, he tripped and fell over.
Iverson stared him in the eyes and stepped over him as he went back on D.
And all of this happened in front of the Lakers bench, which made it so much sweeter.
The 76ers won the game 107-101, ruining the Lakers’ perfect playoff record.
However, the Lakers ended up winning the next four games to take the crown in Philly, which allowed Kobe to finally shush the crowd.
How Iverson Feels About the Step Over Now
Many years later, Iverson was asked about his thoughts on the step over and the whole Finals experience.
He said that he doesn’t like it when people bring it up (the play) because he has tons of respect for Lue.
However, he also admitted that in that moment, it was awesome.
Via the All The Smoke podcast:
“You know what’s so crazy? I don’t like it. ‘Cause I love him… Yeah, it was dope when you look back on it, but I just don’t like it.”
Final Thoughts
What makes Iverson’s step over so special wasn’t that it was a sick ankle break.
It was special because of the story behind it –Iverson winning MVP, him making it to the Finals against Kobe, and the 76ers beating the odds and winning that game.
That’s why it’s still talked about today.
The “Step Over,” like Hakeem Olajuwon’s “Dream Shake” on David Robinson, was an amazing event that happened in NBA history.
It will forever be part of basketball culture.