10 Athletes Who Sacrificed Their Own Game for the Good of the Team

Image via Complex Original

In the bottom of the ninth in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers were down a run with two outs against the Oakland Athletics. Kirk Gibson had injured both of his legs in the previous NLCS, but with a man on first, he stepped up to the plate as a pinch-hitter. Barely able to limp around the bases, Gibson jacked a walk-off bomb and was mobbed while tagging the bags. That was his only at-bat of the entire series, but it’s no secret that winning Game 1 is a huge mental advantage. The Dodgers won the series 4-1. 

The New York Knicks had a chance to bring their first NBA title to the city in 1970, but it was going to take something miraculous against the Los Angeles Lakers, who had Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West. For the first three games, Reed averaged 32 points and the series was tied 2-2. In Game 5, Reed tore a muscle in his leg and was forced to make an early exit and miss the next game. Tied 3-3, the Knicks expected to play the crucial Game 7 without one of their stars, but Reed refused to be idle. He started the game, and though he only finished with four points, his presence allowed Walt Frazier to go off for 36 points, 19 assists, and 7 rebounds. New York won 113-99, and the Knickerbockers were NBA champs for the first time. 

Between Jack Youngblood’s fierce attitude, insane strength, and unmatched ability to play through pain, it’s obvious why he has the reputation of being one of the toughest and most determined people to ever play football. Youngblood was so set on playing and helping his team that he played through the 1980 NFL playoffs, Super Bowl, and Pro Bowl with a fractured fibula. His usual answer as to why he did it? “Because it was Sunday.” 

Building the 2010–2011 Miami Heat was a serious collaborative group effort. In one of the biggest free agencies of all time, LeBron James and Chris Bosh spoke with Dwyane Wade and worked out a way for the three superstars to come together onto one team. When it comes to pure cash, this required some pretty serious personal sacrifice, with each of them dropping various amounts in order to play as one. 

In a sign-and-trade, James left his hometown hero role and $15 million over six years on the block. Wade left even more at $18 million. Still, Bosh might have made the biggest sacrifice in order to make the dream work. Not only did he leave an extra $15 million in Toronto, but he was accepting a third-option role behind his two bigger teammates. That meant less playing time and less shots. How many other superstars would do that? 

Even Udonis Haslem and Mike Bibby took pretty major cuts to complete this superteam. And yet, after all that, the Heat still lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first year together. Good thing the next two championship years made it all worth it. 

On her last chance to win a medal for the United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics (the U.S. women’s gymnastics team had never won a team gold), Kerri Strug came through big time. The incredible individual display followed a teammate’s surprising mistakes. Dominique Moceanu had fallen not once but twice, right before Strug had her turn at the vault. 

Strug’s first run didn’t go much better. She slipped on her landing and snapped two ligaments in her ankle. But there was no time for hesitation. With encouragement from her coach, she made her second run, and shockingly stuck the landing before collapsing on the mat. The judges gave her a 9.712, and the United States took gold.

Ronnie Lott is reminded of the sacrifice to the football gods every single day. In a 1985 game against the Cowboys, the multiple Super Bowl winner smashed his pinky finger on his left hand trying to tackle Timmy Newsmen. That offseason, in order to avoid the hassle of surgery and recovery time that would have kept him out of games in 1986, he decided to have it amputated. Talk about self-sacrifice—maybe football isn’t just a game after all. 

Dirk Nowitzki is possibly the most unique talent in NBA history. He’s seven feet tall and has one of the smoothest jumpers the game has ever seen. He’s an NBA Champ, an NBA MVP, a member of the 50-40-90 squad, not to mention a 13-time All-Star. He could have dipped to Houston or Los Angeles for a max contract, but he followed Duncan’s lead instead, dropping a $22.7 yearly pull from the previous year to a three-year, $25 million contract. He’s loyal to Mark Cuban. He’s invested in Dallas. He’s committed to building the best Mavericks family. What a selfless guy. 

No injuries, no contract cuts, just pure emotional sacrifice. A day after his father passed away, Brett Favre proved he wasn’t only a physical iron man, but a mental force as well. That night, he played in an important Monday Night Football game and absolutely dismantled the Oakland Raiders defense. Irvin Favre, who died of a heart attack, had been to all of Brett’s games since fifth grade and was even his high school coach, so saying it was a massive blow is an understatement. 

Brett completed his first nine passes and went into halftime with 311 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the game 22-for-30 with a 154.9 passer rating (reminder: 158.3 is perfect). That was his career high.

Before a so-so NFL career, Byron Leftwich firmly stamped his name in college football lore with the Marshall Thundering Herd. On Nov. 2, 2002, Leftwich was facing the Akron Zips in a regular-season game, and what happened was anything but regular. 

Leftwich splintered his tibia in the first quarter and was taken to the hospital for x-rays and further assessment. But he wasn’t having it and couldn’t let his team lose while he was on the sidelines. So he came back late in the fourth quarter and played on one good leg. When he’d complete a pass, his linemen literally had to pick him up (he’s 6 foot 5 and 200-plus pounds, by the way) and carry him down the field to the line of scrimmage. Akron eventually won 30-24, but talk about earning your team’s trust…and respect.

Of all the athletes who have taken pay cuts, Tim Duncan is probably the least surprising. He’s about as “team player” as it gets. He played all four years at Wake Forest, his nickname is The Big Fundamental, he’s been with the same coach and team his entire 18-year professional life, and he’s a career 3.0-assists-per-game seven-foot center. It’s that passion and sharing mentality that had him signing a two-year, $10.4 million contract. (That’s for one of the greatest players of all time, remember.) He did this so the Spurs could sign stud power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and give the Spurs yet another chance at a ring.