Prime 5 Most Weird Ejections in NBA Historical past

NBA gamers are outlined by ardour, depth, and uncooked emotion, however generally that fireside crosses the road. While some ejections are clearly deserved, others stay controversial years and even a long time later.

These are full-scale and minor brawls that surprised followers. These weird moments show that getting tossed from an NBA sport would not all the time require throwing a punch.

Here’s an in-depth have a look at essentially the most surprising, weird, and debated ejections in NBA historical past.

Ron Artest and the ‘Malice on the Palace’

No NBA ejection listing begins anyplace else. On November 19, 2004, a late-game foul throughout a matchup between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons ignited one of many darkest moments in league historical past. As tensions escalated, a fan hurled a drink at Ron Artest, triggering chaos.

Artest charged into the stands and struck the fallacious fan, whereas teammates Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal grew to become concerned within the melee. The fallout was unprecedented: 9 gamers had been suspended for a mixed 146 video games. Artest obtained an 86-game suspension, the longest ever for an on-court incident.

The brawl has completely affected NBA safety protocols and player-fan boundaries since then.

Dennis Rodman Kicks a Cameraman

Dennis Rodman’s Hall of Fame résumé got here with controversy, however this incident crossed a transparent line. During a January 15, 1997, sport between the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves, Rodman tripped over a baseline cameraman and reacted by kicking him in frustration.

The NBA suspended Rodman for 11 video games and fined him $25,000. Even by Rodman’s requirements, the second stood out as a transparent instance of emotion overtaking judgment.

Tim Duncan Ejected for Laughing

One of essentially the most notorious and baffling ejections in NBA historical past occurred on April 15, 2007. After disputing a name throughout a Spurs-Mavericks sport, Tim Duncan obtained a technical foul. Moments later, referee Joey Crawford issued a second technical, not for arguing, however for laughing on the bench.

Public backlash was swift. The NBA fined Duncan $25,000, however suspended Crawford for improper conduct and eliminated him from officiating the 2007 NBA Finals. It was hilarious to suppose that such an incident would occur till today.

Rasheed Wallace’s ‘Stare-Down’ Ejection

Rasheed Wallace owns the NBA file with 29 profession ejections, and one of many strangest got here in the course of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. After selecting up an earlier technical, Wallace was ejected merely for looking at referee Ron Garretson.

No phrases had been exchanged, however the official deemed the look “intimidating.” Wallace would later break the single-season technical foul file, additional cementing his contentious relationship with NBA officiating.

Draymond Green’s Headlock on Rudy Gobert

In a more moderen flashpoint, Draymond Green as soon as once more discovered himself on the middle of controversy. While trying to intervene in a scuffle involving Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels, Green escalated the state of affairs by putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock.

The act led to Green’s rapid ejection and reignited debate about his on-court conduct, self-discipline historical past, and the superb line between depth and recklessness.