Draft:Court Boxing

A term used to describe fights, brawls, physical altercations, and general rough play while on the basketball court during a professional NBA game. Some fights have created a lasting impact on the sport of basketball as their brutality have rivaled actual boxing matches. Court boxing usually involves the toughest of players, known as the enforcers.

Famous Basketball Court-Boxing Games

Malice at the Palace: Nov. 19, 2004 Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers

This tops the list of famous NBA fights and perhaps fights in any sport. It caused many basketball struggles in terms of rule changes and player suspensions due to its severity. On an otherwise unremarkable NBA night, Detroit center, gentle Ben Wallace, shoved universally hated Pacer Ron Artest. It was not unusual until a fan hurled a beer at Artest and the fight took into the stands where fans and players slugged it out. Total chaos ensued for minutes and in the end, 5 players were charged with assault and Artest and others missed over 50 games each.

The Punch: Dec. 9, 1977 Kermit Washington punches Rudy Tomjanovich

With one punch, the sports world was changed forever. The night of Dec. 9, 1977, brought about an otherwise anonymous contest between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, but it took an ugly, violent turn in the opening minute of the second half. L.A.'s Kermit Washington and Houston's Kevin Kunnert jostled while trailing a Rockets' fast break. The two suddenly traded punches, and Washington's teammate, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, intervened by grabbing Kunnert. Seeing this from afar, Rockets captain Rudy Tomjanovich raced toward the action. Washington saw Tomjanovich in his peripheral vision, stopped, turned, planted and punched him square in the face.

Laimbeer vs. Barkley Brawl: Apr. 19, 1990 Pistons and 76ers

The Detroit Pistons, who were given the team moniker "Bad Boys", lived up to their reputation. Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Isaiah Thomas and the rest of the team squared off against Barkley and Rick Mahorn of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Thomas was ejected after he punched Mahorn in the face. Mahorn's reaction to the punch was to laugh at Thomas. Mahorn did not swing back. The full-scale brawl broke out during the waning seconds of the game. The fight started after Mahorn, then of the 76ers, dunked on Rodman. Mahorn then showed the ball to him after it fell out of the basket. Laimbeer then jumped in and threw some haymakers at Mahorn and Barkley.

Then the benches cleared. Barkley would not let the fight end. He got into a scuffle with a Detroit fan in the crowd while leaving the court. Barkley said afterward he won two titles that night. He said he won the Central Division and heavyweight boxing titles. The NBA issued fines totalling $162,000. Laimbeer and Barkley were each fined $20,000 and suspended for one game.

Tree Bites Man: Apr. 24, 1983 Tree Rollins bites Danny Ainge during fight

During a first-round playoff game between the Celtics and Hawks, Boston's Danny Ainge takes exception to a Tree Rollins elbow and tackles the Atlanta center. With both players on the ground, Rollins bites Ainge's finger, earning a five-game suspension.