Allen Iverson, standing at a mere 6 ft. tall, was once a giant on the court whose impact had far exceeded his physical stature. The 2001 NBA MVP showcased an unparalleled combination of speed, agility, and scoring prowess that surprised the defenders. Adding to this, Iverson’s crossover was so lethal that even left the NBA legend Michael Jordan stunned momentarily. However, this time the Philadelphia 76ers point guard isn’t being praised for his individual prowess, but for his leadership quality.

In the recent episode of the ‘Gil’s Arena Podcast’, Josiah Johnson put a question on the table: who took their team to the finals with the least amount of talent in the team, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, or Allen Iverson? The whole crew came up with only one name in unison. “It’s gotta be AI. AI didn’t have nobody,” said Rashad McCant during the podcast. But is it true?

Arenas and his crew believed that Iverson’s feat of leading the Philadelphia 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals stands as the most impressive accomplishment. And up to some extent, it is true as well. Why? The roster of the Sixers that season was far from star-studded and Iverson, with the help of players like Dikembe Mutombo, Eric Snow, and Aaron McKie, led the team to the finals. Although the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the team, they had players like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal playing at their peak, this drive is considered being Iverson’s one of the best efforts in the league.

Now coming to the LeBron James 2018 Championship drive. With the Cleveland Cavaliers, he indeed had the support of some of the most talented teammates. Among them most supportive was the 5x NBA All-Star Kevin Love. The power forward provided a significant offensive threat and rebounding presence by averaging 14.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 1.6 APG in the playoffs. But the list doesn’t end here. There was the experienced point guard George Hill, who offered steady ball handling and perimeter defense, and along with him was Kyle Korver, one of the NBA’s all-time great three-point shooters. Hence, we can say that Gil’s Arena crew was right selecting Iverson as the player who led the team with the least amount of talent.

Ultimately, the debate over who was the more impactful NBA Finals leader, Iverson or James, is subjective and open to interpretation. Both players made significant contributions to their respective teams and left an indelible mark on the game. As mentioned earlier, did you know about the unique ability that Iverson possessed?

NBA greats were left in awe of Allen Iverson’s unique ability

There have been many instances that show Michael Jordan is the ultimate basketball player. From his leaping capabilities to ball-handling techniques, he was the legend that everyone looked up to. But one time Allen Iverson did something extraordinary. The guard for the Sixers had left the legend bewildered with a stunning double crossover.

Now what is a crossover? It is a dribbling technique used to create space between a player and their defender. In 1997, during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls, AI used this technique against Jordan to score a point. “Very quick…I figured that he wanted to come to his right hand, but he keeps the ball real low and he’s small and he’s certainly closer to the ground than I am. His quickness is unbelievable,” said Jordan about the crossover during a post-game interview.

The iconic crossover not only solidified Iverson’s reputation as a rising star but also added another chapter to the storied rivalry between the Bulls and the 76ers.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.