Although officially a non-contact sport, basketball, especially NBA style, can be a dangerous game with frequent physical contacts. Each night basketball struggles between being a clean, finesse game and a rugged game with football-like bumping and shoving. Sometimes tempers boil over and a let’s fight at basketball game mindset takes over. Though this can happen in any game, some confrontations have gone on to be the most famous NBA fights. Here’s a look back at the five best basketball fights.
New York Knicks and Miami Heat, April 30, 1998. This leads the list of famous NBA fights for two reasons. First, it was a playoff game with only one second remaining. Larry Johnson shoved Alonzo Mourning and Zo responded with his best air punches down the court. The reason this makes the list was little Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy who, inexplicably, attached himself Zo’s leg–who was on the opposite team. Zo dragged Van Gundy the length of the court like a little sweaty anchor, never landing a punch but entertaining millions.
Houston Rocket and Los Angeles Lakers, Dec 9, 1977. This may be one of the most famous NBA fights because the main victim was hit without warning. While the two centers were jawing and pushing, Laker Kermit Washington without reason delivered a shot right to totally unsuspecting and unprepared Rocket Rudy Tomjanovich’s face. Rudy suffered fractures and scars and was hospitalized for weeks, Kermit was suspended for 26 games and fell into obscurity.
Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, May 24, 1987. After making a young career of tossing nearly anyone who came towards the basket, much-hated Piston Bill Laimbeer was up against legend Larry Bird in the Eastern Conference Finals. Not one for favoritism to famous players, Laimbeer threw down the Bird and Bird responded by slugging him. The highlight of one of the best fight at basketball game was when Bird hucked the ball at Laimbeer’s head after they were separated.
Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, Jan. 12, 2002. Shaq gets hacked a lot but in this game he received a flagrant from ex-Knick Charles Oakley on his way up for a dunk. Generally mild-mannered, Shaq fought back in what could have been one of the best basketball fights ever. Shaq, however, swung at Brad Miller instead and missed by a good three feet before falling on him.
Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, Nov. 19, 2004. This tops the list of famous NBA fights and perhaps fights in any sport. It caused many basketball struggles in terms of rule changes and player suspensions due to its severity. On an otherwise unremarkable NBA night, Detroit center, gentle Ben Wallace, shoved universally hated Pacer Ron Artest. It was not unusual until a fan hurled a beer at Artest and the fight took into the stands where fans and players slugged it out. Total chaos ensued for minutes and in the end, 5 players were charged with assault and Artest and others missed over 50 games each.
Needless to say, these fights were much better seen live. Anyone who’s lucky enough to have been at these games can thank the large electronic basketball scoreboards for giving fans an up-close view of the players and the plays.
First of all,about the Washington-Tomjanovich affair,you’re full of s***.After Washington punched Houston centre Kevin Kunnert,Tomjanovich rushed in to act as peace-maker,but Washington,raised on Washington,
D.C.’s violent streets(and NOT tony suburbs,where sports commissioners such as David Stern today,and Lawrence F.O’Brien in ’77-’78,were raised in over-privilege),reacted as anyone raised in such fearsome circumstances would if confronted with someone’s advancing on him.He swung,and being 6-8,222 lb. of granite-like muscle,when he connected,he virtually disassembled Tomjanovich’s face,ending the Detroit native’s career and,VERY NEARLY,his life.A very unfortunate occurrence,as both Washington,an Academic All-American at American University-and the last collegian to average 20 points and 20 rebounds a game in his senior season,1972-73,and Tomjanovich are gentlemanly
sorts who both suffered greatly from the incident,Tomjanovich physi-
cally(though he eventually coached the Rockets to consecutive NBA titles when Micheal Jordan was banned for most of two seasons for gambling-er,played minor league baseball in the White Sox farm system,
while Washington,despite heart-felt apologies to Tomjanovich and a plethora of charitable endeavours,has yet-as of Dec.9,2009,exactly 32
years after the incident,to find gainful NBA employment.