25 Worst Cheap Shots in NBA History

Basketball is a contact sport, especially when NBA players are the ones banging up against each other. Sometimes that contact is taken a bit too far. 

Whether a player loses his temper or just makes a bad decision, cheap shots can be the unfortunate result. I'm talking about punches, kicks, hip-checks and more. 

Throughout the history of the Association, players have engaged in a bit of extra physical action. This list will be geared more toward recent plays, though. It's an inevitable skew due to the dearth of extant video clips from the early days of the league. 

This is one list you don't want your favorite player to make it onto, because that means he was either the victim or the perpetrator of one of the 25 worst cheap shots in NBA history. 

Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich

Let's lead off this list with one of the most famous—and unfortunate—cheap shots in the history of the Association. Video of the event is hard to come by, but I'd highly recommend watching the entire documentary that I drew the embedded clip from, not just the selected portion. 

In the midst of a brawl during this 1977 contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, Kermit Washington reared back and punched Rudy Tomjanovich directly in the face. The impact of the blow nearly killed the unsuspecting victim, and he would be just a shell of himself upon his return. 

The '70s were filled with brawls, but this one has become the most famous due to both the severity of the injury and the fact that there's still video evidence. 

Philadelphia 76ers Steal Julius Erving

Have you ever wondered how Julius Erving came to play for the Philadelphia 76ers? It's a complicated story, and one that includes a few managerial cheap shots. 

The New York Nets were prepared to transition from the ABA to the NBA in 1976, proudly boasting a roster led by Julius Erving and Nate "Tiny" Archibald, but things didn't exactly go smoothly. 

When the New York Knicks decided that the Nets owed them $4.8 million for encroaching upon their territory and fanbase, the Nets were forced to reconsider their promise to raise Dr. J's salary. Erving didn't like the decision, so he held out. 

After the Knicks turned down Erving's contract for reasons still unbeknownst to us, the Sixers jumped on the opportunity to buy the superstar. Nets owner Roy Boe had no other alternative and had to sell his best player. 

Without Dr. J in the lineup, the transition from the ABA to the NBA wasn't an easy one for the Nets. 

This is the only cheap shot present in this article that doesn't contain any sort of physical contact. 

Dr. J Hitting Larry Bird in the Face

I'm sticking with Julius Erving for another cheap shot, and Dr. J is now the bad guy in the situation. 

It's one thing to punch another player in the face. Sure, it's an unfortunate action and one that should almost certainly be greeted with a suspension, but a provoked punch to the mug isn't necessarily a "cheap shot." 

Dr. J's punch certainly was, though. 

Larry Bird was in a headlock when he had to deal with Erving's fists, so he didn't exactly have an opportunity to defend himself. Charles Barkley and Moses Malone holding Bird back was enough, and Erving's three blows to the face just pushed this over the top. 

Kevin McHale and Kurt Rambis Tangle

It's amazing that this foul wasn't considered anything more than a regular one. Kevin McHale was allowed to stay in the game after clotheslining Kurt Rambis, and there wasn't any hint of a flagrant foul call. 

The NBA was just a different league back in the 1980s, as on-court violence was a bit more commonly accepted. Hard fouls were just hard fouls, and in a lot of ways, they were a part of the game. Rivalries were intense, and tempers flared quite often. 

Still, this was going a bit too far, even for the '80s. 

McHale didn't make an attempt to go for the ball, instead attacking Rambis' head and neck to prevent the easy layup. 

Credit Larry Bird for attempting to help up the begoggled Laker, but don't let that distract you from the massive blow levied upon Rambis by a frustrated McHale. 

Robert Parish Loses His Cool

Robert Parish was known as one of the more reserved guys in the Association throughout his lengthy career with the Boston Celtics, but even the calmest guys out there can lose their cool when Bill Laimbeer is involved. 

After Laimbeer's hard foul against—and on top of—Larry Bird, Parish just lost it. Following a missed shot, the big man started wailing away on Laimbeer, pummeling him over and over from behind. 

He was called for a foul and nothing more, although he was later suspended by the league after the play was reviewed. 

Can you imagine how obnoxious Laimbeer must have been to provoke Parish?

Speaking of Laimbeer...

Bill Laimbeer's Career

I'm cheating here, because I could easily fill up this entire slideshow with cheap shots provided to us by Bill Laimbeer. He truly embodied the Bad Boys image that the Detroit Pistons were trying to own during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

How many cheap shots do you have to commit in order to have your own video game named Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball? The following description of the 1991 game comes from Moby Games: 

"

This futuristic basketball game is endorsed by none other than Bill Laimbeer of the Bad Boys Detroit Pistons. The game is 5-on-5 with no rules except for out-of-bound and backcourt. The storyline is that in the year 2023 Bill Laimbeer, the most physical player to ever play in the NBA, becomes the new commisioner of the NBA. As new commisioner of the League he throws away all the old rules and make the game plays more to his liking which means basketball is to be an extremely physical game. The new League is only for those who aren't scare of contact and are tough enough to endure constant physical pain. The new NBA is extreme enough for players to wear armor to protect themselves from the new style of basketball that include hitting, shoving, punching and tackling. It's an all-new basketball game that plays like the style of extreme football. This game is contact basketball to the max. There are even weapons on the court such as bombs and saw blades that make this game one of the most violent basketball games of all time.

"

That should be sufficient in justifying the inclusion of Laimbeer's entire career, but here's a compilation video in case you're still looking for more. 

Karl Malone Elbows Isiah Thomas

One of the most underrated aspects of Karl Malone's play was his use of the elbow. The Mailman delivered a lot of things during his career, and hard fouls with the mid-arm joint were right up there. 

This elbow to the face of Isiah Thomas resulted in 40 stitches and stands out above the rest. 

Just look at the way Malone's arm is bent when he approaches Zeke and you may be convinced that this was premeditated and completely intentional. It doesn't seem as though there's much of an effort to block the ball, but rather to do a bit of physical damage and intimidation. 

It's no surprise that the Detroit Pistons were upset about this one.

Dennis Rodman Hates Cameramen

I really have no idea what was going through Dennis Rodman's mind when he decided to lash out and kick a random cameraman in the nether regions. It was completely unprovoked and stands out as one of the craziest decisions in a ridiculously insane career. 

Now that I think of it, I'm not sure I understand what was going through the Worm's mind at any point during his career. 

Did he even have a clue what was happening up there?

Bruce Bowen Doing Some Karate

When you or I go to block a shot during a pickup game, we usually jump and lead with our hands. After all, that's the natural way to swat away the ball as it's leaving a player's hands.

We usually don't record the block either, or maybe that's just me. 

However, when Bruce Bowen wants to reject someone, he seems to lead with his feet. Wally Szczerbiak found that out the hard way. 

It's hard to imagine that this was an accident, both because of the way Bowen left the ground while leaning backward and the reputation the lock-down defender developed throughout his career. The San Antonio Spur played great defense, but his career is up there with Bill Laimbeer's in terms of dirtiness.

I'm also being tough on Bowen because he's making me remember how to spell "Szczerbiak" nearly four years after the longtime Minnesota Timberwolf retired.  

Robert Horry Thinks He Plays Hockey

Bruce Bowen didn't get suspended in Game 3 of the 2007 Western Conference semifinals after he kneed Steve Nash in the groin, so in Game 4, Robert Horry decided that he would do what his teammate couldn't. 

The man known for his clutch shooting figured he'd play a little bit of hockey as the seconds ticked away and hip-checked Steve Nash directly into the boards...I mean...scorer's table. 

Seriously, there's no other way to describe this move Horry pulled off. It's a picturesque hip-check. Hockey coaches could use it to teach their players.

Horry was understandably frustrated after Nash had led a comeback for the Phoenix Suns, but there are better ways to take out one's anger than this violent moment. 

Rasheed Wallace Doesn't Give a You-Know-What

Rasheed Wallace has done a lot of damage during his career, and he's not exactly a stranger to technical fouls, but this one stands out because of his complete and utter indifference. 

First, 'Sheed makes absolutely no attempt to even pretend like he's playing defense. Instead he just brings his elbow down hard on the top of Zydrunas Ilgauskas' head.

And seriously, what is it with these dudes making me need to spell the more complicated names in NBA history? Is there a direct correlation between number of letters in a name and proclivity to be the victim of a cheap shot? 

After Wallace makes contact and draws blood, there's not even the tiniest hint of remorse on his face. He just walks off like he committed a normal foul while Ilgauskas is left to deal with the head wound. 

Just another day in the life of 'Sheed. 

Reggie Evans Does the Best Ball-Handling of His Career

Reggie Evans is a rebounding machine, but he's not exactly the greatest ball-handler in the Association. In fact, his team usually prefers that he avoid dribbling at all costs.

For one night, and one night only, Evans decided that he would do a bit of ball-handling. It's a decision he probably regrets, and it made for one of the unfortunate parts of Chris Kaman's career.

Fighting for a rebound is a dangerous and physical task, but usually a player's lower regions are off limits. I'm sure Kaman didn't think he needed to be wearing a cup on this particular night, but now he almost assuredly wishes that he had. 

This is the closest Evans has ever come to being a guard. 

Malice in the Palace

One of the most infamous events in basketball history, the Malice in the Palace contained cheap shot after cheap shot, and the accumulation led to the utterly unforgivable sequence of events that will unfortunately live on. 

Ben Wallace never should have shoved Ron Artest. The benches shouldn't have cleared to take part in the ensuing brawl. 

A fan most assuredly shouldn't have thrown objects at Artest, as that's what sparked the truly ugly part of the sequence. Of all the cheap shots, even the ones thrown in the stands, that was perhaps the cheapest. 

It's hard to imagine a scene like this ever taking place somewhere other than in David Stern's nightmares. Yet it happened in real life. 

I remember watching this one live with my uncle, and neither of us could take our eyes of the screen. If you watch the video, you won't be able to stop watching until it draws to a close. 

Something about the horror of the situation is just captivating. 

Carmelo Anthony's Sucker Punch

Carmelo Anthony needs to learn how to throw punches. There are just so many things wrong with what he tried to do to Mardy Collins in the embedded video. 

First of all, close your first, dude. 

You don't punch with an open hand. Seriously. It's just not a good look. 

Secondly, don't sucker punch a guy when they aren't paying any attention. Collins thought the brawl was already over, and then here comes Melo with the open palm. He never even had a chance to react. 

Anthony shouldn't just be embarrassed to find himself on this list. He should also hide with shame because of the manner in which he earned the spot. 

Especially after making contact and immediately starting to backpedal away. 

Raja Bell Doesn't Like Kobe Bryant

The most disgusting part of this sequence is the smile on Raja Bell's face after he clotheslined Kobe Bryant. Second to that is the jawing immediately afterwards. 

At what point does that become the right thing to do? Aren't you supposed to feel a little bit of remorse after taking down a grown man by the neck while he's driving right past you? 

Bell's actions here were pretty despicable, but his reaction just pushes it over the top. Even Mike D'Antoni looked pretty annoyed on the Phoenix Suns sideline. 

Rajon Rondo Fouls Dwyane Wade

This hard foul was nowhere near as extreme as Raja Bell's clotheslining of Kobe Bryant, but it's still deserving of a spot on the list. 

I get the feeling this was premeditated, simply because Rajon Rondo is normally a fantastic defender. He seems to intentionally let Dwyane Wade drive past him so that he has an excuse to grab him around the neck. If you watch the slow-motion replay, Rondo shuffles his feet rather slowly as he moves to the side. 

He seemed to miss the ball upon first swipe, and then he made no attempt to disguise his next action, but let his arm continue on the same trajectory until it contacted Wade above the neck. 

This isn't the only interaction between the two rival stars to find its way into this article. 

And Vice Versa

There was a lot of speculation in the immediate aftermath of Rajon Rondo's dislocated elbow, especially because of his history with Dwyane Wade. 

I've watched this play at least 50 times, and I'm still not entirely sure whether or not Wade meant to take down the Boston Celtics point guard. He certainly didn't mean to nearly break his arm in half, but I lean toward the faction that believes Wade was attempting a take-down move here. 

This just added fuel to the Miami Heat-Boston Celtics rivalry, one that's only gotten stronger as the years have progressed. 

Dwyane Wade Shoves Rip Hamilton

We're not done with Dwyane Wade yet!

Not every cheap shot is provoked, but it doesn't lessen the severity of the action if there's a bit of a reason for the physicality. 

Rip Hamilton's elbows might have been all over Wade. That still doesn't give the Miami Heat shooting guard a reason to shove him out of bounds. 

It's the timing of this shove that earns it a spot on the list, as well as Wade's penchant for the occasional cheap shot. He managed to push Hamilton to the ground right as the masked 2-guard let the pass fly, and it was at that exact moment that Hamilton was most defenseless and off-balance. 

Compared to many other entries on this list, this was pretty tame. It's still a cheap shot, though.

There's no doubt about that. 

Kevin Love Stomps on Luis Scola

Kevin Love doesn't exactly have a reputation as a dirty player, so I still have questions about whether this cheap shot was intentional. 

If it was, it was bad. Maybe not Ndamukong Suh bad, but still a dirty play nonetheless. 

When a player is down, you should try to avoid running into him at all. Stepping on a guy's face is pretty unacceptable, and it's lucky that this clash between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets didn't turn into an all-out brawl. 

This season, we haven't seen any dirty plays from Love that have retroactively shaped our opinions of this "stomp," but who knows whether that's because of the injuries to his hand or because he's just not that type of player. 

Dexter Pittman Is Wrestling, Not Playing Basketball

This play was just disgusting, especially because Dexter Pittman hasn't really done anything else on the basketball court during his short NBA career. At the moment, this is the most famous play of his tenure with the Miami Heat. 

There was no attempt to go for the ball. Pittman never made any effort to disguise his intention here. 

Quite simply, he attacked Lance Stephenson, aiming directly for his upper body/neck area with his forearm. It's almost like he wanted to take him out and send a message that the Heat could play physically too. 

The message was received, and then another message was sent, this time from the NBA league office to the mailbox of Mr. Pittman. 

Andre Miller Is a Freight Train

Now we come to the section of this article in which we spend time watching people attack Blake Griffin over and over again. 

Blake's style of play lends itself to this type of physicality—he plays physically himself, he dunks on people and embarrasses them, he flops occasionally and he spends a good bit of time whining to the refs. Still, there's no excuse for the cheap shots that are levied in his direction. 

Take this video, for example.

I apologize for the length of the clip, but it's the clearest shot of Andre Miller acting like a freight train and just barreling into the Los Angeles Clippers power forward. There's no reason for this type of response to Griffin's physical attempts to gain positioning on the boards, and it's shocking that no foul was actually called. 

The video contains some serious anti-Blake bias too, so take it with a grain of salt when you watch.

Jason Smith Takes out Blake Griffin

Part two of the "let's beat up on Blake Griffin" show continues with this flagrant foul committed by Jason Smith of the New Orleans Hornets. 

This was no basketball foul. It was a football play, pure and simple. As the announcers noted, it seemed like a linebacker barreling into a tight end who was coming over the top. 

As is almost always the case with these cheap shots, Smith's only intention was to take out his opponent. In this case, he sufficiently leveled Griffin on the fast break. 

The best part of this video is almost certainly watching Greivis Vasquez raise his hand in what I assume must be a strange way to take attention away from Smith's actions. There's no way he actually thought he'd be charged with the foul, right? 

Serge Ibaka with the Low Blow

The final part of our Blake Griffin adventures involves Serge Ibaka and the area below Blake's belt. 

While there's a chance the Congolese big man might have been slapping at Griffin's arm instead of aiming for the place that the sun don't shine, he still made contact with a particularly painful spot. Griffin has done his fair share of flopping, but there was none of that here. 

Any time you cause that type of pain, it's a cheap shot. Every male in the world is aware of that rule, so Ibaka has no reason to think any differently. 

Andrew Bynum Gets Angry

J.J. Barea is just six feet tall and weighs 175 pounds. 

Andrew Bynum towers above him by a solid foot and checks in at 110 pounds more than the diminutive point guard. 

That's not exactly a fair matchup, which only makes this even more of a cheap shot. Bynum's forearm shiver would have been bad enough against another 7-footer, but it's just despicable when it connects with a player the size of Barea. 

The entire Los Angeles Lakers organization should have been embarrassed by the way the center acted at the end of the final postseason blowout. That's just not a classy move, and the Lakers are supposed to be a model franchise. 

Metta World Peace Fails to Live Up to His Name

It's only fitting that I save one of the more disgusting cheap shots for last. 

This play by Ron Artest—sorry, but I can't refer to him as Metta World Peace in this context—was disgraceful. His attempts to cover up his actions and claim that he was just celebrating only make it worse. 

Pound for pound, Artest is one of the strongest players in the NBA, and he just flat-out leveled James Harden with an elbow to the temple. It wasn't inadvertent. He wound up and hit him with as much force as he could generate.

Quite frankly, he's lucky there weren't legal ramifications for his ill-advised actions. 

Down the road, this will be up there with the Kermit Washington punch in the pantheon of cheap shots.