The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Kyrie Irving as the 1st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Since joining the NBA, the American has taken the league by storm. He may not have the titles to boast, but Kyrie has contributed plenty to the sport for more than a decade.
11 years ago today, one of the greatest ankle breakers ever made his NBA debutpic.twitter.com/qErzSX3Bl9
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 26, 2022
The former Cavs guard made his debut on December 26th, 2011. It has been 11 years since he played his first game on one of the biggest stages in the world. To make things even better, he faced the team that introduced him to the world and put up 32 points for the Brooklyn Nets. As we look back on his career on the date, it brings us to a question; is Kyrie the best ankle breaker in the NBA?
Who are the best ankle breakers in the NBA?
When we think of the best ankle breakers, names like Allen Iverson, James Harden, and Isaiah Thomas come to our minds. But does Kyrie belong in this conversation? And is he the best of them all? Allen Iverson won the hearts of millions during his time, and the way he did this was how he beat opposition defenders.
Iverson was so good at defeating his opponents that the NBA world named his move the ‘Allen Iverson Crossover’. This came when he got past the great Michael Jordan to make the jump shot. This was how he managed to revolutionize the game in his own unique way. With that said, it would be a crime to exclude Isaiah Thomas and James Harden from the conversation about ankle breakers.
One of the former Boston Celtics star’s best ankle breakers came in 2016 when he played against the New Orleans Pelicans. When Tim Frazier went against Isaiah in the 4th quarter, he was left on the ground with his ankle broken. This happened quite literally. Avery Bradley sunk a three from deep as Isaiah added yet another assist.
😳 JAMES. HARDEN. 😳#Rockets pic.twitter.com/JCphxLzP18
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2018
As for Harden, the man has pulled too many unbelievable moves on the court for us to overlook him. One of his best moments came in 2018 against the LA Clippers’ Wesley Johnson. He did his trademark step back, which left Johnson on the floor. What Harden did next might have made it better. He stared down at Johnson before hitting the three.
As for the best ankle breaker in NBA history, it all depends on the preferences of the NBA fans. One might believe Iverson was better than Kyrie, Harden, Isaiah, or any other players. However, it should be undisputed that Kyrie is surely up there, especially since he has managed to impress us often. Irving reminds us that his handles are arguably unmatched, and that he deserves to be known as one of the best.
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