Allen Iverson Stepped Over Tyronn Lue 15 Years Ago, Today
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- 15-years-old at the Staples Center in Los Angeles we witnessed one of the most iconic moments in Philadelpha sports history.
Allen Iverson famously hit a step-back jumper over Lakers guard Tyronn Lue in game one of the 2001 NBA Finals, and then stepped over Lue.
The Larry Brown led Sixers went on to win that game, but then lost four straight, losing the NBA Finals to the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal Lakers. But that moment, lives in Philly sports infamy.
Former Sixers guard, Temple star, and Phill native Aaron Mckie joined the 94WIP Mike & Ike Show to talk about Iverson's famous step-over.
"And he knew what Tyron Lue was in the game for, and he always took exception that," Mckie said. "Anytime they tried to throw a person in the game to just kind of guard him, he just took it personal. He's like, 'Give me the ball right here. I'mma destroy this guy, watch this.'
"And he just had supreme confidence in his ability and in his self at any moment on the court, he just felt like it was a disrespect for you to think as an opponent, that you could one guy out on the court and that guy is gonna be able to stop him."
Despite the loss to the Lakers, that Sixers team holds a special place in the hearts of Philly sports fans.
"I think we resonated with this city because we were a blue-collar team and this is a blue-collar city," McKie said. "We just played hard. We were a scrappy group that had just one superstar on the team. Everybody understood their roles and we were comfortable with that and I think that's what makes for a really good team. And Coach Brown brought it all together."
As for the current 76ers team, they have the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. McKie likes Brandon Ingram's upside a tad more than Ben Simmons'.
"I think if you're gonna keep [Jahlil] Okafor, Okafor is gonna be a guy throughout his career that is gonna command a double team," McKie said. "He's gonna be a double-double guy. So you gonna have to have guys that can knock down some shots out on the perimeter. And so that's where Ingram comes in for me as a guy that can play out on the perimeter, that can make some shots, that's got some good length and athleticism to him. I think his upside, to me, is a little higher [than Simmons']."
"I like the direction that the organization is heading in, probably a little too slow for the normal fan, but I think they're set up for success. And I think the big thing that they have to do is, they have to surround those young guys with some veterans that can help them along the way."
