The ability to break ankles on the court is no easy task. A player must have excellent dribbling skills and quickness, mainly a strong and deceptive crossover. Players such as Allen Iverson and Tim Hardaway are some of the most famous players in the history of basketball who have broken the ankles of many of the most skilled defenders. If a player develops a reputation of crossing over their opponents, then defenders tend to give them more room to dribble the ball so that they don’t get crossed-up.
This will sometimes open up the jump shot for the ball-handler. This refers to when an offensive basketball player performs a dribbling move with the ball, usually a crossover, that causes the defender to either lose balance or fall to the court. Paul sprints up court with the ball and pulls a hesitation move on the defender that breaks his ankles and allows him to go in for the uncontested layup.
