The Most Embarrassing Ankle-Breakers of the 2013-14 NBA Season in GIFs

With Ty Lawson, Kyrie Irving, and Steph Curry leading the way, no NBA player was safe on the perimeter. It's hard not to howl and point at these crossovers

April 18, 2014

Image via Complex Original

All pick-up warriors have been there. Those moments as you slip backwards, drifting further and further to the ground, your ass being dragged by gravity. That's when you remember that, in fact, you're not very good at basketball, and that you may look like a tool playing pick-up in a Jordan jersey. When your ankles have finally given way and you're on the pavement, it hits you: You've been crossed up.

Those who have suffered a basketball fate like that aren't alone. The pros get washed all the time. With there being so much point guard depth in NBA today, the league is barring witness to some of the most talented ball-handlers in the sport's history. Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, Ty Lawson, Jamal Crawford—all of these ballers can bring it, and when they're on the perimeter, no defender is safe. Even LeBron James and Lance Stephenson were victims this season. Let that be a warning to all defenders through The Most Embarrassing Ankle-Breakers of the 2013-14 NBA Season in GIFs.

22. Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James

Victim: LeBron James
Date: 1/29/2014
Game: Thunder @ Heat

LeBron's ankles remain relatively intact, but yeah: relatively. Two schools of thought here: 1) Had that been any other wing defender but LeBron, that defender's ass is definitely on the floor. Great offense always beats great defense. 2) LeBron, in his infinite ability, should not be getting had like that, even if it is by the best offensive player on the planet.

21. Lance Stephenson Goes Ice Skating

Victim: Lance Stephenson
Date: 12/1/2013
Game: Pacers @ Clippers

DeAndre Jordan's monsterous frame didn't help Lance Stephenson's balance, but the deed was done. Jamal Crawford did it on 'em.

20. Kevin Durant Gives Vince Carter Arthritis

Victim: Vince Carter
Date: 11/6/2013
Game: Mavericks @ Thunder

Who else was half-expecting Vince Carter's ankles to explode into a million pieces? Credit to the vet for staying on his feet though—VC still has it!

19. Steph Curry Twists Serge Ibaka Into a Tornado

Victim: Serge Ibaka
Date: 11/29/2013
Game: Warriors @ Thunder

What Steph Curry can do with the ball is incredible. Nobody, except maybe Kyrie Irving and Jamal Crawford, can create a high percentage shot (for them) like that out of one or two dribbles. Serge Ibaka learned the hard way here.

18. Steph Curry Can Be Difficult To Track

Victim: Wesley Matthews
Date: 3/16/2014
Game: Warriors @ Trail Blazers

The flourish is just too effortless. Curry went 7 of 14 from three that night and put up 47 points in a narrow 119-117 loss to the Trail Blazers.

17. Russell Westbrook Nearly Actually Breaks Some Ankles

Victim: J.J. Hickson
Date: 11/18/2013
Game: Nuggets @ Thunder

If you look closely at J.J. Hickson's third shuffle/fleeting attempt to defend Russell Westbrook, his sneaker gives way a little bit. Had this been forty years ago and Hickson was out there in Converses, his ankle would've surely snapped.

16. J.R. Smith Puts His Man on the Floor

Victim: Shaun Livingston
Date: 12/5/2013
Game: Knicks @ Nets

Nets fans would be quick to say that Shaun Livingston fell because of the screen, but that makes no sense. Look at the screener. It's Andrea Bargnani. Livingston's ass got had by J.R. (pause).

15. Iman Shumpert Reminds Us of Paul Pierce's Age

Victim: Paul Pierce
Date: 4/15/2014
Game: Knicks @ Nets

Granted, Paul Pierce could be your grandfather, but getting put on the floor like that is always embarrassing, no matter the context. Nice one, Shump.

14. Will Bynum Made Devin Harris Start the Nae Nae

Victim: Devin Harris
Date: 1/22/2014
Game: Mavericks @ Pistons

If Devin Harris had put his arms up at the end of his stumbling, he would've full-out nae nae'd on the court. Someone needs to make a defender do that, like ASAP. (Ty Lawson?)

13. Kyrie Irving Turns Pablo Prigioni Into a Lost Dog

Victim: Pablo Prigioni
Date: 12/10/2013
Game: Knicks @ Cavs

The dizziness factor is on level 10 right here. Poor Pablo Prigioni and his 36 year old self stood no chance.

12. Ty Lawson Puts Down a Stumbling Block

Victim: Nick Calathes
Date: 3/31/2014
Game: Grizzlies @ Nuggets

Ty Lawson should be illegal. He must've used the force or something on Nick Calathes, because homie flew like a solid three feet.

11. Tony Wroten Is a 76er

Victim: Ray McCallum
Date: 3/12/2014
Game: Kings @ 76ers

This was probably the most 76ers moment of the 76ers season (aside from trading Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes, of course). Wroten torches rookie Ray McCallum, and then misses the point-blank lay-up. Flashes of potential ending with outright failure—these are your 2013-14 76ers.

10. Ty Lawson Puts on the Shakes

Victim: Corey Brewer
Date: 3/3/2014
Game: Timberwovles @ Nuggets

This is filthy. Corey Brewer didn't fall all out at once, but instead steadily stumbled into submission. Ty Lawson is a God out here.

9. J.R. Smith Reminds Tristan Thompson of Who He Is

Victim: Tristan Thompson
Date: 1/30/2014
Game: Cavs @ Knicks

Okay, so a shooting guard crossing over a power forward honestly isn't that impressive, but Thompson's ass FELL. And not just that—he planted his foot and tried to stay afloat, but gravity, also known as J.R. Smith's voodoo, happened.

8. Kevin Durant Stretches Out Harrison Barnes

Victim: Harrison Barnes
Date: 1/17/2014
Game: Warriors @ Thunder

You know that stretching position where you spread your legs shoulder-length apart and touch the floor? Yeah, that's what Harrison Barnes was reduced to here. A stretch. Good job KD.

7. Jeff Teague's Brotherly Love

Victim: Marquis Teague
Date: 4/11/2014
Game: Hawks @ Nets

Marquis Teague will never live this down. Every Thanksgiving from here on out is ruined for the younger Teague. Earlier this month, his big brother Jeff crossed him up without any remorse. Shout-out to all the big brothers out there who stay putting down their younger siblings even into adulthood. From the driveway to the NBA. First Borns rule.

6. Luol Deng Gives Willie Green Dancing Lessons

Victim: Willie Green
Date: 3/16/2014
Game: Cavs @ Clippers

Now we know that Willie Green could never make it as a gymnast.

5. Ty Lawson... Again

Victim: Jodie Meeks
Date: 3/7/2014
Game: Lakers @ Nuggets

New rule: Don't bother guarding Ty Lawson anywhere near the perimeter. No guard is safe.

4. Norris Cole Foreshadows Derrick Rose's End

Victim: Derrick Rose
Date: 10/29/2013
Game: Bulls @ Heat

*pours one out for D. Rose* It's a shame that this GIF of Rose getting destroyed is the only artifcat from his NBA existence circa 2012-present day. Also: Norris Cole? Damn.

3. Kyrie Irving Gets Thabo Sefolosha to Mop the Floor

Victim: Thabo Sefolosha
Date: 1/26/2014
Game: Cavs @ Thunder

See that area of the court where Thabo Sefolosha took his spill? Cleanly wiped now, courtesy of Kyrie Irving. That boy good.

2. Lance Stephenson Puts Putting Cats to Sleep

Victim: Courtney Lee
Date: 12/22/2013
Game: Celtics @ Pacers

If Lance Stephenson isn't your favorite NBA shooting guard, you're not having as much fun as you can be as a fan. Also, this was the most BROOOOOOOKLYYYNNNN NBA play of the 2013-14 season and it's NOTHING comes close, except for maybe this GIF of Stephenson getting ejected against the Heat.