WASHINGTON _ The term is best known internationally from a soccer perspective, being "nutmegged" when an opposing player dibbles or passes the ball through an opponent's legs.
In the NBA, it is among the game's most humbling or humorous moments _ depending whether the perspective is from the initiator or the victim.
Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside got to experience the sensation firsthand in the opening game of this two-game set against the Washington Wizards, when John Wall stole the ball Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena from Heat forward James Johnson, and pushed it between Whiteside's legs, triggering a fastbreak.
By Friday's rematch with the Wizards, Whiteside had experienced the full social-media fallout.
"He had nowhere else to go with the ball," Whiteside said. "He just went between my legs. I've known John Wall since I was in high school. So I think people made more of a deal of it than it actually was."
Whiteside and Wall have played pickup games in the offseason, including this past summer in Miami.
Then came Wednesday night _ and just about every available ensuing angle on Twitter, YouTube and other social-media outlets.
"He didn't really have nowhere else to go but between my legs," Whiteside said with a smile. "And it was a good decision."
In the moment, Whiteside said it came across as nothing more than a basketball play.
"I don't take it as disrespect," he said. "If he'd have dunked on me, that's disrespectful."
Whiteside said he had only one thought after the ball was pushed through his legs, "Get back and hope he missed it. And he missed the layup."
The Wizards, though, were there to follow up on the play for the score in their victory that snapped a five-game losing streak to the Heat.
