Notable Brawls in NBA History

19FEB59 - ONONDAGA COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL COLISEUM; SYRACUSE, NY
SYRACUSE NATIONALS VS. BOSTON CELTICS
Altercation - After an evening of verbal sparring, Sid Borgia [NBA Official] slugged Eli Roth, a Syracuse fan who had come down to courtside to confront him. Early in the fourth quarter Bill Russell [BOS] punched George Dempsey [SYR] in retaliation for a hard foul and both teams’ benches emptied during the ensuing melee. With about a minute remaining in the game Tom Heinsohn [BOS] and Dolph Schayes [SYR] engaged in another brawl and Borgia was struck by Heinsohn as he attempted to break up the fight. Paul Seymour [SYR Coach] then rushed Heinsohn during the altercation when Heinsohn knocked down Bob Hopkins [SYR]. Following the game Heinsohn and Gene Conley [BOS] tussled with Syracuse fans before the police restored order.
Penalties - n/a


1APR62 - BOSTON GARDEN; BOSTON, MA
PHILADELPHIA WARRIORS VS. BOSTON CELTICS
Altercation - Following a collision involving Wilt Chamberlain [PHW] and Sam Jones [BOS], heated words were exchanged and Jones grabbed a photographer’s stool and used it to keep Chamberlain at bay. Shortly thereafter a fistfight broke out between Carl Braun [BOS] and Guy Rodgers [PHW] and both benches emptied and several spectators came onto the court. When the situation finally settled down Jim Loscutoff [BOS] charged Rodgers [PHW], who he felt had tripped him during the brawl and the fight escalated again. Tom Heinsohn [BOS], who had an altercation with Ted Luckenbill [PHW] was the only player ejected from the game.
Penalties - Tom Heinsohn [BOS], Sam Jones [BOS], Jim Loscutoff [BOS], Ted Luckenbill [PHW] and Guy Rodgers [PHW] are fined $50 each.


18OCT66 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN; NEW YORK, NY
WILLIS REED VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Altercation - After an elbow by Willis Reed [NYK] to the head of Rudy LaRusso [LAL], LaRusso retaliated by taking a swing at Reed. In the brawl that ensued Reed took on LaRusso, John Block [LAL] (who came out of the fight with a broken nose) and Darrall Imhoff [LAL] (who suffered a cut over his left eye). Reed and LaRusso were the only players ejected from the game.
Penalties - Willis Reed was given "a small fine."


5JAN73 - PORTLAND MEMORIAL COLISEUM; PORTLAND, OR
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS VS. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Altercation - With 5:14 remaining in the game LaRue Martin [POR] scuffled with Dale Schlueter [PHI] and Mike Price [PHI] under the Philadelphia basket. Martin and Schlueter went to the floor as Terry Dischinger [POR] and Bob Davis [POR] joined in the fracas. Davis then began kicking Schlueter in the head, and John Q. Trapp (who was under suspension by Philadelphia) came in and bear-hugged Davis. Jack McCloskey [POR coach] restrained Schlueter, who was now up and trying to get at Davis. in the meantime, Dischinger and Price were yelling at each other, and after Dischinger pushed him, Price punched Dischinger in the mouth, loosening three of his teeth and cutting his hand in the process. Davis (requiring 14 stitches in his hand), Dischinger and Schlueter all found themselves going to the hospital for follow up care.
Penalties - Bob Davis [POR], Terry Dischinger [POR], LaRue Martin [POR], Mike Price [PHI] and Dale Schlueter [PHI] are fined $100 each.


26MAY77 - THE SPECTRUM; PHILADELPHIA, PA
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Altercation - With 4:52 remaining to play in the second game of the NBA Championship Series an incident occurred when Darryl Dawkins [PHIL] wrestled a rebound away from Bob Gross [POR], who was thrown to the floor in the process. When the players got back to their feet they exchanged heated words and Dawkins took a swing at Gross but struck Doug Collins [PHI], who had stepped in as a peacemaker, instead, cutting him above his right eye (a cut which would require four stitches). Maurice Lucas [POR] then came up and struck Dawkins from behind and the benches emptied. In the brawl that followed fans filed onto the court and one took a punch at a Portland player, but was pulled away by Jack McMahon [PHI assistant coach]. Dawkins and Lucas were both ejected, with Dawkins going on to trash the Sixers’ locker room.
Penalties - Darryl Dawkins [PHI] and Maurice Lucas [POR] are each fined $2,500.


9DEC77 - THE FORUM; INGLEWOOD, CA
HOUSTON ROCKETS VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Altercation - Early in the third quarter Kevin Kunnert [HOU] and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [LAL] got into an altercation with Kunnert and Abdul-Jabbar pushing and elbowing each other. Abdul-Jabbar’s teammate Kermit Washington [LAL] then held up Kunnert by grabbing his shorts as he headed up the court. Kunnert then swung his elbow to break freak and connected with Washington. Abdul-Jabbar reacted by grabbing Kunnert from behind pinning his arms in the process and Washington hit Kunnert with a flurry of punches. Washington then turned and struck Rudy Tomjanovich [HOU] in the face as he ran toward the conflict, and Tomjanovich fell to the floor immediately, hitting the back of his head on the floor. Tomjanovich suffered a dislodged skull, cerebral concussion and severe facial fractures (including a broken jaw and nose). Washington was ejected from the game and Tomjanovich would up in the intensive care unit and was sidelined for five months.
Penalties - Kermit Washington [LAL] is fined $10,000 and suspended 60 games.


24APR83 - BOSTON GARDEN; BOSTON, MA
ATLANTA HAWKS VS. BOSTON CELTICS
Altercation - Began in the third quarter of game three of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinal when Tree Rollins [ATL] struck Danny Ainge [BOS] in the head with an elbow. Ainge then tackled Rollins and the benches emptied with Rollins biting Ainge’s finger at the bottom of the pileup with Ainge needing stitches to close the bite wound.
Penalties - Tree Rollins [ATL] is fined $5,000 and suspended five games; Danny Ainge [BOS] is fined $1,000; Nate Archibald [BOS], Rickey Brown [ATL], Quinn Buckner [BOS], ML Carr [BOS], Keith Edmonson [ATL], Scott Hastings [ATL], George Johnson [ATL], Wes Matthews [ATL], Kevin McHale [BOS], Tom McMillen [ATL], Rick Robey [BOS], Randy Smith [ATL], Scott Wedman [BOS] and Dominique Wilkins [ATL] were fined $150 each for leaving the bench area during the fight for a total of $8,100 in fines.


19APR90 - THE PALACE AT AUBURN HILLS; AUBURN HILLS, MI
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS VS. DETROIT PISTONS
Altercation - The tone of the game became heightened with 3:40 remaining in the fourth quarter when Isiah Thomas [DET] threw a punch at Rick Mahorn [PHI], leading to the ejection of Thomas. Then with 14.8 seconds remaining in the game Dennis Rodman [DET] using a hard foul to stop Mahorn, who was going in for a layup. Bill Laimbeer [DET] then grabbed the ball and shoved it in Mahon’s face. As Laimbeer and Mahorn prepared to face off Charles Barkley [PHI] jumped in and pushed Laimbeer and they began to exchange punches. Both benches then emptied and when the fight was broken up Barkley, Laimbeer and Scott Hastings [DET] were ejected for throwing punches. Barkley was accosted by a spectator on his way to the locker room and two spectators were arrested after the confrontation.
Penalties - Charles Barkley [PHI] and Bill Laimbeer [DET] are fined $20,000 and suspended one game each; Scott Hastings [DET] is fined $10,000 and suspended one game; Isiah Thomas [DET] is fined $7,500; Mark Aguirre [DET], Ron Anderson [PHI], William Bedford [DET]; Scott Brooks [PHI], Lanard Copeland [PHI], David Greenwood [DET], Gerald Henderson [DET], Kurt Nimphius [PHI], Ken Payne [PHI], John Salley [DET] are fined $500 each for leaving the bench for a total of $162,500 in fines


23MAR93 - AMERICA WEST ARENA; PHOENIX, AZ
NEW YORK KNICKS VS. PHOENIX SUNS
Altercation - Just prior to the end of the first half Kevin Johnson [PHO] and Doc Rivers [NYK] became involved in an altercation that started with angry words but escalated soon after when Johnson hit Rivers with a forearm and knocked him to the floor when he set a pick on Johnson. Rivers then got up and he and Johnson then exchanges punches. Then, just as it appeared things were under control, Greg Anthony [NYK], who was in street clothes with an injury came onto the court and punched Johnson. Anthony, Johnson and Rivers were then ejected along with Danny Ainge [PHO], Anthony Mason [NYK] and John Starks [NYK].
Penalties - Greg Anthony [NYN] is fined $20,000 and suspended five games; Kevin Johnson [PHO] is fined $15,000 and suspended two games; Doc Rivers [NYK] is fined $10,000 and suspended two games; Jerrod Mustaf [PHO] is fined $10,500; John Starks [NYK] and Anthony Mason [NYK] are each fined $7,500; Eric Anderson [NYK], Rolando Blackman [NYK], Cedric Ceballos [PHO], Tom Chambers [PHO]; Hubert Davis [NYK], Richard Dumas [PHO], Frank Johnson [PHO], Tim Kempton [PHO], Bo Kimble [NYK], Negele Knight [PHO], Charles Oakley [NYK], Charles Smith [NYK], Mark West [PHO] and Herb Williams [NYK] are fined $500 each for leaving the bench, and the New York organization is fined $50,000 and the Phoenix organization is fined $25,000 for a total of $160,500 in fines.


13MAY94 - CHICAGO STADIUM; CHICAGO, IL
NEW YORK KNICKS VS. CHICAGO BULLS
Altercation - With 2:41 remaining in the second quarter a shoving match broke out between Jo Jo English [CHI] and Derek Harper [CHI], Harper then punched English and wrestled him to the ground as the teams’ benches cleared, all a few feet in front of the courtside seat of NBA Commissioner David Stern.
Penalties - Derek Harper [NYK] fined $15,000 and suspended two games; Jo Jo English [CHI] fined $10,000 and suspended one game; Greg Anthony [NYK], Rolando Blackman [NYK], Corie Blount [CHI], Anthony Bonner [NYK], Corey Gaines [NYK], Steve Kerr [CHI], Toni Kukoc [CHI], Luc Longley [CHI], Pete Myers [CHI], John Paxson [CHI], Charles Smith [NYK], Bill Wennington [CHI], Herb Williams [NYK] and Scott Williams [CHI] were each fined $2,500 for leaving the bench, and the Chicago and New York organizations were each fined $50,000, for a total of $162,500 in fines.


6FEB95 - PORTLAND MEMORIAL COLISEUM; PORTLAND, OR
VERNON MAXWELL VS. PORTLAND SPECTATOR
Altercation - During a timeout Vernon Maxwell [HOU] went a dozen rows into the stands and punched spectator Steve George, who had been heckling him, breaking his jaw. Maxwell, along with Robert Horry [HOU] and Larry Smith [HOU assistant coach], who also entered the stands, were ejected from the game. Maxwell later filed suit against George and his brother Nick George, claiming they had slandered him by accusing him of assault. George then filed a $4.5 million suit against Maxwell and the Rockets.
Penalties - Vernon Maxwell [HOU] is suspended for a minimum of 10 games and fined $20,000 for going into the stands.


10NOV95 - MARKET SQUARE ARENA; INDIANAPOLIS, IN
SACRAMENTO KINGS VS. INDIANA PACERS
Altercation - A brawl ensued when Dale Davis [IND] and Michael Smith [SAC] exchanged blows with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter, and both players were ejected. Thirteen players who left the bench area during the brawl received automatic suspensions from the league.
Penalties - Dale Davis [IND] and Michael Smith [SAC] are fined $20,000 and suspended 2 games each; Duane Causwell [SAC] is fined $7,500 and suspended 1 game; Travis Best [IND], Adrian Caldwell [IND], Tyus Edney [SAC], Duane Ferrell [IND], Fred Hoiberg [IND], Byron Houston [SAC], Mark Jackson [IND], Sarunas Marciulionis [SAC], Reggie Miller [IND], Olden Polynice [SAC], Dwayne Schintzius [IND], Lionel Simmons [SAC], and Walt Williams [SAC], were fined $2,500 and suspended 1 game each for leaving the bench, for a total of $80,000 in fines.


20DEC02 - THE ARENA IN OAKLAND; OAKLAND, CA
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS VS. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Altercation - After Rasheed Wallace [POR] hit a game-winning shot at the final buzzer, a fight broke out between Chris Mills [GSW] and Bonzi Wells [POR]. Spectators threw debris at the Portland players as they left the court after the game, and Wallace tried to go into the stands to get at a spectator who threw a wad of gum at him. Mills tried to get into the Portland locker room after the game to renew the fight, and later parked in front of the Portland bus and challenged the Blazers along with several friends.
Penalties - Chris Mills [GSW] is suspended for 3 games, Bonzi Wells [POR] is suspended for 2 games; Rasheed Wallace [POR] is fined $15,000 for attempting to go into the stands.


19NOV04 - THE PALACE AT AUBURN HILLS; AUBURN HILLS, MI
INDIANA PACERS VS. DETROIT PISTONS
Altercation - A brawl ignited with 45.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when Ben Wallace [DET] was fouled hard by Ron Artest [IND] and he reacted by turning and pushing Artest in the face with both hands. The benches immediately emptied and punches were thrown. The scuffle continued near center court with Artest reclining on the scorer’s table when a cup thrown from the stand struck Artest and he ran into the stands and started exchanging punches with spectators. Stephen Jackson [IND] followed Artest into the stands and joined him in confronting the fans, with Rasheed Wallace [DET] and David Harrison [IND] also venturing near the stands. After Artest had returned to the court a fan dressed in a Pistons jersey approached him with his fist up and began yelling at Artest, and Artest responded by punching the fan as he left the court. Jermaine O’Neal [IND] and Anthony Johnson [IND] also struck a spectator who had ventured onto the court, and he was later carried off on a stretcher. The referees decided against playing the remainder of the game and a half-dozen spectators were treated for injuries. Wallace, Artest and Jackson were suspended indefinitely by the league the following day.
Penalties - Ron Artest [IND] is suspended for the remainder of the season (72 games); Stephen Jackson [IND] is suspended for 30 games; Jermaine O'Neal [IND] is suspended for 25 games; Anthony Johnson [IND] and Ben Wallace [DET] are suspended for 6 games; Chauncey Billups DET], Elden Campbell [DET], Derrick Coleman [DET] and Reggie Miller [IND] are suspended for 1 game for leaving the bench area.


16DEC06 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN; NEW YORK, NY
DENVER NUGGETS VS. NEW YORK KNICKS
Altercation - After a warning from Isiah Thomas [NYK Coach] to Carmelo Anthony [DEN], a brawl broke out at the conclusion of the game as Mardy Collins [NYK] committed a flagrant foul on J.R. Smith [DEN], after Collins and Smith began arguing, Nate Robinson [NYK], who was pulling Smith away, was pushed by Anthony. Smith and Robinson then fell into the front row of spectators and Anthony punched Collins. Jared Jeffries [NYK] then ran toward Anthony, but was restrained by a Denver player.
Penalties - Carmelo Anthony [DEN] is suspended for 15 games; J.R. Smith [DEN] and Nate Robinson [NYK] are each suspended for 10 games; Mardy Collins [NYK] is suspended for 6 games; Jared Jeffries [NYK] is suspended for 4 games; Nene [DEN] and Jerome James [NYK] are each suspended for 1 game each for leaving the bench area; and the New York and Denver organizations are fined $500,000 each.