After its invention in 1891, basketball become very popular over the world. The advent of the NBA only went onto further increase the popularity of the sport and gave birth to the biggest NBA rivalries.
Basketball became an Olympic sport in the year 1936. NBA is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) the first league was played in 1949. The NBA is the third wealthiest sport in North America. Like all other games, basketball players also indulge in tussles and sputter sometimes.
Players in the league have numerous times crossed their limits and resulted in the biggest fights in the NBA of all time.
Biggest NBA Rivalries
1. Malice at the Palace
The biggest fight in NBA History is the “MALICE AT THE PALACE” one. This fight took place on the 19 of November 2004 between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers. This fight was based on a foul made by a player. It was a quite ugly fight between the players and the spectators too got involved.
2. Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson
Players Alonzo Mourning and Lary Johnson got in a nasty fight in 1998. They literally started throwing punches at each other but luckily no one got any severe injuries. Even in a playoff, they exchanged punches although playoff was very crucial for both teams.
3. Bill Laimbeer and Charles Barkley
Bill Laimbeer hit the basketball straight in Rick Mahorn’s face while playing the match. Mahorn got hurt but his fellow teammate Charles Barkey jumped in and confronted Laimbeer and pushed him acutely.
4. Dr. J and Larry Bird
There was a physical fight between Dr. J and Larry Bird; they had a bitter history so within no time punching show started at the match. Charles Barkley tried to intervene them but punches came hard by both sides. Both teams rushed to the area but the dispute became stronger and nobody was able to control it.
5. Derek Harper and Jojo English
Just one push ignited the fight when Derek Harper and Jojo English approached each other at the three-point line. The commissioner was few yards away and the fight reached to sideline area. Players from both teams joined the battle and the ground became a battlefield within few minutes. NBA Chief executive was the spectator of this historical fight.
Also Read: Biggest Controversies In History
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