International basketball is a big deal for a lot of countries. Especially for those that don’t have a strong history in the sport. Iraq faced off against The Philippines and towards the end of the game, the most memorable part was a player breaking his ankles from a crossover.
Not a figurative ankle break. An actual ankle break to the Iraqi player. One that was so bad that they had to carry the player off of the court and take him to the locker room.
Who could have ever guessed that the William Jones Cup in Taiwan would be the place for such a ground breaking moment in basketball?
I am sure this isn’t the first time that this has ever happened but this is the first documented time that it has happened in gif form.
The saddest part about it all is the fact that the Philippines were ahead by nine points at the time and were just running out the clock. Why put in so much effort at the end of the game? Maybe scouts were in attendance.
Trying to find an explanation for this freak play is going to be tough. First time this happens in the NBA, the victim is going to have to retire.