The NBA X-Files: Strange Games, Odd Stats, and Perplexing Moments in NBA History
In a world where giants walk amongst giants (and Earl Boykins) and feats beyond human biological (and even psychological) understanding occur on a nightly basis, the word "amazing" or "unreal" can often be overused when it comes to the NBA.
But, everything being relative, even this "amazing" NBA has it's moments of strangeness; occurrences that seem too odd to be true or too funny to be taken seriously.
In the NBA, a lot of unbelievable stuff happens; that's the essence of the pros and their game.
But on special nights, the unbelievable adds a friend: weird, strange, and plain ugly. Sometimes planets align themselves and allow a superstar to score 81 points. . .on others, there are goofy records to break.
Here is a list of odd happenings in the NBA, be it on the floor, in the voting box, or during a player's career.
*Note: this is a list that can always be added to. I'm sure I missed something (or many things) or put something on here tame compared to something you know. Please explain strange things you've seen or heard about in the comments section. If I get enough, I'll put up a second post.
Dikembe Mutumbo: The Half-Best Defensive Player of 1995
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Mutumbo was one of the league's greatest defenders. Though lanky and mildly annoying when on the hardwood, Mutumbo certainly made his presence known by not only blocking your shot but making you feel bad about it afterwards. His wagging of the finger was his trademark and, well, quite deserved as Mutumbo had a 2.8 block average over his seemingly 900-year career. Twice he averaged over four a game.
And he didn't go unrecognized, relatively speaking, for his impressive abilities on the defensive end. In 1995, Nugget Mutumbo was honored with the Defensive Player of the Year Award after averaging 11.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.9 BPG.
However, being the Defensive Player of the Year does not warrant a spot on the All-Defensive First Team. Nope. Second Team? Sure! First Team? No way. DPOYs deserve second tier status.
Yes. Dikembe Mutumbo was Defensive Player of the Year in 1995 but ranked at least 6th and possibly 10th in the league in terms of defense. Wait. . .what?
Rasheed Wallace is the Other Team's MVP
2 of 12Yeah. . .
Bubba Wells IS in the Record Books
3 of 12If you can't tell by the editing of the video, Bubba Wells, a largely unremarkable player with virtually no history (anything of interest you've learned from this highlight), fouled out of a game in three minutes. . .an NBA record.
No one looked more amused by breaking a record.
The hilarious part, of course, is that Rodman went nine of 12 (with a 38.6 FT percentage). Wells hasn't been heard of or seen since.
Jerry West: The Biggest Loser (of the MVP)
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The first NBA Finals MVP was given out in 1969 and, of course, it has represented the finest player on the championship team. . .except that first year.
Jerry West, deserved of many more then the one ring he has, was on the losing side of the NBA Finals a lot of times. But, at least, in 1969, he was given some kind of "first place of all the losers" award by being awarded the NBA Finals MVP.
His Lakers lost 3-4 to the Boston Celtics. West averaged 38 points in the series and, at least, took home some kind of hardware.
Anthony Bowie Coaches the Orlando Magic for a Few Seconds
5 of 12When you are a role player being over-shadowed by hot new stars and/or future Hall of Famers, you have to get your milestones, whatever the cost. . .even respect and dignity.
Anthony Bowie was a solid role player for the Orlando Magic but no one knew he was a) an aspiring coach and b) an excellent statistician. Bowie knew he was one assist and one rebound away from a triple double so, upon getting his lucky 10th rebound (squeee!), he called a timeout.
Brian Hill was mad. Doug Collins, who was coaching the Pistons at the time and was a mere few seconds away from losing a game that was out of reach, took his players off the court and watched as the ball was inbounded to Bowie and he quickly dished to a mega-bench warmer for his tainted TD.
He tried to apologize but Collins, sensitive enough as it is, decided to give the cold shoulder. Bowie never got another triple double and he certainly didn't get a coaching gig.
David Robinson Only Needs 36. . .
6 of 12. . .but scores 71! In the middle of the 90s, during the Jordan-less years (also known as "The Wasteland", "Ewing's Chagrin", "The Year of Reggie's Tears", or "Hakeem's Fortune"), David Robinson was often overlooked by legend Hakeem Olajuwon. Olajuwon beat Robinson in the playoffs, split the years in the MVP category, and won a few rings at The Admiral's expense.
But Robinson still made waves, especially in 1994 when he became the last person, so far, to get a quadruple double.
But more impressive, and downright strange (and convenient) was Robinson's hunt for the scoring title. Robinson had scored 2,312 points in 80 games (28.9 PPG) going into the season finale with the Clippers. Young stud Shaquille O'Neal went into the finale with the point title all but secure, leading Robinson by 35 points.
Robinson needed to play 6 or 7 points above his average to win. No problem. 71 it is, gentlemen.
It's one thing to get that 35, or even 36/37, to get the title in dramatic fashion. But 71? No one had even gotten close to that figure since Jordan in '90 (69 points) and, before that, a number of players in the late '70s. No one would get close again until Kobe with 81 in the mid 2000s.
Robinson's 71 still remains tied for 8th all-time in highest scoring games in NBA history.
The 12 Team Club
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Some people play on one team their entire career. Some get traded or leave during free agency. And some never saw a jersey they didn't like. Don't worry Drew Gooden and Matt Barnes: you aren't on this list. . .yet.
Here are some players who just couldn't stay in one jersey forever or, well, for even a season:
—Chucky Brown (Cavs, Lakers, Nets, Mavericks, Rockets, Suns, Bucks, Hawks, Hornets, Spurs, Warriors, Kings)
—Jim Jackson (Mavs, Nets, 76ers, Warriors, Blazers, Hawks, Cavs, Heat, Kings, Rockets, Suns, Lakers)
—Tony Massenburg (Spurs, Hornets, Celtics, Warriors, Clippers, Raptors, 76ers, Nets, Grizzlies, Rockets, Jazz, Kings)
—Joe Smith (Warriors, 76ers, Wolves, Pistons, Bucks, Nuggets, Bulls, Cavs, Thunder, Hawks, Nets, Lakers)
The Bulls Channel 1940s Basketball
8 of 12Bulls fans who complain about their Windy City squad these days should remember the days immediately after the GOAT's departure. Michael Jordan was the epitome of scoring and winning. The 1999 Bulls were. . .well. . .not.
This is the ultimate polarizing video for an NBA coaching staff. The equivalent of masterful, arty porn for a defensive minded coach and a snuff film for an offensive minded coach.
Doc Rivers and Hubie Brown: Even Stevens
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Since the NBA-ABA merger, you will hardly find a coach without at least a 63 percent winning percentage during the season in which they win the Coach of the Year Award. Coaching is tough and the award is usually given to a coach who surprises us by winning more then we thought they would or by simply dominating the league.
But voting awards are weird sometimes. Every now and then someone slips through the cracks that maybe shouldn't have been there.
Enter Hubie Brown (in 1978) and Doc Rivers (in 2000). Great coaches in pretty much any OTHER year then the year they won COY. Both men won the award with a dead-even .500 record.
Hubie Brown's Hawks at least made the playoffs, losing in the first round to the eventual champion Bullets. Rivers' Orlando team finished 4th in the division and 9th in the conference. It didn't hurt Rivers though that he was playing with a squad whose leading scorer was Darrell Armstrong. His lineup consisted of a rookie Corey Maggette, the corpse of Chris Gatling, and journeyman Anthony Parker.
Charles Barkley is First in Votes, Second in Awards
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Chuck was an incredible force in 1989-90, averaging (rounded) 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, four assists, and two steals on 60 percent shooting. And his peers thought so too: giving him the majority of first place MVP votes. He actually got 11 more first place votes then Magic Johnson who won the award.
I know. Weird. Magic Johnson, averaging an equally impressive 22-6.5-11.5-2 on 48 percent shooting, won the award by cleaning up in the 2nd through 5th place votes. Sometimes coming in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th really isn't that bad.
Yao Ming Cries. . .in Shame
11 of 12I'm not even going to say anything. . .
Got Any?
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If you know of any others, please post in the comments. This list is by no means comprehensive.
Thanks for reading.
