By Taking down memory lane, here are some of the Top 5 brutal basketball fights in the NBA.
- Kermit Washington vs. Rudy Tomjanovich
To this day the fight between Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich remains one of the most unforgettable days in the history of basketball. In 1977, while a match between Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets was still going on a fight broke out at midcourt, Rudy Tomjanovich of the Rockets flew in to stop the fight. Rather, he got punched right in the face– a massive right-hand blow from Kermit Washington of the Lakers. This incident was written down in NBA history calling it “The Punch.” Tomjanovich became senseless and bleeding profusely, eventually needing numerous procedures to reconstruct facial ruptures. He also suffered trauma and other severe damage. Tomjanovich came back the next season, but he was never the same talented player again.
- Larry Johnson vs Alonzo Mourning
The fight between Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning took the No.2 place in the Top 5 most brutal basketball fights in NBA history. Interestingly enough, the duo was squadmates at Charlotte Hornets. Though since they parted ways, it was only a matter of time before the duo started throwing jabs and blows at each other.
In 1997, the New York Knicks and Miami Heat stood up against each other during the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference where a huge confrontation occurred. A year later, the squads came across again but this time at the Eastern Conference Playoffs, where the exact procession was observed as Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning had to forcefully withdraw from each other by officials and squad mates.
- Marcus Camby vs Danny Ferry
The incident happened in January 2001, when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs were playing against each other. However, in midcourt, the Knicks’ Marcus Campy and the Spurs’ Danny Ferry got into a heated confrontation. But instead of cooling his head off, Campy drove toward the opposing team’s bench and released a full-strength swing intended for Ferry. However, Ferry dodged the attack, and Jeff Van Gundy, the Knicks coach who tried to stop the fight, got hit resulting in a cut on his eye that required 12 stitches.
Both players received a suspension. Campy had to sit out five games and was fined $25,000. Ferry had to sit out one game and was fined $7,500.
- Kobe Bryant vs Chris Childs
The late Kobe Bryant is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time but there were times when Bryant began blazing his power on other players in the NBA and Chris Child, also a professional basketball player was among them. While the LA Lakers faced off against the New York Knicks, it was the Lakers who were blasting in the scores, wherein Kobe Bryant was hit with two MMA blows by Chris Childs.
It only took a matter of seconds for the then twenty-two-year-old Bryant to lose his composure and drove onto Childs to strike him, but the referee quickly dragged Childs and officials came rushing to the court to halt Bryant. It took two referees to stop Bryant from moving toward Childs.
- Shaquille O’Neal vs Charles Barkley
The former basketball players Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley seemed all buddy-buddy now as they both work together on TNT but do you know, these two weren’t even close to being “friends.”
Donning the late 90’s classic Houston Rockets jersey, Charles got involved in a heated confrontation with a prime-time Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaq. Hard to believe right? Seeing these two are so close now.
Charles may act like a cool guy but when it comes to fist fights with Shaq, it didn’t appear to be a good idea. Thankfully for Barkley, the two players were stopped by their teammates and referee before any serious damage was inflicted.
