Tim Hardaway recently told NBA TV’s Scott Howard-Cooper that the crossover is his, and it owes him a living.

Everybody says Allen Iverson. I’m going to tell you and everybody this: Allen Iverson carried the basketball. I had the original killer crossover and people are doing my move. They’re not doing Allen Iverson’s move. They’re not doing nobody else’s move. They’re still trying to perfect my move as the killer crossover and it’s my move, alright? That’s the way it is. I brought a unique style to this game.

Perhaps a lighthearted jab? No:

There’s a difference between Hardaway’s crossover and Iverson’s. Tim’s was all about change of direction with speed. Like this:

It’s not a bad crossover. And it certainly looks more like the crossover of someone like John Wall. But Kyrie? Steph? Kemba? Dame? They grew up watching A.I., and they are out there every game trying to replicate his move.

Iverson’s cross has a hesitation that Hardaway’s doesn’t. It’s an extra level of deception that takes his move from one of ballhandling and skill to a feat of mental gamesmanship. Tim’s cross got him to the rim. A.I.’s got him wherever he wanted to go. And carried the ball? Oh please. Don’t be a highlight truther. Show me where:

cross 1

cross 2

cross 3

cross 4

cross 5

I don’t see any carrying going on there. I ask Tim Hardaway this: If Iverson carried the ball so much, why was it never called? And if it was so egregious and never called, is it perhaps that it’s not really against the rules? Ever think of that?

Post Script: Rule 10, Section II, Part d. of the NBA rule book reads as such: “d. A player who is dribbling may not put any part of his hand under the ball and (1) carry it from one point to another or (2) bring it to a pause and then continue to dribble again.”

But again I ask: Is it really against the rules? Is it?