Phil Jackson shocked the basketball world when he assigned Los Angeles Lakers backup guard Tyronn Lue to guard Philadelphia 76ers icon Allen Iverson in the 2001 NBA Finals.
After all, fans anticipated “The Answer” going toe-to-toe with two-way ace Kobe Bryant. Jackson’s choice was met by doubts, which were soon quelled after fans witnessed Lue’s stellar defensive job on the Sixers’ star.
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Spectators saw how Lue chased Iverson through screens, endured ankle-breaking crossovers, and contested those quick jump shots. The Lakers guard limited A.I. to a mediocre 40.7 percent shooting clip throughout the NBA Finals.
Lue’s quickness and perseverance were just two critical traits he used to contain the 2001 MVP — but it wasn’t just that. The Missouri native engaged in some trash-talking with Allen. Per the Los Angeles Times, the two guards’ conversation went something like this.
Iverson: “You wouldn’t be holding me if you could play me.”
Lue: “You can’t play me, either.”
Iverson: “You can’t do anything.”
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Lue: “Don’t let everybody fool you. I got game, too.”
Iverson: “Just stop holding me.”
Lue: “You hit the weight room a little more, it wouldn’t matter.”
Built for this
It didn’t intimidate Lue that he was going up against one of the greatest players of his generation. After all, the University of Nebraska alum was used to being the underdog all his life. Mainly because of his size, the Lakers point guard was pushed around by his foes. It was through these experiences that he learned to stand up for himself.
“But growing up it was always like that, everybody trying to go at me because I was smaller than everybody else, everybody trying to bully me,” Lue said. “People would post up on me, throw me down, and there would be a fight. I learned what it takes to win.”
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Defensive ace
Winning requires guts, poise amid pressure, and a relentless desire to help your team. Lue possessed all these and more. That’s why the “Zen Master” didn’t hesitate to call his number to defend one of the most potent offensive talents in the NBA.
“What do you need most, a three-point shooter or defense?” Jackson said. “I’m one that will probably [prefer] defense. Ty’s also a real good team player, a good locker room kid, and is a gym rat. So I offered to go with that.”
Phil noted that Lue’s defensive efforts created a domino effect within the Lakers. Tyronn’s ability to shadow the Philly star meant the other Lakers players could stay on their respective defensive assignments. There was little to no need to rotate, which could result in defensive lapses.
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“It started with Tyronn, but I think that the team defense picked up, and they started pressuring and making it tough on everyone,” Jackson added. “And in a sense, it made it easier for Tyronn to deny Allen Iverson.”
Like Coach Jackson, Mark Scanlon, Lue’s Kansas City high school coach, wasn’t necessarily surprised by his 2001 NBA Finals performance. Scanlon was already aware of the fire within Ty. It was just a matter of time before the world saw his talents.
“It’s important to him that people finally see what kind of player he can be,” Scanlon said. “He’s always had big guys trying to intimidate him. It’s never worked. Everyone can see that now.”