Ty Lue on the famous Iverson stepover: "Iverson making it to the Finals really saved my career. Without Iverson there probably wouldn't be me. If Milwaukee would have beat Philly, I wouldn't have played. So that could have possibly been my last year in the NBA. People don't understand that"

Howard Beck tweeted this in response to the famous Iverson over Ty Lue stepover picture. He did an article interviewing Ty Lue about that moment in 2016

"Iverson making it to the Finals really saved my career," Lue said. "Without Iverson, there probably wouldn't be me"

In June 2001, Lue was a seldom-used backup guard who had been squeezed out of the rotation by Rider and thee-point specialist Mike Penberthy. He was 24 years old and about to enter free agency. He was worried about his future.

In those days, teams had to set their playoffs rosters before the postseason began. Lue expected to be left off, which would have likely spelled the end of his Lakers tenure.

The room erupted in delight when Phil Jackson announced Lue's name on the day rosters were finalized - "an unbelievable feeling," Lue said.

The expectation of a showdown with Iverson figured heavily into the decision. The Lakers were stocked with veteran guards like Bryant, Shaw, Ron Harper and Derek Fisher, but they needed a quick, feisty defender to check Iverson if Philadelphia won the East.

When the 76ers knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, Lue's role in the Finals was assured.

"If Milwaukee would have beat Philly, I wouldn't have played," Lue said. "So that could have possibly been my last year in the NBA. People don't understand that."

that Finals showdown with Iverson might well have secured Lue's place in the league, The Stepover notwithstanding.

About that play: Yes Iverson won the moment, hitting a tough jumper over Lue, part of a seven-point burst that pushed Philadelphia to a 103-99 lead with 48.2 seconds left in overtime.

But that moment was not as embarrassing as it appears.

Lue had forced Iverson into that tough shot by staying step-for-step with him. And though Lue fell, it was not because he was faked out by a slick move; he simply stepped on Iverson's foot after the shot.

"The funny part about it, people think like he crossed me over, I fell down and then he stepped," Lue said. "I contested his shot. And I'm walking backwards, and I step on his foot and I fall. And he stepped over me. And they make a big deal out of it"

Rarely mentioned: that was effectively Iverson's last meaningful highlight of the series. He made just 48 of 121 attempts over the next four games, with Lue shadowing him throughout. The Lakers won all four and the championship.

A month later, the Wizards signed Lue to a two-year $3.6 million deal, giving him an opportunity to play with another legend, Jordan, and to continue a career that would last another 8 years.

The added kicker: Lue and Iverson became friends and remained in contact to this day. Iverson even tweeted his congratulations when Lue was named the Cavaliers' coach.

"The stepover definitely made me famous," Lue said. "The thing with Allen Iverson is, he made me."

Tweet Source from Howard Beck