3. The MJ crossover in 1997
Allen Iverson was fresh on the NBA scene, tearing through the league as a rookie and establishing himself as a budding star. Every star has one or two iconic moments — plays or sequences that will carry on in NBA lore. Iverson’s crossover on Michael Jordan was one of those moments.
In the fourth quarter of a game between the Sixers and Bulls, Michael Jordan switched onto Iverson at the three-point line. The rook sized him up, breaking out a crossover, letting Jordan recover, then hitting him with the same move to the other side.
As A.I. faded to the right, Jordan was in no position to defend the shot. He nailed the 18-footer, with the Philadelphia crowd exploding in the background. He went one-on-one with the best player in the NBA — and one of the best defenders — and flat-out embarrassed him.
Iverson later explained the moment on TNT.
"“I gave him a little cross to see would he bite on it. I let him set his feet and then I stepped it back again.” — TNT"
He bit. He bit hard. Jordan would eventually discuss the legendary crossover when the two spoke in private before a Charlotte Hornets game in 2016. Iverson now lives in Charlotte, while MJ owns the franchise.
"“I live in Charlotte now, so I went to a Hornets game and he made sure I was straight at a Hornets game and we were in one of his offices. This was this year. I was in his office. It was just me and him and one of my friends, and I was just telling him how much he meant to me and how much I love him. And I don’t know if I can say it in here, but he was like, ‘MF, you don’t love me, you wouldn’t have crossed me like that.’ But that’s my man.” — The Post Game"