Did LeBron Replicate Allen Iverson Stepping Over Tyronn Lue In 2001 NBA Finals?
LeBron James set the Internet abuzz Wednesday when he met rapper Jay-Z with a handshake after making a deep 3-pointer against the Los Angeles Clippers.
It was one of the signature moments from James leading the Lakers to a 21-point, fourth-quarter comeback victory. But before the handshake, there may have been a gesture flashing back to the 2001 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers.
On the way to Jay-Z, James sidestepped Clippers coach Tyronn Lue by jumping behind him. It was somewhat similar to when 76ers guard Allen Iverson stepped over Lue after making a basket in the Game 1 of the Finals.
It has since become one of the most iconic moments in NBA history.
It is unknown if James was mimicking Iverson, who led the Sixers to their only victory in the series after the move that helped clinch the game in overtime. They then lost four straight to the mighty Lakers, who were led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. It was the second of the Lakers' three-peat from 2000-02.
Still, it remains one of the top moments in Finals and Iverson history.
“I can’t tell you what the feeling was like. I can’t duplicate it. I was in the moment,” Iverson said last year during an appearance on Everything But The Chip: The 2001 76ers television series. “I just know he [Lue] fell in front of me, I don’t know how I even thought about stepping over him like that—I was just playing basketball.”
Perhaps LeBron was simply paying tribute to the moment. Or maybe it was more about making his way to Jay-Z. It could have been a little of both.
Shandel Richardson is publisher of Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com
