In a game filled with an array of signature moves, the killer crossover is a craft mastered by few but is one of the deadliest and most humiliating moves when used correctly. In today’s game when it comes to the crossover, the names that first come to mind are typically along the lines of Kyrie Irving, Jamal Crawford, Stephen Curry, and even James Harden. Before a few of these newer names began to take ankles left and right, there were a few major pioneers of the crossover.
While there has been plenty of dispute over who the real originator was of the crossover, two of the most decorated ball handlers of all time, Tim Hardaway and Allen Iverson, both think they own that title. In fact, Hardaway had so much confidence in himself being the originator that he called out the way Iverson went about it, claiming he committed a carrying violation every time he performed the move. Iverson was aware of these comments and spoke on it in a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Abrams in a way only he could:
B/R: Did you hear what Tim Hardaway said about your crossover?
“I’m going to tell you this and I tell everybody this: Allen Iverson carried the basketball,” Hardaway told NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper. “I had the original killer crossover and people are doing my move. They’re not doing Allen Iverson’s move. They’re not doing nobody else’s move. They’re still trying to perfect my move as the killer crossover and it’s my move, all right? That’s the way it is. I brought a unique style to the game.”
Iverson: Yeah, I heard about it.
B/R: Any response?
Iverson: I carried my crossover all the way into the Hall of Fame. So, there you go.
Allen Iverson was known for being one of the most ruthless competitors to ever touch the hardwood and he carries that mentality with him off the court, even after his playing days. Obviously, the Hall of Fame shot is addressing the fact that Hardaway is yet to make the NBA Hall of Fame while Iverson was given that same honor in 2016.
Both legends enjoyed roughly a decade and a half in the NBA, but Iverson was the one who took home MVP hardware and was named to eleven All-Star games compared to Hardaway’s five.
When it comes down to who had the better crossover, it really comes down to preference as Iverson seemed to have more vicious crosses that sent defenders sprawling while Hardaway typically left his defenders shook and lost on his way to the rack. Both guards had the uncanny ability to make it look like the ball was on a string while they handled it, often leaving defenders in their wake. Either way, both collected plenty of bones in their day and should be considered amongst the best ball handlers of all time.
