Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 at 4:52 pm  |  86 responses

The Killer Crossover

Allen Iverson’s greatest in-game crossovers.

by C. Vernon Coleman II / @Vernon_Coleman

It has stretched ankle tendons; felled future Hall of famers, been mentioned in numerous hip hop verses and (even if just for one timeless play) bested the best of the best. There is no denying that Allen Iverson’s signature crossover is one of the most revered devices in the modern era of the NBA.

Over the years, The Answer has been peerless in his pursuit of catching defenders slipping and has a figurative collection of severed ankle joints lining his trophy case. Iverson once said about his lightning quick handle, “I can look in [a defender’s] eyes and tell by the way his feet are moving if he is scared or not.” Frightened or valiant, no one was immune to catching The Crossover; from a tenured Reggie Miller to a fledgling Steve Nash and of course, 23.

The only antidote has been time. With no offers from any NBA team for the upcoming season and rumors swirling that he may hoop in China next year, chances are, that we’ve seen Bubbachuck dissect his last NBA foe.

Fear not. We have amassed a compilation of some of Iverson’s greatest in-game crossovers and, through extensive breakthrough research, have categorized seven variations of the famous move that made ankle braces a hot commodity in the League in the late ‘90s. Each category of crossover is different. All of them surgically precise and equally as effective. Because, believe it or not, it took practice to master these moves.

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  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Sep.28 at 5:02 pm
    Now, the comment section in THIS post should get VERY, VERY interesting…

  • thegggfunk Posted: Sep.28 at 5:14 pm
    Allen Iverson
    The name speaks for itself.

  • JTaylor21 Posted: Sep.28 at 5:15 pm
    The two best ones are on MJ and T-Lue. The one vs MJ was just so evil bcuz he had MJ coming back for seconds like a buffet and the one vs the LA because it was like he stepped over a fake carbon copy of himself.

  • ManofGod131 Posted: Sep.28 at 5:22 pm
    He just pulled it back on Lue…it wasn’t a crossover. Forget Kobe and LeBron and all these other guys. My favorite will always be AI.

  • unrel Posted: Sep.28 at 5:24 pm
    Antonio Daniels.

  • unrel Posted: Sep.28 at 5:27 pm
    ^imposter.. that’s not me.. but AI’s crossover was sick..

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Sep.28 at 5:29 pm
    Awesome. Thank you Vernon!

  • The Nupe Posted: Sep.28 at 5:30 pm
    Ring around the rosey! He was just dangerous where nobody wanted to have to guard him. His game was/is heavily speed dependent that now that he’s lost a few steps (def more than 1), he just can’t produce the way he use to. I stil hope somebody gives him another shot in the NBA, it won’t be the same watching clips of him torch second-tier players in China.

  • James Posted: Sep.28 at 5:33 pm
    the finley one is hilarious. its not even off the dribble its just a classic “help i’ve fallen and i cant get up” moment. just gives up and has a little nap afterwards.

  • slick ric Posted: Sep.28 at 5:39 pm
    Iverson used to be my favorite player, but that crossover on Jordan was so overrated.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Sep.28 at 5:41 pm
    I’d forgotten the Tim Hardaway one. Poetic justice.

  • JTaylor21 Posted: Sep.28 at 5:43 pm
    ^How in the HELL is that cross on MJ overrated? CHILD PLEASE he had him beat on the first cross but decided to come back with another just for the f*ck of it.

  • doppler Posted: Sep.28 at 5:50 pm
    good lookin’!

  • EJ Posted: Sep.28 at 5:53 pm
    He didn’t really cross Timmy, Timmy knows the crossover too well.

  • drdunkenstein Posted: Sep.28 at 5:58 pm
    I’m sorry but when he hesitates and cups that ball with the left hand before the cross, that is just a blatant carry/palm/travel… whatever you want to call it. Illegal in basketball. The refs should’ve cut that mess out a long time ago. Obvious carry, sorry folks.

  • rich Posted: Sep.28 at 6:05 pm
    that jordan crossover is so famous not only because he got jordan, but because it captivated the minds and skill sets of young ballers all over the world. go on any ball court and you will c someone do “i do one little to to see if hes leanin then i hit him again” that move changed the way the game is played

  • lexluther703 Posted: Sep.28 at 6:21 pm
    Antonio Daniels got the business in the filthiest way possible.. AI will ALWAYS be my favorite, fcuk all these imposters. Dude was heart personified, left it on the floor every single night, and absolutely dragged that ’01 philly team to the finals single-handedly. There will never be another Answer.

  • str8 from samoa Posted: Sep.28 at 6:21 pm
    LEGEND.

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.28 at 6:35 pm
    Just awesome.

  • str8 from samoa Posted: Sep.28 at 6:35 pm
    most of these crossovers were on the laker players haha

  • C-Mac Posted: Sep.28 at 6:41 pm
    Best little man ever to play the game. There will never be another answer. AI will always be my favourite to play the game, because of him I grew up spending my days trying to cross my friends up.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Sep.28 at 6:42 pm
    Tim actually played good D.

  • Pardeep Posted: Sep.28 at 6:53 pm
    I still want to know exactly how quick this guy was, too have defenders that scared of you beating em off the dribble I dont think there was a quicker player.. he shook Jordan and Kobe! two elite defenders of all-time. I wish AI was still in the league this year, if he got his knee right I still think he could do 20 and 6 a night in the right offense and give us a couple more of these crossovers. Dude will not be forgotten though.

  • Pardeep Posted: Sep.28 at 6:54 pm
    By the way I really hope SLAM does an Iverson issue… finally nice to see him getting some positive ink in SLAM the last couple of weeks.

  • French toast Posted: Sep.28 at 6:56 pm
    AI is simply the best !!!

  • Jarret Posted: Sep.28 at 7:04 pm
    @Pardeep: Trust me this guy was freakishly quick, I saw him in person… just look at the picture for this article his legs are so muscular and long , he was extremely lean and had no fat on his body he had really really good legs, a small butt which made him lighter then most players, the calves were big too. His feet were a nice size, dude was gifted he had a very nice body for basketball.

  • Triple Double Posted: Sep.28 at 7:20 pm
    AI is the man.

  • C-Mac Posted: Sep.28 at 7:30 pm
    Lots of these are much more recent than I thought they would be. How can this guy still not get a team? Wouldn’t Denver think that signing AI help to convince Melo to stay?

  • aidee333 Posted: Sep.28 at 7:58 pm
    no 1 can stop ai the greatest

  • The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.28 at 8:19 pm
    lol had Steve Nash looking stupid

  • The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.28 at 8:22 pm
    the cross on Terrell Brandon takes the cake, just the complete quintessence of the AI cross

  • The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.28 at 8:24 pm
    of course everyone loves the Jordan cross but there was no reason in the world a 35 year old MJ should have been guarding a young Allen Iverson. Still beautiful to see him wrong-foot the greatest not once but twice

  • Yknot Posted: Sep.28 at 8:26 pm
    Yessir!! Jacque Vaughn got the bidness!

  • The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.28 at 8:32 pm
    Everyone sees the flashy cross, but man few people could wet it from mid-range like young AI, folks try to act as if his game was built solely of flash but the cross was just the cherry on top- sweet sweet jumper.

  • The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.28 at 8:36 pm
    ….an aside….that Rodney Stuckey cross on AI was like friggin watching Ali-Holmes or Tyson-Douglas…..even more appropriate, that cross was like watching Roy Jones Jr. getting knocked out by Glen Johnson lol, my boxing fans will feel me

  • The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.28 at 8:40 pm
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAOBYemd1ek…..
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o0c8fXHp-4 as a fan of both RJJ and Allen Iverson since a whippersnapper, these two moments give me the exact same feeling in my gut lol

  • Jake Posted: Sep.28 at 8:54 pm
    By far my favorite move to do to people in high school,not even dunks made people cheer as loud as seeing someone get crossed up.

  • BossTerry Posted: Sep.28 at 8:56 pm
    Would like to see a clip of Tim Hardaway’s cross-over highlights..

  • Fat Lever Posted: Sep.28 at 9:05 pm
    I associate his career with my childhood. I remember trying to mimic some of his moves, like the Reebok commercial with the spin/behind the back move, under a street light, in front of my house on a late summer night. I didn’t have cable when I was a kid, so I would listen to Sixer games on the radio, envisioning AI destroying dudes. I can’t overstate this enough, and corny as it may sound, AI is forever, sometimes indirectly, tied to some of my best childhood memories.

  • unrel Posted: Sep.28 at 9:12 pm
    Kobe must have checked into a co motel after that cross

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Sep.28 at 9:36 pm
    Seems as though I never get to do the fox-trot anymore

  • Blackphantom Posted: Sep.28 at 10:13 pm
    Man, I watched Iverson growing up. I was always a Lakers fan, but my favorite guard in the L other than Kobe was “The Answer”. No doubt. It sucks to see him without a ring, he deserves it so much. Future Hall Of Famer indeed

  • Airswade Posted: Sep.28 at 10:44 pm
    co-sign drdunkenstein

  • Eric Woodyard Posted: Sep.28 at 10:51 pm
    Watching this brings back so many memories! The league aint the same without AI!! He did Jacque Vaughn so wrong on that play too…lol

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.28 at 10:56 pm
    Great post.. Should make it into the SLAMonline HOF for posts. Thanks!

  • Slick Ric Posted: Sep.28 at 11:19 pm
    Now jacque vaughn, he got crossed up sumthin bad. He actually try to get up on Ivo like he was going to shut him down.

  • BBaller Posted: Sep.28 at 11:59 pm
    Not to take anything away from AI, he was a legend, but the ‘killer crossover’ was Tim Hardaways’ weapon of choice a few years before AI. I remember watching rising stars back in early 90s

  • Bobby Posted: Sep.29 at 12:04 am
    AI was my favorite player as kid growing up. He will always be in my personal top 3 not best players but my fav. 3 players of all time.

  • BBaller Posted: Sep.29 at 12:05 am
    Has anyone else seen that video, it had young players such as kenny anderson, tim hardaway,derrick coleman,larry johnson and others. Was that a one off or did they continue with that series. Sorry apart from the internet in Australia BBall is not very available to fans in regards to DVDS etc

  • JTaylor21 Posted: Sep.29 at 2:28 am
    Allen I’s crossover>>THardaway’s crossover.

  • snuff Posted: Sep.29 at 2:29 am
    man hope to see him wear an nba uni for a contender and win a title this season. one of the players who perfectly defined this decade.

  • BossTerry Posted: Sep.29 at 3:09 am
    Man, saying AI’s cross-over is greater than Hardaway’s is like saying the new Clash of the titans movie is greater than the origianal, Or nightmare on elm street movie… Timmy was a trend-setter..

  • Colt6 Posted: Sep.29 at 3:15 am
    SHOOK! Man, AI was the illest. I practiced that move for weeks and thanks to slow mo I figured it out. Slightly lift left foot up, ball on left hand. Fake head to the left a bit and extend left hand, step left foot on the ground, slide left side of right foot. Explode to the right while crossing the ball to the right hand. Go! Ankles have been shattered.

  • Mike from Spain Posted: Sep.29 at 3:52 am
    Do you know what did I think when I saw the video entitled “AI schools D-Fish? I thought “who’s in playing shape now? Who won the rings? Who’s the better leader?” Anyway, seeing Iverson play in his young days was a thing of beauty

  • Baguma Posted: Sep.29 at 5:29 am
    i miss those days

  • Josh Posted: Sep.29 at 9:40 am
    AI was way more than just a cross over especially when they changed the palming rules. Still, buzz about that crossover when I was in jr high made me start watching Georgetown and probably had more affect on who I am today that I want to admit.

  • Spaceship Jay Posted: Sep.29 at 9:44 am
    I gotta disagree with you Jtaylor, The refs couldn’t shut Tim’s down… and he could do his on the run full speed. AI’s was great, but it was deemed illegal after he hit Mike with it. And there were about 5 different variations of Tim’s at his disposal.

  • JTaylor21 Posted: Sep.29 at 10:00 am
    What the F*CK does being a better leader and having rings have to do with getting crossed over? Sh*t if AI played with Shaq and Kobe his whole career, he would have 7 rings by now.

  • Roc1980 Posted: Sep.29 at 10:02 am
    Page 8 was his best work… You never want to fall as a defender!!!

  • logues Posted: Sep.29 at 10:36 am
    left to right EVERY time

  • drdunkenstein Posted: Sep.29 at 10:50 am
    Yeah I don’t know why people got caught by this so much. If they would’ve just studied his game tapes, he does rock you left then goes right every single time. Guess it’s easier said than done when you’re standing in front of him and he’s got that nice jumper that he can pull at any time, so he’s got you leaning already. But really, as I said earlier, that move is just blatant palming. AI basically introduced something into the game that is completely illegal and the game has not been the same since. Refs need to cut that mess out, which they are doing a better job of nowadays.

  • Fat Lever Posted: Sep.29 at 10:56 am
    Anyone who is comparing AI to Fisher is a moron and totally missed the entire point of this post. Fisher is a role player, AI is an MVP. Yes, Fisher has rings, but ask him to carry a team and I will bet that team doesn’t win more than 5 games out of 82.

  • Allenp Posted: Sep.29 at 11:10 am
    funkenstein
    If you don’t respect the rock to the left, you get blown by because dude is ridiculously quick. so, if you watch the tapes, he doesn’t just randomnly pull out a crossover. First he sees how the defender responds to him moving to his left. Many times, Iverson would just hit the defender with a hesitation and then keep going left. You get blown by enough times, you learn to react, and that’s when you get crossed.
    And Iverson’s crossover was no more illegal than the right to left crossover Jordan was known to pull out on the fast break. Talk about some palming…

  • iversonwho Posted: Sep.29 at 12:43 pm
    Crossover heart dedication and practice for idiots that thought he could have all this talent without it is what allen iverson names stand for. And if your 5’10 and under or over allen iverson for the greatest.

  • Elvis Freshly Posted: Sep.29 at 12:52 pm
    Smh.. you guys ever hear of Tim Hardaway Tim >>

  • Cizzo Posted: Sep.29 at 1:41 pm
    Hands down! Hands down, off the dribble A.I. might be the best ever or at least top five! Iso situations and transition offense he cold not be checked! To this very day!!!! Especially in China he will average
    50 points if somebody claims he can’t do it!!!! You can’t deny his relentlesness! Or his skills!

  • ANTONIS FOTSIS Posted: Sep.29 at 2:06 pm
    “THE killer crossover” is as dumb as it gets as a title(on the other hand this is fitting since it is on an Anna related article) since you cannot call “killer” something that NEVER won ANYTHING. If you want to call something “killer” (although i disagree) try “the killer pick & roll or the killer mid range jumper”….by the way:
    WHERE IS ANNA..???(oups, wrong thread).

  • ANTONIS FOTSIS Posted: Sep.29 at 2:08 pm
    (yeap, i’m back, from sunny greece to rainy romania…)

  • Allenp Posted: Sep.29 at 4:30 pm
    I see. So I assume Dwayne Wade never used a “killer crossover.” Neither has Kobe, right?
    Just wondering if we’re applying actual facts or helping you relieve the pressure in your groin that pops up whenever Iverson is mentioned.

  • The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.29 at 5:01 pm
    Antonis, you don’t know a thing about this sport….period…

  • SpaceJam Posted: Sep.29 at 5:18 pm
    AI’s crossover was sick but so was Tim Hardaway’s. They both got serious taps. Iverson’s is more street oriented while Hardaways’s was tight and extra quick. You take either one. Everybody got their ankles broken by the answer. And it was completely legal. It just doesn’t look like it, people who don’t know the rules say the same thing about the 2-step. Antonis, you don’t know crap about basketball. Shut up

  • Lion O Posted: Sep.29 at 5:33 pm
    A.I, true ballers and fans of the sport would always love you. Man, you were and I still believe are a force to reckon with in the highest level of Basketball ‘PLAY’, the N.B.A.

  • kharlmj Posted: Sep.30 at 8:15 am
    my top is the cross over on daniels and MJ,…. a master in breking ankles…. hitting sweet fade away jumpers.. cruising through giant defenders sacrificing his body for an amazing lay-up… plus… he dunks over people too….. man,,, the talent he have… that’s what the NBA needs… If he wont play this season,,, certainly i aint gona watch the NBA nymore….

  • Chukaz Posted: Sep.30 at 2:56 pm
    iverson’s crossover has nuthin on LeBron’s crab dribble…

  • Elvis Freshly Posted: Sep.30 at 3:17 pm
    ^ha..

  • shaw32 Posted: Sep.30 at 4:21 pm
    the crossover on rendon showed its no carry just a great move

  • da guse Posted: Sep.30 at 7:08 pm
    He was, and still is amazing…. he just makes so many ppl look like fools…. great stuff

  • slamfan4life Posted: Sep.30 at 7:27 pm
    he wasnt that good guys…..lol, he did it so easily; damn i wish he was still in the L and doin it dirty like b4

  • fruizm Posted: Oct.1 at 12:33 pm
    AI….. i might like d-rose, wade, monta ellis, and chriss paul today……but they have nothing on you!! NOTHIIIING!!!!

  • Gman Posted: Oct.1 at 12:35 pm
    The MJ one sucked. Its just cuz he shook MJ, thats all… and its MJ. There are a ton of better ones.. the one on Vaughn..however you spell his name was dope.

  • Gman Posted: Oct.1 at 12:37 pm
    @Allenp Posted: Sep.29 at 4:30 pm hahaha

  • markymark Posted: Oct.2 at 5:39 am
    i am gonna miss this cat!!! one more season, please! just cross the f*ck out of that b!tch stuckey one more time, win a ring, then you can retire.

  • Eduardo Posted: Oct.2 at 11:57 am
    AI one of the best guards ever to play the game. For someone of his height no one has accomplished as much and inspired so many people to play the game.

  • G-Man Posted: Oct.4 at 3:06 am
    God job, no doubt, but… Ya’ll forgot the crossover that he put on Kevin Durant, …don’t lie, It’s missing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQgsBqDPLFM
    3:36

  • randomness Posted: Oct.4 at 9:12 am
    AI is definitely in the Top 5 of All-Time. The one on Baron Davis was embarrassing. I don’t know which was more entertaining… watching the fall, or hearing the crowd’s reaction.

  • shawty Posted: Mar.28 at 3:06 pm
    dang i think that the killer crossover is awesome even tho many future hall of famers to stretch out their ankle tendons.

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