Iverson learned his crossover from a college walk-on
It is hard to think of a better signature NBA move than Allen Iverson's crossover. You expect an NBA Hall-of-Famer, the number 1 overall draft pick out of college, and one of the best two-sports high school athletes ever would have developed his signature crossover on his own or when he was younger. Instead, a walk-on player, Dean Barry, at Georgetown University was the one who taught Iverson the specific move. Allen's existing version was a between-the-legs that he copied from Tim Hardaway. Dean kept hitting Iverson with that crossover daily during practices, and one day AI asked Dean to teach him that move.
It was a humbling experience for Iverson, but the rest is history. He has used that move on many superstars, including Michael Jordan, to average over 26 points in his career and win an MVP.
Social Media
Quotes
Maybe I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for Dean Berry teaching me the crossover. A walk-on. The man didn’t even have a name on the back of his jersey. But at practice, he used to hit me with it so much that I just put my pride aside and said, ‘OK. You have to teach me that move.’ I stayed after practice with him every day to learn that move. All these years later, Allen Iverson is known for the crossover.
Allen Iverson
References
-
Former Sixers great Allen Iverson inducted into the Hall
And he thanked an obscure Georgetown walk-on, Dean Barry, whom he said taught him the devastating crossover move that became his signature.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
-
Allen Iverson Revealed Where He Learned His Legendary Crossover That He Used On Michael Jordan
Allen Iverson shared the origin story of his epic crossover move. Allen Iverson's handles are unmatched in the history of the NBA, while many rate Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry, AI was the original master of the flashy handles. Pound for pound, possibly the greatest scorer ever, Iverson dominated in an era where bigger players still held sway.
Yardbarker
-
‘You have to show me’: Meet the Georgetown walk-on who taught Allen Iverson his killer crossover
The crossover became a staple of Iverson’s game. He used it so much that it’s hard to imagine there was a time he didn’t know how to pull it off. Iverson changed the NBA in his 14 seasons, helping usher the league into the post-Jordan era and cementing himself as one of the most popular players in NBA history.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
