Image via Complex Original
In basketball, taking the charge is the ultimate sacrifice. You give up your body for the good of the team. Taking charges are the reason Scottie Pippen had a bad back, and are the reason Shane Battier had a basketball career; it's a winning play. However, sometimes standing in the line of fire isn't the smartest move. This list is dedicated to the guys that would rather stand there and take nuts to the grill than give a hard foul. Gary Neal is a master of getting dunked on while trying to take a charge. J.R. Smith kneed him in the head and drew the foul. Steve Nash also got caught up more than one, which is crazy because he never plays defense. There's a bunch of more that we dug up, especially the granddaddy of them all: Vince Carter jumping over Knick legend Frederic Weis in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Check out A History of When Attempting to Take the Charge Goes Wrong.
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Dirk Minniefield Can Fly
Date: 2/8/1983
Game: Mississippi State @ Kentucky
Hold up, did he fly? This is what happens with no three-point line.
Short Shorts Make LaBradford Smith Agile
Date: 1/7/1989
Game: DePaul @ Louisville
Vintage shit right here. Don't complain about the video quality, nerds.
Mark Jackson Wants Nothing to Do with Tom Chambers
Date: 1/27/1989
Game: New York Knicks @ Phoenix Suns
Action Jackson thought about the charge then remembered that his vertical is two inches.
Shawn Kemp Points and Laughs at Alton Lister
Date: 4/30/1992
Game: Golden State Warriors @ Seattle Supersonics
"Into Lister's face!" Why'd ya do it, Alton!?!? WHY?
Derek Anderson Ends Nate Johnson's Pro Career Before It Started
Date: 12/31/1996
Game: Kentucky @ Louisville
That's what you get for trying to draw a charge under the basket. That's why you never made it to the L, big bruh.
Kobe Bryant Made Ben Wallace Into a Beast
Date: 10/22/1997
Game: Washington Wizards @ Los Angeles Lakers
We're surprised Big Ben was able to carve out a career after this.
The Greatest Dunk of All Time
Date: 9/25/2000
Game: United States vs. France
Vince Carter avoids charges by jumping over fuckboys. This might be the greatest dunk of all time. Frederic Weis is 7'2", for those keeping score.
We Miss You, Ricky Davis
Date: 11/13/2002
Game: Dallas Mavericks @ Cleveland Cavaliers
No, Ricky, no!!!!!
Kobe Bryant Always Hated Dwight Howard
Date: 11/12/2004
Game: Los Angeles Lakers @ Orlando Magic
We bet the Mamba wishes he could still blam it on Dwhitearoundyolip Howard.
Kobe Bryant Abuses Steve Nash
Date: 4/26/2006
Game: Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns
Kobe didn't have to do Canada like that.
LeBron James Doesn't Respect Tim Duncan
Date: 11/3/2006
Game: Cavaliers @ Spurs
Was Timmy trying to take a charge or nah? James made up his mind at halfcourt.
Russell Westbrook Takes Advantage of Jamal Boykin
Date: 1/5/2008
Game: UCLA @ California
Russell never knew a chill he liked. He's been offensive since the day he was born.
Chris Brown Lookalike Dunks on Mikki Moore
Date: 10/7/2009
Game: Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers
How are you gonna let Chris Breezy dunk on you like that?
Corey Brewer Walks on Derek Fisher's Face
Date: 12/11/2009
Game: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
The only highlight of Corey's pro career. At least it's disgusting.
Why, Gary Neal?
Date: 12/16/2010
Game: Spurs @ Nuggets
"That n***a Neal got baptized, he's a new man." - YouTube comment. Couldn't think of anything better than that.
What's Gary's Problem?
Date: 4/6/2011
Game: Sacramento Kings @ San Antonio Spurs
Why does Gary do this to himself?
Victor Dukes Is a Criminal
Date: 1/3/2013
Game: Manila High vs. Nettleton High
Victor Dukes should've been ejected for climbing on dude's face like that.
LeBron Didn't Mean It, Ben McLemore
Date: 12/20/2013
Game: Kings @ Heat
"It sucks it was him, because I like him." - LeBron. The King is so nice to his subjects.
LeBron James Is Paul Millsap's Daddy
Date: 12/23/2013
Game: Atlanta Hawks @ Miami Heat
"Daddy, if I had nuts under my chin, would those be chin nuts?" - Paul Millsap. "Hell nah, that'll be a dick in yo mouth." - Daddy James
Tyrus Jones Should Go Pro
Date: 1/4/2014
Game: Apple Valley vs. Blue Valley Northwest
Some more high school action. They should teach that poor kid how not to take a charge.
