The Top Five NBA Fights of All Time

From Shaq and Barkley to LeBron and Draymond, these are the top five NBA fights of all time.

The Top Five NBA fights of all time

The NBA is well known for its players’ Feuds and Fights. From Shaq and Kobe, to Draymond Green and Westbrook, there is no shortage of NBA beef.

While most of these fights are verbal altercations that never come to blows, there have been a few occasions where players have taken their beef off the court and into the stands.

Here are the top five NBA fights of all time:

5) Draymond Green vs. James Harden
Draymond Green and James Harden have been beefing for years. It all started back in 2016 when Green was caught on camera calling Harden a “pussy.”

The feud reignited in 2019 when Green got into it with Harden’s then-teammate Chris Paul The fight spilled into the stands, and Paul had to be restrained by security.

Things came to a head in 2020 when the two had to be separated by security after exchanging words on the court.

4) Shaq vs. Kobe
Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were arguably the best duo of all time. They won three championships together with the Los Angeles Lakers, but their relationship was far from perfect.

The two consistently argued over who was the better player, and their feud came to a head in 2004 when Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat

The two had to be separated by teammates after exchanging words during a game in 2006, and their feud is still going strong today.

3) Kevin Garnett vs. Carmelo Anthony
Kevin Garnett and Carmelo Anthony have been involved in some on-court altercations throughout their careers, but things came to a head in 2017 when they got into a heated exchange during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks

things escalated quickly, and Garnett ended up throwing a punch at Anthony. Both players were ejected from the game, but that wasn’t the end of their feud.

2) Rick Mahorn vs Isiah Thomas
Rick Mahorn and Isiah Thomas were involved in one of the biggest brawls in NBA history during a Pistons-Bulls game in 1991. The fight started after Thomas committed a hard foul against Bill Laimbeer which set off a chain reaction of events that led to both teams clearing their benches and going at it on the court.

1) Kermit Washington vs Rudy Tomjanovich
Kermit Washington will forever be remembered for his infamous punch that nearly killed Rudy Tomjanovich during an Lakers-Rockets game in 1977. Tomjanovich was running towards Washington to break up a fight between Washington and Kevin Kunnert when Washington accidentally punched Tomjanovich in the face, resulting in severe brain damage that nearly killed him

The top five NBA fights of the modern era

The National Basketball Association has seen its share of on-court skirmishes and fights throughout its history. But which ones stand out as the best of the best? Today, we’ll take a look at the top five NBA fights of the modern ERA

Before we get started, it’s important to note that this list is based on opinion and is in no way meant to be a definitive ranking of the best NBA fights of all time. So without further ado, let’s get into it.

5. Kevin Durant vs. Rajon Rondo
This fight took place during a game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. The two players got into a shoving match after Rondo appeared to spit in Durant’s face. The two were quickly separated by teammates and referees, but not before they exchanged some heated words with one another.

4. Chris Paul vs. Rajon Rondo
This fight occurred during a game between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. It started when Paul and Rondo got tangled up while battling for a loose ball. Paul then took exception to something Rondo said and retaliated by putting his fingers into Rondo’s face. Rondo responded by spitting in Paul’s face, which led to a full-fledged brawl between the two players. Both players were ejected from the game and subsequently suspended for multiple games afterward.

3. Carmelo Anthony vs. Kevin Garnett
This fight took place during a game between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics in 2012 when Garnett reportedly made some comments about Anthony’s wife that Anthony didn’t appreciate.Anthony confronted Garnett after the game and eventually followed him into the Celtics’ locker room where they exchanged more words before being separated by teammates and security personnel. The situation didn’t end there, though, as Anthony waited outside Boston’s team bus after the game in an attempt to confront Garnett again but was unsuccessful. This incident led to a multi-game suspension for Anthony later on down the line.

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The top five NBA fights of the post-season

The NBA is no stranger to fights. The history of the league is full of hard-fought games and intense rivalries. Many of these fights have taken place in the playoffs, when the stakes are at their highest.

Here are five of the most memorable NBA Playoff fights of all time:

1. Celtics vs. Lakers, 1984
This fight occurred during Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals when the Celtics and Lakers were two of the most dominant teams in the league. The fight started when Lakers player Kurt Rambis was fouled hard by Celtics player Kevin McHale Rambis responded by shoving McHale, and players from both teams rushed onto the court to join the fray. The fight ended with several player being ejected, including Rambis and Larry Bird of the Celtics.

2. Knicks vs. Bulls, 1992
This fight took place during Game 5 of the 1992 Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls It began when Knicks player Greg Anthony fouled Bulls player Scottie Pippen hard, leading to a shoving match between the two players. Soon, players from both teams began exchanging punches, and a full-scale brawl ensued. Several players were ejected from the game, and Anthony was suspended for one game as a result of his role in starting the fight.

3. Nets vs. Celtics, 2002
This fight occurred during Game 3 of the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals between the New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics It started when Nets player Kerry Kittles was fouled hard by Celtics player Paul Pierce Kittles responded by shoving Pierce, and players from both teams rushed onto the court to join the fray. The fight ended with several players being ejected, including Kittles and Pierce.

4. Suns vs. Spurs, 2007
Thisfight took place during Game 4 ofthe 2007 Western Conference Semifinals betweenthe Phoenix Sunsand San Antonio Spurs . It beganwhen Sunsplayer Boris Diaw was fouledhard by player Robert Horry .Diawresponded by shoving Horry ,and playersfrom both teamsbegan exchangingpunches .Soon ,a full-scalebrawlensued .Severalplayerswere ejectedfromthe game ,and Horrywas suspendedfortwo games asa resultof his rolein startingthefight .5 .Sunsvs

The top five NBA fights of the regular season

When it comes to Professional Basketball the NBA is king. And while the game is mostly about showing off skills and playing as a team, there are always a handful of players who get into physical altercations with each other. Here are the top five NBA fights of all time.

1. Chris Paul vs. Rajon Rondo

This fight between two All-Star point guards happened during a game between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. Paul and Rondo got into a shoving match after Rondo allegedly spat on Paul, which led to both players exchanging punches. They were eventually separated by teammates and both were ejected from the game.

2. Draymond Green vs. Bradley Beal

This altercation took place during a game between the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards in 2016. Green and Beal were going after a loose ball when they got tangled up, which led to Beal pushing Green in the face. Green responded by pushing Beal to the ground and then standing over him in a menacing way, leading to his ejection from the game.

3. Kobe Bryant vs. Reggie Miller

One of the most famous fights in NBA history took place during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers in 2004. After getting fouled by Miller, Bryant went after him and started swinging wildly, leading to both players being ejected from the game. This fight is remembered fondly by many NBA fans as it happened between two of the league’s biggest stars at the time.

4. Carmelo Anthony vs. Kevin Garnett

This fight took place during a game between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics in 2012 when Anthony was trying to get near Garnett following some on-court trash talk earlier in the game. Both players were ejected after Anthony tried to confront Garnett while he was walking towards the locker room and they exchanged words near each other’s faces before being separated by security personnel and teammates.

5. JaVale McGee vs Joel Embiid

This fight occurred during a regular season matchup between McGee’s Lakers teammates && Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers in 2018 when McGee took offense to an elbowEmbiid threw at him while going for a reboundSo instead of just continuing to play, McGee shoved Embiid hard which ledto both benches clearing as everyone rushed onto court Nothing more escalated from there though as security restored orderand prevented anyone elsefrom getting involved It was stilla pretty crazy moment considering how big these two centers are

The top five NBA fights of all time: honorable mentions

In the history of the NBA, there have been some epic fights. Some have even transcended the sport, becoming part of pop culture Here are five of the most memorable NBA fights of all time.

1. Artis Gilmore vs. Kermit Washington: In 1977, Washington punched Gilmore in the face, sending him to the ground. The fight was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and is considered one of the most brutal in NBA history

2. Basketball Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Jerry West got into a fight during a game in 1964. It was a bloody affair, with both players exchanging punches and Robertson eventually getting the better of West. The fight made headlines around the country and is still talked about today.

3. Reggie Miller vs. Knicks fans: In 1998, Miller got into a shoving match with Knicks fans after they heckled him during a game at Madison Square Garden The incident sparked a brawl between players and fans that spilled onto the court.

4. Ron Artest vs. Pistons fans: In 2004, Artest was involved in one of the most infamous fights in NBA history when he charged into the stands to fight with Pistons fans who had thrown drinks at him. The incident led to a massive brawl between players and fans and resulted in several suspensions and fines.

5. Chris Paul vs Rajon Rondo In 2018, Paul and Rondo got into a heated argument that led to them exchanging punches on the court. The fight resulted in both players being ejected from the game and led to a multi-game suspension for Paul.