The most memorable fights in NBA playoff history

 

The most memorable fights in NBA playoff history

The NBA playoffs amplify the game's intensity, pushing players to their limits. High stakes often lead to fiery confrontations, resulting in unforgettable clashes.

Here are 15 memorable playoff fights that left a lasting mark.

See also:The NBA's Top 10 Greatest Coaches Ever

1984 NBA Finals: Kevin McHale vs. Kurt Rambis

In a heated moment during the 1984 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis mid-air as he attempted a layup. Rambis sprang up, furious, ready to confront McHale. Reflecting on the incident in a 2021 podcast, McHale quipped, “My only regret is that it wasn’t Worthy or Magic instead.” Classic rivalry grit.

1977: Maurice Lucas vs. Darryl Dawkins

During a rebound, Philadelphia 76ers' Darryl Dawkins, furious after being taken down, clashed with Portland Trail Blazers' Maurice Lucas. Fed up with Dawkins' complaints, Lucas hit him in the back of the head, sparking a heated fistfight. The ugly brawl was quickly stopped, averting a worse outcome.

1997: Charlie Ward vs. P.J. Brown

The New York Knicks and Miami Heat clashed in heated playoff battles during the 1990s, with the 1997 series standing out. Tensions erupted when P.J. Brown, angered by Charlie Ward’s attempt to take out his legs during a free throw boxout, flipped Ward headfirst onto the court. The incident led to multiple player suspensions. Surprisingly, Ward revealed to Sports Illustrated in 2025 that he and Brown were close friends who attended church together.

1983: Tree Rollins vs. Danny Ainge

In the 1983 Eastern Conference playoffs, Atlanta Hawks' Tree Rollins clashed with Boston Celtics' Danny Ainge. During a heated moment, the two exchanged elbows and tumbled to the ground. Video evidence later revealed Rollins biting Ainge under the pile.

1993: John Starks vs. Reggie Miller

In the 1990s playoffs, John Starks and Reggie Miller clashed repeatedly, with one memorable incident involving Starks headbutting Miller. Years later, the ex-Knicks guard justified his actions on a podcast, stating, “It had to happen. Reggie would talk trash if he didn’t respect you…”

2007: Robert Horry vs. Steve Nash

The Phoenix Suns were poised to challenge the dominant San Antonio Spurs until a single play shifted the series. As Suns point guard Steve Nash drove up the court, Spurs forward Robert Horry body-checked him into the scorer’s table, leaving Nash bloodied. Phoenix players rushed to confront Horry, leading to suspensions that altered the series' outcome. The Suns never reached the Finals with that roster.

1998: Larry Johnson vs. Alonzo Mourning

The Knicks-Heat rivalry reignited a year after the Brown-Ward brawl. Former Hornets teammates Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning traded punches as the game clock ticked down. Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, caught in the chaos, clung to Mourning’s leg and was dragged across the court. Reflecting later to The Ringer, Van Gundy quipped, “I fell down Mourning’s leg because he’s so big and strong.”

2016: Draymond Green vs. LeBron James

Though less heated than other clashes, this incident proved monumental. In Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Draymond Green struck LeBron James below the belt, resulting in Green’s suspension for Game 5. The Cleveland Cavaliers capitalized, igniting a three-game winning streak to claim the championship.

1987: Robert Parish vs. Bill Laimbeer

In the 1987 playoffs, tensions flared between Boston Celtics' and Detroit Pistons' centers. During Game 5, fed up with Bill Laimbeer’s rough tactics, Robert Parish snapped. As Laimbeer pursued a rebound, Parish unleashed punches to his head. Reflecting on the NBA History and Storytellers podcast, Parish said, “We’d traded harsh words and elbows. I just lost it and started swinging.”

1994: Derek Harper vs. Jo Jo English

In Game 3 of the Knicks-Bulls series, an unexpected clash erupted. While the camera focused on the paint, Derek Harper and Jo Jo English tangled, spilling into the scorer’s table. The brawl unfolded just rows from NBA Commissioner David Stern, who watched with clear disapproval as the chaos unfolded.

1994: Duane Ferrell vs. Grant Long

In the 1994 playoffs, lesser-known players Duane Ferrell and Grant Long left a lasting impression on Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks fans. Tensions erupted when Long attempted to choke Ferrell, sparking chaos. Sports Illustrated reported that assistant coach Alvin Gentry broke his arm while trying to break up the furious brawl between players.

1994: John Stockton vs. David Robinson

An unlikely clash unfolded between 1992 Dream Team teammates John Stockton and David Robinson. Tensions flared when Stockton, the Utah Jazz guard, reacted to Robinson’s physical play during a screen attempt, sending the Spurs’ towering center to the floor. Replays revealed Stockton’s frustration stemmed partly from an earlier elbow by Spurs forward J.R. Reid.

1986: Ralph Sampson vs. Jerry Sichting

In the 1986 NBA Finals, tensions flared between the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics. When Celtics guard Jerry Sichting was tasked with defending the taller, stronger Rockets center Ralph Sampson in the post, Sampson took issue with Sichting’s physical play. Frustrated, Sampson threw a right hook at Sichting, sparking a brawl. Decades later, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald noted in 2020 that the incident remained a vivid memory for fans.

1986: Akeem Olajuwon vs. Mitch Kupchak

In the 1986 Western Conference Finals, tensions flared between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers. Rockets center Akeem Olajuwon (later Hakeem) clashed with Lakers forward Mitch Kupchak over physical play in the post, sparking a fourth-quarter brawl. While many Lakers fans know Kupchak as their longtime general manager, this incident recalls his playing days.

1997: Dennis Rodman vs. Gheorghe Muresan

In a heated 1997 NBA playoff moment, the unpredictable Dennis Rodman clashed with 7’7” Gheorghe Muresan. Rodman relentlessly targeted Muresan with physical play, refusing to back down. After Muresan secured a rebound, Rodman threw an elbow at his neck. Muresan retaliated, shoving the ball into Rodman’s face before the scuffle was diffused.