General
put on skates
What does put on skates mean?
To deceive a defender with a dribble move so badly they lose balance, as if wearing skates.
"That crossover put the defender on skates."
Origin
Streetball imagery of a defender sliding helplessly.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'put on skates' mean in basketball?
It means to fake out a defender with a dribble move so badly they lose their balance, as if they were sliding on skates.
Where does 'put on skates' come from?
It comes from streetball imagery of a defender sliding around helplessly after getting crossed up.
Is 'put on skates' the same as an ankle breaker?
They're closely related; both describe a move that makes a defender stumble, with ankle breaker emphasizing the defender nearly falling.
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