Basketball history is basically a collection of highlights, but some clips carry more weight than others. You’ve seen it. Everyone has. Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals. It’s the baseline jumper. The swish. And then, the disrespect that launched a thousand memes. The AI steps over Ty Lue. It wasn’t just a basketball play; it was a cultural shift captured in a few seconds of grainy broadcast footage.
Most people remember the aesthetic of it—the baggy jersey, the cornrows, and Tyronn Lue stumbling onto the hardwood like he’d just lost a fight with gravity. But if you actually look at the context of that series, the "step over" is way more complicated than a simple flex. It was the moment a David-sized superstar momentarily broke a Goliath-sized dynasty.
The Unstoppable Force Meets the Scrappy Shadow
Going into the 2001 Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers were terrifying. Honestly, they were a buzzsaw. They hadn't lost a single game in the playoffs. Shaquille O’Neal was at the absolute peak of his "Diesel" powers, and Kobe Bryant was already becoming the "Black Mamba." On the other side, you had the Philadelphia 76ers. It was basically Allen Iverson and a group of elite defenders like Dikembe Mutombo and Aaron McKie.
The Lakers had a problem, though. How do you stop a 6-foot (maybe 5’10” on a bad day) scoring machine who doesn't know how to quit? Phil Jackson’s answer was Tyronn Lue.
Lue was chosen for one reason: he was fast enough to stay in Iverson's jersey. During practice, Lue actually wore a sleeve and braided his hair to mimic Iverson's style so the Lakers starters could get used to the look. It sounds goofy, but it worked. For a huge chunk of that game, Lue was a pest. He was under Iverson’s skin. He was winning the battle of attrition.
Then came the corner.
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The Mechanics of the Step Over
Under a minute left in overtime. Philly is up by two. Iverson gets the ball in the right corner, right in front of the Lakers' bench. He hits Lue with a between-the-legs crossover, steps back, and drains the long two. It was cold.
Lue, trying his best to contest the shot, loses his balance and falls.
As Iverson turns to head back down the court, Lue is right in his path. Instead of walking around him, Iverson takes a massive, deliberate stride over Lue’s body. He stares him down. It wasn't an accident. It was a statement that said, "You aren't on my level."
People forget that Iverson finished that game with 48 points. He handed the Lakers their only loss of the entire postseason. Even though the Lakers went on to win the next four games and the championship, that single image of AI stepping over Ty Lue is what stayed in the collective memory. It’s the ultimate "mismatch" story.
Why It Still Ranks as the Peak NBA Cold Moment
Why are we still talking about this in 2026? It’s because it represents the "Answer" era perfectly. Allen Iverson was the anti-establishment hero of the NBA. He brought hip-hop culture, tattoos, and a "me against the world" attitude to a league that was still trying to figure out its post-Jordan identity.
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The step over wasn't just about a basket. It was about:
- Cultural Dominance: Iverson was the MVP, and he acted like it.
- The Underdog Narrative: One guy taking on a dynasty.
- Pure Cinema: The way Lue looks up and Iverson looks down is perfectly framed.
Interestingly, Tyronn Lue has talked about this plenty of times since. He’s actually a hugely successful coach now—winning a ring with Cleveland in 2016—but he knows he’s tied to AI forever. He’s mentioned that the play actually helped his career in a weird way because it made him famous. He’s a good sport about it, but you know it has to sting a little every time that clip goes viral on an anniversary.
The Nuance We Often Ignore
Let’s be real for a second. If you watch the full game, Tyronn Lue played incredible defense. He actually held Iverson scoreless for a long stretch in the second half. If Lue doesn't play that well, maybe the game doesn't even go to overtime.
But history isn't written by the guys who played "solid defense." It’s written by the guys who hit the daggers.
The 76ers were battered. Iverson was playing with about twenty different injuries. He had no business winning Game 1 against a team that featured Shaq and Kobe in their primes. That’s why the step over resonates. It was the peak of Iverson’s defiance. It was a "refusal to lose" manifested in a single, disrespectful walk.
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Modern Comparisons and the Legacy of "The Step"
We see players try to recreate this energy today. When Anthony Edwards dunks on someone or Luka Doncic talks trash to a fan, they are chasing that Iverson energy. But nothing quite matches the organic, raw disrespect of the 2001 Finals.
The step over is a reminder that sports are about more than stats. It's about the psychological warfare of the game. Iverson didn't just want the points; he wanted your soul. He wanted to make sure everyone in the Staples Center knew that for one night, he was the baddest man on the planet.
What You Can Learn from the AI Mentality
If you're looking for the "so what" of this story, it's about confidence. Iverson was significantly smaller than almost everyone on the court. He was being guarded by a specialist designed to shut him down. He didn't care.
- Confidence is a weapon. Even if the odds are against you, acting like you belong is half the battle.
- Moments matter more than results. Philly lost the series, but Iverson won the history books.
- Respect is earned, but disrespect is a tactic. Iverson used that moment to deflate the Lakers' momentum.
To really understand the impact, you have to look at the shoes, the clothes, and the way the NBA changed its dress code shortly after. The league was scared of what Iverson represented. They were scared of that raw, unfiltered energy.
How to Apply This Today
Next time you’re facing a "dynasty" in your own life—whether it’s a massive project at work or a competitor that seems unbeatable—think about Game 1. You don't have to win the whole series to make an impact. Sometimes, you just need to hit your shot and take that step.
- Study the film. If you want to see pure scoring, watch Iverson’s 2001 highlights.
- Don't fear the "specialist." Everyone has a counter, but talent and will can override a defensive scheme.
- Embrace the meme. If you’re Tyronn Lue in this scenario, use the notoriety to build something better. Lue is now one of the most respected minds in basketball. He outlasted the "joke."
The AI steps over Ty Lue moment is timeless because it’s human. It’s arrogance, skill, failure, and triumph all colliding in about three seconds. It’s the reason we watch sports. We want to see someone do something so bold it stays relevant for twenty-five years.