The 50 Greatest Ankle-Breakers in NBA History in GIFs

Image via Complex Original

Victim: Yao Ming
Date: 2/19/2003

This is a set up. It just has to be. There's no way a 7'4" Yao Ming should have to face a cocked-and-loaded Marbury at the top of the key. Plus, did you think Starbury was going to have any mercy on the poor guy? There's no compassion in this man; only the will to kill and Vaseline.

Victim: Sasha Pavlovic
Date: 11/3/2012

Durant did say that having to carry the team without Russell Westbrook during OKC's 2013 playoff run was kind of like playing street ball. But he's been doing the street ball schtick for a while now. This domination of Sasha Pavlovic looks like it could fit in an And1 Mixtape. We could picture it now. Kevin Durant stares down Pavlovic and suddenly blue graphics come on the screen. Then Durantula's And1 moniker appears: Kevin Durant a.k.a. Du Du on Fools. #itcouldhappen

Victim: Ron Artest (Metta World Peace)
Date: 3/26/2010

Jarrett Jack did drop Metta World Peace this year, but to World Peace's defense, he was coming back from knee surgery. But what's the excuse here? Got caught in the spin cycle?

Victim: Jerome James
Date: May 2001

Imagine you're consoling your teammate after he gets crossed up by the likes of Shaquille O'Neal. He's understandably upset; he fears he'll get ragged on for years because of the absurdity of getting got by Big Diesel and having that be one of the only highlights of his career. As he's telling you his worries, you pretend that you're checking your cellphone to avoid that awkward moment of honesty where you may have to tell him he might actually be right. Your phone is dead though, so you just opt to lie. "Things will look up," you say. "You're definitely getting a five-year/$30 million contract in your future."

Then you steadily stop returning his texts, you sit at the opposite end of the locker room during pre-game prep talks, and you generally start to become distant. It's not that you don't like the dude anymore, it's just that you simply can't see yourself fucking with anybody who gets caught so easily by someone so large. You later go on to quit the sport in a fit of disillusionment because of the ridiculousness of the teammate actually getting a five-year/$30 million contract.

Victim: Jason Kidd
Date: 12/15/2012

Think this was the moment J-Kidd knew it was time to hang 'em up? Irving probably would've still did this if Kidd was 10 years younger. Don't front. Kyrie is a bad boy.

Victim: Shawn Marion
Date: May 2007

The Suns always looked like NBA Finals contenders in the mid-'00s. But like Shawn Marion in this clip, their poor defense often led to their downfall. Who knew a broken ankle could be so symbolic?

Victim: Caron Butler
Date: 12/5/2012

You always wonder what's going through a team's head as their watching their teammate get torched. The other four Clippers had a clear view of the catastrophe here. One of them must be thinking, "Shake it off, fam," while the other half was probably relieved at the fact that it wasn't them.

Victim: Tyreke Evans
Date: 11/27/2010

Derrick Rose's freakish talent isn't the only reason we're busting his balls for his absence. We're a society that appreciates the sight of souls crumbling to the ground because of his finesse and speed. For example, Tyreke thinks he has Rose, but a quick cut forces him to his knees so fast it looks like he's about to sing his praises in church. He's in church, except in this one instead of seeing a priest, ray of light, or what-have-you, he sees D. Rose's behind. Hopefully the Church of Rose gets more members this season.

Victim: Stephen Curry
Date: 10/29/2010

This is as close as an actual broken ankle as you're going to get on the list. Yeah, Curry did graze Blake Griffin's foot to roll that ankle. But at the same time, it was Gordon who had him going that direction in the first place. It's slightly like what happened to Manny Pacquiao. He didn't just fall to the canvas; Juan Manuel Marquez's fist sent him there.

Victim: Stephen Curry
Date: 11/13/2010

Steph Curry is getting more acclaim than Brandon Jennings these days, and he deserves it. Jennings is stuck with a chronically average team, but hopefully he can sleep at night knowing he once made Curry almost walk out his shoes. Curry can have the most three-pointers made in a season record; Jennings took his heart.

Victim: Anthony Carter
Date: 1/28/2008

The whole thing plays out like some Sesame Street skit. "Hey kids! How many times did Anthony Carter get crossed? One...two...three times!! Ah, ah, ah."

Victim: Mike James
Date: 12/27/2006

Oh crap, did Mike James suddenly lose all bodily function? That wasn't a crossover. That was black magic.

Victim: Gary Payton
Date: 2/17/1999

Sometimes when you see a Hall of Famer get caught like this, you're inclined to think, "It's OK. He's human." Except if it's in cases when you get caught with a basic crossover like this. Basic moves aren't normally known to cause temporary paralysis. Or maybe we're not giving Jason Williams enough credit for his fast-twitch wizardry here.

Victim: Nenad Krstic
Date: 2/6/2006

Rumor has it that Speedy Claxton crossed the initial vowel right out of Nenad Krstic's last name. No official word if that's true or not, but from the looks of this clip it might be.

Victim: Vince Carter
Date: 3/4/2003

In one of the few highlights of his stint with the Wizards, Michael Jordan sat down a near-his-prime Vince Carter as he hit a jumper. Yeah, he did get got by The Greatest, but Mike was almost 40 at the time. MJ or not, that's not a good look.

Victim: Jose Calderon
Date: 12/2/2006

A quick change of direction from Nate Robinson reduces Jose Calderon into a smoldering European mess. He got up as if he knew he was going to need some Icy Hot afterward. Not for those sore ankles, but for his dignity.

Victim: Paul George
Date: 1/4/2012

Paul George may have looked down after he got up from this to double check if someone wasn't moving that hardwood from under his feet. Then he may have pinched himself to make sure he didn't simply dream that he was getting his ass grassed like that. Nope, he got his heart taken fair and square.

Victim: Luke Ridnour
Date: 12/27/2011

This is the type of violation that happens to that sixth grader who clearly doesn't have an athletic bone in his body, but gets on the court just to prove he's down. Except he's far past his prepubescent phase, and instead of lunch room shit talk, his failure lives on in YouTube infamy.

Victim: Mbaha Moute
Date: 3/27/2009

The beauty of a successful crossover can be entertaining if the victim looks like he's moving in slow motion (even if it's in real time) or if he falls with a sudden "THOOMP!" This one was the latter, and Turkoglu must've been extremely satisfied with that consequent wet jumper.

Victim: Troy Hudson
Date: 3/23/1999

This perfectly excuted crossover is a treat to witness, just like every other one on this list. But the pleasure gives way to an endlessly debatable question: Which looks worse? Troy Hudson's ankle after Steve Francis is through with them or Francis' face in 2013?

Victim: Fred Jones
Date: 1/9/2006

The Black Mamba bit Jones with that venom with this move. The best moment is when Bryant looks down on him as if to say, "Damn, I didn't kill you did I?" It's understandable, because in the words of Ghostface he actually was lying there like a "newborn fuckin' baby, god."

Victim: Steve Blake
Date: 2/1/2008

Did Steve Blake think he was going to be successful here? Nah, cue the soundtrack.

Victim: Rip Hamilton
Date: 11/30/2005

We knew Vince Carter had some handles, but making Hamilton fall face down is just over the top. Rip acted like he got tripped on the play, but a close inspection shows the only person who tripped Rip Hamilton was Rip Hamilton.

Victim: Quincy Miller
Date: 4/10/2014

Something tells us that, as time goes on, our memories of this crossover will grow fonder and it will inch its way up the list. The way that Iggy rocked the Nuggets forward to sleep here and then set him crashing down onto the court was just—ugh!—filthy. The Warriors star isn't a guy who's typically known for crossing dudes up. But after seeing this, we think he should try it out a little more often.

Victim: Reggie Jackson
Date: 1/26/2012

For Robinson, simply breaking ankles is too simple; he wants to break down your whole body. Within seconds, Robinson turns Reggie Jackson from a respectable NBA player to a discombobulated Pinocchio. His legs couldn't decide which way to go, so they just split.

Victim: Ish Smith
Date: 1/14/2013

To be fair, Ish Smith drew first blood against John Wall. He swatted one of Wall's shots earlier in the game. Wall just had to devastate Smith to get him back, and he did so in flashy fashion. Smith's left leg flew so fast it looked like an imaginary cane had yanked it for some reason. Wall must've had divine intervention on his side for this quest of revenge.

Victim: Kobe Bryant
Date: 10/12/2008

So Kobe Bryant and a Slovenian player named Beno Udrih meet up on the court. One of them gets to the basket while the other gets his ass put on the ground. Which one is which? The answer may shock you.

Victim: George Hill
Date: 2/26/2013

George Hill thought, "I don't need no damn ankles. I'll play defense sitting down if I have to." You don't have a heart if you don't find this level of determination inspiring.

Victim: Ron Harper
Date: 5/1/1996

It's a dope crossover, but if Hardaway tries to rub it in Harper's face years later, he could say "I probably could lock you down now if I didn't have these rings weighing me down." The ultimate burn.

Victim: Mateen Cleaves
Date: 2/10/2001

The Rookie Challenge is supposed to be a chance for the upcoming stars to shine. Of course, someone usually has to get shitted on for that to happen. It's not a setup, it's simple cause and effect, with the effect being Mateen Cleaves on the floor.

Victim: Bryon Russell
Date: Unknown

Poor Bryon. Michael Jordan used to own him every time he used to come and guard him. Hell, the most famous moment of his career is him getting dominated by Jordan. This instance isn't even close to being as well-known as that moment, but still...damn.

Victim: Andre Miller
Date: 12/1/2008

Having an old man game sounds like a decent deal at first. It suggests a huge advantage that can only be earned off accumulating years of experience. It also implies durability, class, and a higher state of intelligence than most of the youngbloods who play the game. It's too bad that shit didn't work against Derrick Rose.

Victim: Ray Allen
Date: 11/26/2008

Playing in the NBA would be anybody's dream job, but one of its pitfalls is that you're contractually obligated to stay on court unless you're subbed out or ejected. Ray hoped to go home after getting dismantled by Crawford.

Victim: Toney Douglas
Date: 3/29/2010

As bad as the Knicks were over the past decade, you have to imagine the collective sighs of their fans when Williams got Douglas like that. It was like playing peek-a-boo with a baby, except you'd expect a fully grown man to see through it.

Victim: Paul Pierce
Date: 11/26/2012

There's 49 other entries on this list, but none of them include a literally broken ankle. But if you look closely at Paul Pierce's ankle, there's a legit chance he could at least sprained it. Never before has he looked so...old. Like you just want to give him a warm quilt and some applesauce afterward.

Victim: Wesley Matthews
Date: 1/26/2013

Getting crossed twice in one sequence like that is just unacceptable. Wesley Matthews looked like he caught amnesia after Jamal Crawford was through with him like it was some sort of flu bug. Where's the Showtime at the Apollo sandman when you need him?

Victim: Raja Bell
Date: 11/19/2004

Really, dude? Really? This man ended up tripping from the top of the key all the way to the baseline. This was either a really poorly done flop or Flash really crossed the dignity right out of his body.

Victim: Jacque Vaughn
Date: 5/27/2007

If you're going to get your ankles broken, at least get them broken with some grace. It's not just the fact Vaughn gets obliterated by the guard. The man holds his right hand up while he's on the floor in an extremely desperate attempt at defense. Get your mind right, son.

Victim: Tony Parker
Date: 1/22/2011

Even the players in the most boring of teams can get broken down in the most fantastic ways. Parker got done dirty in the play, but this is waaaayyyyy easier to live down than blowing Game 6 of the NBA Finals and losing Eva Longoria.

Victim: Jason Terry
Date: 2/7/2009

As bad and hilarious as this slo-mo capture of Terry's discombobulation was, we have to argue that he would probably be looking at this moment with fond memories. Word to LeBron.

Victim: Brandon Knight
Date: 2/16/2013

In retrospect, this sonning is particularly notable because it was the start of a series of unfortunate events for Brandon Knight. He missed a wide open layup and got truck sticked. Probably should've took Irving's suggestion and just went to sleep.

(We didn't mention DeAndre Jordan's dunk because that wasn't "unfortunate." It was tragic.)

Victim: Jacque Vaughn
Date: 12/10/2005

The worst part of this sequence is how Jacque Vaughn was expecting Iverson do some crazy shit and still ended up on the floor. C'mon man, you made New Jersey look bad. And since the Nets' location has changed, you made Brooklyn look bad. And since the representation is universal, the whole Tri-State area looks bad. Word to Q-Tip.

Victim: Eric Snow
Date: 11/4/2006

Eric Snow claimed D. Wade pushed him, which is proabably false. Wade brought it back, Snow went the other way, and his body ejected itself from its ankles. A.I. can't save you this time, man.

Victim: Paul Pierce
Date: 11/29/2012

Paul Pierce got up quickly as if he was trying to play it off, but the damage was already done by the time Johnson pulled up for the jump shot. You touched earth, fam.

Victim: David Wesley
Date: 2000

Allen Iverson made sure this journeyman was going to journey his ass off the court without a soul. He never stopped picking on the dude.

Victim: Ron Harper and Scottie Pippen
Date: 11/21/1995

Michael Jordan must've been pissed when he saw this go down. Let's take it back a few years and get into the mind of His Airness:

"Who does this not-knowing-what-the-hell-is-a-360 kid think he is crossing up my teammate like they aren't the best of the best. Nah, let me drop 30 real quick on this fool. Trying to take my shine and shit."

Jordan ended up dropping at least 30 in the Bulls' two wins against Dallas that season.

Victim: Antonio Daniels
Date: 3/3/2006

With this level of sonning, it's a wonder A.I. doesn't have to make another child support payment.

Victim: Tyronn Lue
Date: 6/6/2001

Picture this: You're well on your way to an outstanding 48-point barrage in the first game of the NBA Finals, but you're not completely happy. With the way your teammates are playing this game, you still may not win. Hell, you probably won't even win the series. You're frustrated and someone needs to get got in order for you to vent.

But you're in luck. You're at the corner when a light-skinned, braided brother decides to guard you. So you hit him with the fake, the step back, and then the fadeaway jumper as the said person tumbles to the ground. The jumper is good, and while he's on the ground, he looks up at you with the newfound knowledge that he's not about that life. You then step over him to make sure he doesn't forget that he isn't.

Victim: Bryon Russell
Date: 6/14/1998

If you look closely, you can see that Michael Jordan may have gave Bryon Russell a firm pat on the bottom as he fell. But because we're optimistic, we'd like to think of this as the most famous crossover ever made in what should've been the greatest ending ever to a career. It's a bit sad the Jazz lost in the Finals twice because of Jordan's heroics, but to be fair, Utah had a solid shot of winning it next year since Jordan had retired.

Victim: Michael Jordan
Date: 3/12/1997

It isn't the fact The Answer got The Greatest. It's that Iverson got him twice. With the same move. The morale: No one is safe out here, even if you're the best.