The Worst Fights And Cheap Shots In NBA History
By Chris Walder
Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE
Last night’s game between the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics wasn’t short on drama, to say the least.
With 30 seconds left in the second quarter of a 51-35 beat down by the Nets, Brooklyn forward Kris Humphries gave a hard foul to a shooting Kevin Garnett, who then fell to the ground.
Celtics guard and league assist leader Rajon Rondo took exception to that, pushing Kris towards the fans on the sidelines. Coaches from both benches came in to separate all parties.
Humphries, Rondo and an intervening Gerald Wallace (who had been issued a technical earlier in the night) were all ejected from the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_vS96gFs1U
Who doesn’t like a good scuffle? I certainly do.
After last night’s mini-fight between the Celtics and Nets, I find it fitting to take a look back at some of the more infamous cheap shots and pier six brawls the league has ever seen.
“The Malace in the Palace”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gC2dfvcK7I
I can’t talk about NBA fights and cheap shots without mentioning the biggest and certainly the most violent one of all-time.
What began as a hard foul (at best) on Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace from Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest (now known as Metta World Peace), turned into the ultimate black eye that the NBA and both organizations were unable to recover from for quite a while.
Artest would run into the stands after having a bottle thrown on him from the fans. Spectators would get involved, fists would be thrown, coaches and players were pelted with popcorn and drinks and the game was eventually called off.
It doesn’t get any worse than this.
Kermit Washington vs Rudy Tomjanovich
During a 1977 games between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, a fight broke out between several players (Rockets Kevin Kunnert, Lakers Washington and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) at mid-court.
Rockets captain Rudy Tomjanovich ran towards the fight to play peacemaker, but he was met with a straight right hand from Washington, which is now referred to as “the Punch”.
Rudy suffered a concussion and required several surgeries to repair the damage to his face.
Andrew Bynum vs J.J Barea
With the Los Angeles Lakers on the verge of being swept by the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in a 100-68 blowout for the home team, Lakers 7 foot center Andrew Bynum took out his frustrations on guard Jose Juan Barea (who is one foot shorter than Bynum) by elbowing him in the chest as J.J drove the lane for a lay-up (which actually went in).
Andrew was immediately ejected from the game as he made absolutely zero attempt to go after the ball on that play. It was the definition of a “cheap” shot.
Ironically, this was also Phil Jacksons last game coaching the Lakers.
“Sir Charles” Barkley vs Shaquille O’Neal
Before Barkley and O’Neal joined forces as analysts on the NBA on TNT, they were throwing fists (and in Barkley’s case, a basketball) at one another in a game between the Lakers and Rockets (the second time on the list) back in 1999-2000.
Considering the size of both men, it’s amazing this didn’t turn out to be something much worse.
It’s also funny now as both Charles and Shaq can look back at the fight and have a chuckle over it, which they did on a recent episode of “OpenCourt” .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTCyIF8CJio
Metta World Peace vs James Harden
After a ferocious dunk against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the end of last season, Lakers forward Metta World Peace then pounded his chest in celebration and proceeded to elbow OKC guard James Harden(who was standing directly next to him at the time) right in the side of the head, which he says was “inadvertent, unintentional and unfortunate”.
With his track record, it was hard to believe his story at the time.
M.W.P was suspended for the final game of the regular season and the first six of the postseason.
Robert Horry vs Steve Nash
During the 2007 NBA playoffs in a pivotal game between the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns and the Spurs needing to foul (the team was down 3 with 18 seconds left), Spurs forward Robert Horry would send Suns guard Steve Nash flying into the scorers table with his forearm.
Nash’s response to the hit at the end of the game was priceless.
BONUS FIGHTS/CHEAP SHOTS
Carmelo Anthony vs Mardy Collins (2006)
Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks (1994)
Jason Smith vs Blake Griffin (2012)
Raja Bell vs Kobe Bryant (2006)
John Wall vs Zydrunas Illgauskas (2011)
Miami Heat vs New York Knicks (1998)
Christopher Walder is the Lead Editor for Sir Charles in Charge. You can follow him on Twitter @WALDERSPORTS