The NBA is one of the most popular sport’s leagues in the US. Some of us have been fans our whole lives, but it hasn’t been all roses for the NBA. Whether it’s controversial calls or moments that are just too much to bear, being an NBA fan isn’t always easy.
Below, we’ve compiled the five most controversial moments in NBA history. They’re listed in no particular order because we’re not here to declare one controversy as more scandalous than the other. We’re just here to discuss and look back at these strange moments with you. After that, you can be the judge!
Before We Start…
We want to give you a small disclaimer. If you’re new to the NBA world or only check in occasionally such as during playoffs or finals, don’t let this list drive you away from the sport.
Don’t think that the NBA is always this strange, to the point where you won’t follow it and wager on any games anymore. These things don’t always happen, which makes them so controversial in the first place.
Remember that you don’t need to be a betting expert to make good betting decisions. Having some information about the game and a working knowledge of betting mechanics will go a long way.
Use whatever tips you can pick up and a bit of intuition to work out what you think the smartest bet will be. You can also visit www.askgamblers.com/sports-betting/odds-formats to learn more about betting odds formats, and when they’re used.
Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
“Malice at the Palace”
Also known as the Pistons-Pacers brawl, the “Malice at the Palace” event earned the title of “most infamous brawl in NBA history”. This happened during a game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers on November 19, 2004, at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
With 45.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Pacers were leading 97-82. Pistons center Ben Wallace was attempting a layup when Pacers forward Ron Artest fouled Wallace from behind. Angry about the foul, Wallace shoved Artest, with the latter responding. A brawl broke out on the court, involving players from both teams.
Once the players were separated and waiting to learn about the consequences, a fan from several rows back threw a drink towards Artest. Artest responded and attacked the wrong fan before other fans and players from both sides ended up in another brawl.
Police were eventually called to the venue to disperse the fights, and the game was abandoned.
The Pistons’ “Bad Boy” Era
Between the late 1980s and early 90s, you either loved or hated the Detroit Pistons, thanks to their “Bad Boy” era.
The “Bad Boy” era wasn’t technically a controversy, but it’s something most (if not all) NBA fans were not used to seeing. The Pistons weren’t afraid to be physically aggressive, to the point where they would start on-court altercations.
However, they weren’t aggressive without reason, as you can see from their back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. The Pistons relentlessly chased the ball to score for their side, even if it caused a brawl.
Their stats backed them up too; Bill Laimbeer, often considered the baddest boy of this era, is actually one of the Pistons’ all-time top scorers and the team’s all-time leading rebounder. Meanwhile, prior to becoming part of the Chicago Bulls dynasty, Dennis Rodman earned consecutive “Defensive Player of the Year” awards in 1989 and 1990.
The Bad Boy Pistons knew what they wanted — a championship, and they weren’t afraid to go after it, even if it meant getting physical.
Bill Laimbeer’s Phantom Foul
It’s been over 30 years since the phantom foul was called.
Was there actually a foul, or was there not? That depends on who you ask. Lakers fans would say yes, while Pistons fans would say no — as you’d expect. Laimbeer himself refused to comment on it during the post-game interview.
However, when Pat Riley — the Lakers coach back in 88-89 when the foul happened — acknowledges the call as “phantom”, then that may have been the most significant confirmation we needed about it.
We don’t need to discuss whether the Pistons were robbed of the game that night, but one thing’s for sure: Laimbeer’s attempt at blocking Kareem’s sky hook changed the course of the game for the rest of the season. It’s up to you to decide whether Laimbeer’s chest potentially touching Kareem was enough for a foul and two free throws.
The Tim Donaghy Scandal
We all know how much power and influence a referee has in a game. They can alter the results with just one call.
For most bettors, a referee fixing a game sounds like a dream come true, especially when the “fix” favors their bet. That’s exactly what disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy did from 2003 to 2007.
Donaghy’s actions went two ways: he gave insider knowledge on games he officiated and called certain fouls during the game to support the info he gave. The result is a wildly accurate and successful betting operation where Donaghy regularly received large sums of money for his information.
The operation was so secretive yet widespread that it fueled misinformation and misconceptions during the 2007 investigation, so ESPN did their own research to try and set the record straight.
The operation was investigated by the FBI. In the end, Donaghy pled guilty to two federal charges; he was also sentenced to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Donald Sterling’s Ejection Due to Racism
We can’t end this article without mentioning Donald Sterling.
Here’s a quick lowdown of what happened to get you back to speed. In 2014, TMZ reported about a damning recording involving Sterling and his then-girlfriend V. Stiviano. The audio recording involved Sterling getting angry about Stiviano’s Instagram posts and how she mingled with African American NBA players.
According to Sterling, he didn’t want Stiviano “associating with black people”; he supposedly didn’t even want them in his games.
The audio’s release led to widespread condemnation of Sterling, with one coming from then-President Barack Obama. As a result of this controversy, the NBA forced Sterling to sell the Clippers, banned him from the league for life and levied a $2.5m fine.
