Often hailed as one of the most prestigious basketball leagues in the world, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has witnessed numerous spine-chilling matches, blood-curdling rivalries and action-packed moments on the court that have left basketball aficionados from all over the world in a nail-biting situation. The history of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which spans over decades, has witnessed numerous legendary basketball players losing their cool on the court and engaging in wild and ugly altercations with the players of opposing opponent teams. From Mardy Collins to Bobby Portia Jr., numerous iconic basketball players have suffered through heartbreaking bans for their unjustified, unethical and unacceptable behaviour on the court.
In this article we will take a look at the top four NBA players who were served with major bans for indulging in ugly brawls on the court.
Top 4 NBA Players Who Were Banned After Ugly Brawls
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Latrell Sprewell
The sensational American former professional basketball player Latrell Sprewell is at the first spot on our list of the top four NBA players who were banned after their ugly altercations that went too far on the court. Throughout his glorious National Basketball Association career, which spanned over thirteen seasons, Latrell Sprewell played for numerous prominent teams, including the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While Latrell Sprewell was at the apex of his career as a shooting guard, he witnessed one of the most tragic downfalls in the history of the National Basketball Association in 1997 when he was handed a shocking 68-game ban which continues to be the longest ban ever sentenced in the history of the league. Latrell Sprewell was handed a 68-game ban after he violently choked coach P.J. Carlesimo during the practice session after their heated argument.
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Charles Oakley
At the second spot on our list of the top four NBA players who have been served with major bans for indulging in ugly brawls on the court, we have another American former professional basketball player, Charles Oakley, who played in the National Basketball Association for a record total of nineteen seasons. Often hailed as one of the most dynamic power forwards in the history of the league, Charles Oakley spent a record total of ten seasons with the New York Knicks (1988-1998).
During the 1997-98 NBA season, Charles Oakley was handed a 68-game suspension after a shocking physical altercation with the referees during an intense game against the Miami Heat in 1997. The entire controversy left basketball aficionados from all over the world absolutely stunned and tarnished Charles Oakley’s professional basketball career to a formidable extent.
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Kermit Washington
Next, at the third spot on our list of the top four NBA players who were banned after their ugly altercations that went too far on the court, we have the American former professional basketball player Kermit Washington, who is often regarded as one of the greatest power forwards in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Kermit Washington indulged in an ugly altercation with Rudy Tomjanovich during the intense match between the Lakers and Rockets.
Kermit Washington ended up brutally punching Rudy Tomjanovich, which severely injured his face and ultimately leading him to a 26-game ban which still remains as one of the longest suspensions ever given to a basketball player in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
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Ron Artest
Finally, at the fourth spot on our list of the top four NBA players who were served with major bans for indulging in ugly brawls on the court, we have the legendary American former professional basketball player Ron Artest, who played a record total of seventeen seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1999 to 2017 for numerous prominent teams. During the 2004-05 NBA season, Ron Artest indulged in a huge brawl that broke out between the players and fans during the infamous match between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons.
Ron Artest was brutally hit by an empty drink can which was thrown at him by a fan when he went up straight into the stands and punched the fan on his face, which left him bleeding. Shockingly, Ron Artest was served with a 86-game suspension for his violent behaviour towards the crowd, and the American basketball stalwart also received a brutal backlash from the hardcore fans of the NBA from all around the world.
