Slight of hand has always been a crowd-pleasing element in the game of basketball, and no hocus-pocus move gets a crowd excited more than an ankle-breaking crossover dribble. A simple technique designed to gain an advantage over a defender, the crossover has taken on an artistic quality in today's NBA, and often its biggest stars are measured by their ability to cross over.
Identification
The crossover dribble looks flashy, but is actually a very basic maneuver. The dribble is simply a low, sudden switch from one hand to the other, designed to get a defender leaning one way while the ball handler reverses direction. Because the dribble occurs low to the floor, it can be executed quickly, allowing the ball handler to get a quick step toward the basket. The way in which the defender is faked out---lurching one direction, then pivoting quickly back to try and recover---is referred to as "breaking ankles."
Kings of Crossover
Although the crossover has been a part of the NBA for decades, it wasn't until the 1990s that the move became internationally known. The first player to truly popularize the crossover was Tim Hardaway of the Miami Heat. He first used the move in college, and it was dubbed the "UTEP two-step." Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers then took the move to the next level in 1996, displaying a double-crossover move that he used famously to fake out NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Historic Crossovers
Among the first players credited with perfecting the crossover was Boston Celtics point guard Bob Cousy, who popularized the concept of the ball handler as a showman with a myriad of dribbling techniques. Milwaukee Bucks star Oscar Robertson also used an effective crossover, as did the top showman of the 1970s, "Pistol" Pete Maravich.
Current Crossovers
Rounding out the top 10 best crossovers are five players from the modern NBA. LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant is considered the current king of the crossover, with Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose also famous for using the move. Dwayne Wade of the Heat, Stephon Marbury of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Steve Francis of the Houston Rockets were also known for their "killer" crossovers.
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