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When it comes to changing the game from the smaller guard positions, Allen Iverson and Steph Curry are two of the names that come to mind first.
Iverson was the cultural icon who integrated hip-hop into the NBA way of life and influenced how players dressed. Meanwhile, Curry is the player who changed how the game is played by moving it outside the three-point line.
As far as who the better player was, you can make an argument for either. Former Washington Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas thinks it's Iverson, and his reasoning is quite interesting.
"What is Steph Curry's go-to? The three, right?" asked Arenas. "If we take that away, is he still dangerous? Is he Hall of Fame dangerous? Will he still be considered Top-2 if you took away his 3-point shot? A.I. came in with the what? Unstoppable crossover. His crossover was so unstoppable that they banned his move."
Curry without the three ball and A.I. without the crossover
Curry is the greatest shooter ever and the NBA's all-time three-point leader. But if Steph doesn't have the three-point bomb, he is no longer as big a threat as he is with it. Sure, he still has his handles, passing, and IQ, but he's an entirely different animal without the long-range shot.
Meanwhile, Iverson had one of the most lethal moves ever seen—his killer crossover. However, A.I.'s version of the crossover drew special attention from the league because of claims that he carried the ball before his final dribble, thereby violating the discontinued dribble rule.
"So whatever go-to move that everyone has, Kobe's pump fake, they took his crossover away and he became a Hall of Fame player. Right after his first two years, he couldn't do that move anymore. They called it illegal. Do you know when they bring it back? The day he retired. He retired, the following season, you can hang dribble crossover again. Allen Iverson, we know he was already handicapped. They cut one foot off already," added Gil.
Related: "I mean, they had the greatest player that ever played the game" - Tracy McGrady picks Dream Team over the 2024 USA team
Gil also said A.I. is better than Kyrie
This isn't the first time this week that Arenas has picked Iverson over a current superstar. Just recently, he also said that A.I. was a tougher defensive cover than Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving.
"When people talk about Kyrie's unguardable, Kyrie's a fu*** snail compared to Allen Iverson, a snail. Think about how many combo moves Kyrie has to do to get by somebody. One move is all A.I. had to do, then he's gone," declared Arenas.
Iverson may not have had a GOAT-worthy career, but he is still one of the greatest players in NBA history. Not only is he a cultural icon, but he is also perceived as better than many former and current superstars in various discussions. Agent Zero just showed us two of them.
Related: “They were just so relatable” - LeBron James picks Stephen Curry and Allen Iverson as the most influential players since MJ
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