Every October, fans eagerly wait to see their favorite stars go all out with some of the most creative, funny, and downright bizarre costumes. From LeBron James’ masterful Edward Scissorhands portrayal to Russell Westbrook’s uncanny Chucky impression, NBA players have long embraced the spooky season with elaborate costumes that rival their on-court performances. This year, basketball legend Allen Iverson has moonwalked his way into the Halloween Hall of Fame, which made the basketball community go into a frenzy.

The Answer, whose fearless drives to the basket and crossovers have become iconic, traded his basketball shorts for a bedazzled jacket and brought a shocking homage to the King of Pop to the stage. Sharing his glimpse of the Jackson look via Instagram, Iverson sported the classic curly hair, white sequined glove, and the uber cool Thriller era embodying his favorite features of Jackson’s iconic style during his prime.

“Happy Halloween y’all lol,” wrote Iverson in the caption. The attention to detail was so striking that even former NBA player Matt Barnes couldn’t contain himself, commenting with a string of laughing emojis.

What makes this costume choice particularly intriguing is how it aligns with Iverson’s well-documented passion for pushing boundaries in fashion. Long before NBA players became fashion icons, AI was the league’s original style revolutionist. He brought hip-hop culture to the NBA’s doorstep with his cornrows, baggy clothes, and diamond chains – a look so impactful it prompted the league to implement a dress code in 2005. “I am who I am, I AM HIPHOP!! Always will be. Thank you HipHop, I love you back!” wrote Iverson in an Instagram post.

During his career, Iverson’s footwork, which broke ankles, or his fashion, proved to make just as many headlines. Not only was AI fearless in self-expression, but he also wore full-length mink courtside and BAPE sneakers before they became a crown jewel of streetwear. Bold choices created by him have led to today’s revolution of NBA fashion in which players such as P. J. Tucker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander use their pregame outfits to make a statement.

Iverson even made the tattoo game iconic in the NBA. The 49-year-old has a minimum of 20 tattoos and each has a special meaning. A tribute to his hometown of Virginia and the bulldog emblem of the Georgetown Hoyas basketball club is among the artwork on Allen Iverson’s body. As Halloween celebrations continue across the NBA community, Iverson’s Michael Jackson impression stands out as a reminder of why he remains one of basketball’s most beloved personalities. However, even though Barnes has made a friendly comment on his post, there was a time when the player-turned-podcaster’s comment on Iverson led to a controversy.

When Matt Barnes chose a Warriors standout over Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson, the iconic figure of the Philadelphia 76ers, continues to evoke strong opinions even years after his retirement. But when you become iconic, there will be other people happily throwing criticisms at you. The same was the case with Matt Barnes.

During a live event of the ‘All the Smoke’ podcast, Barnes answered who he would choose between Iverson and Stephen Curry. After thinking about the question, he stated “Stephen Curry”. This steamed the audience present at the hall where the event took place. Moreover, co-host Stephen Jackson justified Barnes’ choice to cool the atmosphere.

“I love AI more as a brother but basketball-wise Steph has four f—-ing championships like get out y’all feelings… AI’s not gonna here you ay his name and be like thank you bro, appreciate. No dawg be real. Steph got four f—-ing championships like get out your feelings bro like it is, what it is,” said Jackson.

But it seemed like this sudden rage was more fueled by Barnes’ comments in a previous podcast where the 44-year-old had criticized Iverson’s physical size. “The way to get to be there and see him and the way he played. I mean, this dude was, he was little. But he would have these big bruises on his hips and burst the sack and If I’m not mistaken, he said he started wearing the sleeves cause he would fall on his elbow so much they would start swelling up like tennis balls. So he was just beat up,” said Barnes during an episode of Podcast P with Paul George.

Although there have been numerous instances, be it in his own podcast or at any other show, Barnes had always praised Iverson for his contribution to the game. However, it seemed like the fans overlooked Barnes’ past positive comments and stuck to the negative ones. While Curry’s accolades and statistical dominance are undeniable, Iverson’s impact on the game and his ability to captivate audiences remain unparalleled.