10. The New York Knicks vs. The Denver Nuggets
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At the center of this brawl were former Nuggets (and current Knicks, go figure)
Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and Marcus Camby. Little Nate Robinson took Smith into the crowd with a belly-to-belly suplex as Melo hit Jared Jeffries with a frowned upon “club punch.” C’mon, Melo.
9. The Detroit “Bad Boy” Pistons vs. Everyonehttp://www.springboardplatform.com/js/overlay
They didn’t call them the “Bad Boys” for nothing. Dennis Rodman, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer didn’t get along with many people and they didn’t care. They fought everyone, so settling for one fight wouldn’t do it justice. Enjoy the montage. Even Rocky had a montage.
8. Chris Childs vs. Kobe Bryanthttp://www.springboardplatform.com/js/overlay
Young Kobe Bryant may have not gotten the memo that the Knicks were not to be played around with. In this memorable clip against backup point guard, Chris Childs, Bean got served with a two piece and a biscuit. No sides for you, Kobe. Just go home.
7. Shaquille O’ Neal vs. Charles Barkleyhttp://www.springboardplatform.com/js/overlay
When this first happened, Charles Barkley was either the bravest man in the NBA or the craziest. We went with a little bit of both. After a hard foul from Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley chucked a basketball at his head. Before Shaq can react or connect with a punch, Charles charged at the Diesel with a double leg takedown that Anderson Silva would be proud of.
6. Larry Bird vs. Julius Ervinghttp://www.springboardplatform.com/js/overlay
The Hick from French Lick wasn’t just a beast on the court and a world class trash talker, he could back it up with the fisticuffs as well. Larry Legend went toe-to-toe with Dr. J in this memorable dust up from the 80s.
5. The New York Knicks vs. The Chicago Bullshttp://www.springboardplatform.com/js/overlay
Outside of the Bad Boy Pistons, no team turned it up more in NBA history than the New York Knicks. With every playoff run, you can almost guarantee the Knicks were going to win the fight if they didn’t win the game. What made this brawl even more memorable? It went down right in front of the commish, David Stern. S**k it, job security.
4. The New York Knicks vs. The Miami Heathttp://www.springboardplatform.com/js/overlay
The Knicks and Heat rivalry didn’t begin when LeBron spurned the Big Apple for South Beach. It was in the mid and late 90s when Miami and New York had playoff battle after playoff battle every year. It was this memorable scuffle between Larry Johnson and Alonzo Morning that led to Jeff Van Gundy to hang on to Zo’s ginormous leg for dear life. What? You didn’t know that Nazareth College ain’t nothin’ to f— with?
3. Tree Rollins vs. Danny Aingehttp://www.springboardplatform.com/js/overlay
In the 80s, Danny Ainge was the player that everybody loved to hate. In this memorable brawl between Ainge and Tree Rollins, the two exchanged blows before Tree took a chomp out of the current GM of the Boston Celtics. No #Tetnus shot needed.
2. Kermit Washington vs. Rudy Tomjonavichhttp://www.springboardplatform.com/js/overlay
You want to know how crazy of a fade Rudy Tomjonavich caught? Before winning championships as head coach of the Houston Rockets, he was most known for taking one of the most efficient and devastating fades in NBA history. Tomjonavich was quoted as feeling like “The scoreboard fell on him,” and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said it sounded like “a watermelon hit the ground.” Ouch.
1. “The Malice In The Palace”http://www.springboardplatform.com/js/overlay
This fight is more league altering than a lot of NBA Championship runs. This was the fight that changed the face of sports in general. Never before have fans and players took part in such a catastrophe on an American sporting event. You’ve read all about it, but now take a look at the fight between Ben Wallace, Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’ Neal and seemingly the entire Palace Of Auburn Hills.
