Who does one of the greatest pop culture leaders of the NBA aspire to be like? You’d think after Allen Iverson made his brand by being unapologetically himself, he didn’t have to model himself after anyone. But he’s expressive about his admiration for two of the greatest ‘Michaels’ in history. Two different platforms. Two titanic personalities. ‘The Answer‘ to Allen Iverson’s dreams.

AI revealed that he set the basketball GOAT Michael Jordan and the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, as his benchmarks for success. “My childhood dream was to be like these two! I tried my best jack!” It summed up the childhood of anyone who grew up through the ’80s and 90s.

The Answer arrived in the NBA in 1996, while Michael Jordan was fresh out of his first retirement and fourth title. Michael Jackson had his contentious performance at the 1996 Brit Awards that year, for a Grammy for Best Music Video for “Scream” and was on his HIStory World Tour.

While AI doesn’t have Grammy Awards, we’d say he’s come pretty close in terms of his legacy. He went from Rookie of the Year to 11x All-Star and earned the 2001 MVP honors, now known as the Michael Jordan Trophy.

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He’s nothing short of a cultural phenom himself. He’s credited for single-handedly blending hip-hop and the NBA in ways beyond what MJ (the basketball one) did. You know you’re the OG of influencers when you force the league to change the dress code for you. Iverson can play humble that both MJs are inimitable standards. But he should give himself credit for being memorable to his idol himself. Embarrassingly so.

Allen Iverson left a mark on Michael Jordan

Very few NBA legends have a signature move. But Allen Iverson’s move became iconic on March 12, 1997. The hapless victim of the then Rookie was the then reigning 4x champion, Michael Jordan.

In a matchup between the Bulls and the 76ers, the 21-year-old pulled his signature anklebreaker. The crossover had the one dubbed the Black Cat embarrassingly tripping on his feet. Chicago won the game but Jordan was nursing a wounded ego.

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He was so bitter when he met Iverson years later at a Charlotte Hornets game and AI expressed how much he idolized him, Jordan rebuked him. “You don’t love me… you wouldn’t;t have crossed me up like that if you did.” Put a stake through AI’s heart. Why don’t you, Mike? But that shows he did earn his role model’s respect to get ribbed like that.