The 50th NBA All-Star Game, played at the U.S. capital in Washington , D.C., was by many the best in the history of the league. When people argue that the All-Star Game should be scrapped because it's "just an exhibition," the 2001 edition serves as the perfect counterargument, especially if you fast-forward to the nine-minute mark of the fourth quarter, with the West up 95-74 on the East.
Many thought the contest was over, but it was at that moment when Allen Iverson took over, scoring 15 out of his 25 points in that stretch and leading the East to a 111-110 victory, which also marks the largest comeback in All-Star Game history to this day. Stephon Marbury hit a game-winning three with 28 seconds left on the clock, and after that game, an iconic photo of Michael Jordan hugging Iverson and Marbury was taken.
In his recent appearance on the Sotheby's podcast, Iverson recalled that game and how MJ approached him afterward. Although he initially misremembered it as happening during his rookie season when the Top 50 list of the best players in league history was announced, he later clarified that it was 2001 after the ASG.
"I'll promise you, I never forget this. The one time I remember him saying something to me, the first time, it was when they were doing the top 50. He grabbed me – me and Stephon [Marbury] were together, there's a photo of it. He grabbed me by my neck and said, 'Come here, little b*tch.' You know what I mean? And he said I love you, keep doing what you're doing, whatever. I probably lost my mind at that moment," Iverson recalled .
Interestingly, in that photo, MJ is wearing an All-Star jacket, even though he was officially retired at the time. He was then working as a part-owner and president of basketball operations with the Washington Wizards and was reportedly a key reason the game was held in Washington, D.C. As someone who always proudly represented the East Coast, he couldn't have been prouder of two players who turned the game around.
Just a few months later, Jordan returned to playing professionally, joining the Wizards and eventually playing two more seasons.
Iverson's words show exactly what his idol's recognition meant to him. Already at the peak of his career, in that season he had won the All-Star MVP, and also earned the league MVP, scoring title and steals leader honors, all that while carrying the Philadelphia 76ers all the way to the NBA Finals. Many consider it one of the most dominant individual seasons in the history of the Association, with Iverson even regarded as a legitimate heir to Jordan.
But all of that faded away as A.I. felt like a kid when MJ approached him with those words. It's no secret that The Answer idolized His Airness, and he's admitted that even seeing MJ in person still makes him nervous .
"Mike was everything to me," the retired point guard once said . "He gave me the vision. He made me want to play basketball. He's my everything. I wanted to actually be like him, like the commercial, 'Be Like Mike.' I really wanted to be him. I'm still starstruck every time I see him. I'm still nervous every time. Because he's Mike to me."
From today's perspective, the All-Star Game and the postgame moment between Jordan and Iverson might seem overhyped since the All-Star Game is only a "mere" exhibition. But back then, the All-Star Game was still about winning, and in Jordan's eyes, Iverson stood out as one of his potential successors.
After proving his greatness that night and carrying the East, the four-time scoring champion received kind words from the six-time NBA champion, and he clearly used them as fuel for what became the best season of his career. That's the influence his idol had on him.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
