NBA Power Rankings: The 20 Most Embarrassing Moments in NBA History
The NBA usually finds success in what its players do, but that's not to say that there haven't been a few stories to talk about involving negative actions.
In fact, there have been many embarrassing moments in the NBA's history.
Here is my collection of the 20 most embarrassing moments. It is hard to fathom some of these events occurring, but they're all true in their nature.
With that mind, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy!
20. Gloria James' Shenanigans
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The matriarch of the LeBron James family crew hasn't exactly helped LeBron bring back fans he lost by leaving for Miami.
LeBron's mother, Gloria, has put herself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons too many times.
She was also rumored to be sexually involved with guard Delonte West.
Most recently, she assaulted a valet worker on camera in Miami.
19. "The Decision"
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In the summer of 2010, LeBron James televised on ESPN what team he would take his talents to in the following years.
If that isn't the sign of a meteor-sized ego and an embarrassment to the NBA, then I don't know what is.
18. Eddie Griffin's Drunken Escapades
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On March 30, 2006, in the great state of Minnesota, Eddie Griffin rammed his Cadillac Escalade into a Chevy Suburban outside a Minneapolis store.
What's worse is that Griffin was incoherently drunk according to witnesses.
What's even worse is that he wasn't fully dressed when he struck the other SUV.
What's even worse (what could be worse?) is that he told several passersby that he was watching a pornographic film on a mounted DVD player while performing a sexual act as he drove the car.
17. Isiah Thomas' Tenure as Knicks General Manager and Coach
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This is as low as you can go managerially in the NBA.
Isiah Thomas' reign as coach and general manager of the New York Knicks effectively destroyed the franchise for the time being.
He made sexually inappropriate comments and advances to former Knicks marketing executive Anucha Browne Sanders. After the Knicks were forced to pay $11.6 million in damages, and following a terrible 23-59 season in 2007-08, Thomas was forced out of town.
16. Marv Albert Scandal
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I know Marv Albert isn't technically part of the NBA, but when you mentioned his name among junkies, it is likely traced to the association.
I don't want to get too deep into this one, but let's just say that he bit a woman 15 times on the back after forcing her to do weird things, and in turn he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery charges.
He was let go from NBC for the two subsequent seasons before being reinstated.
15. The 19-18 Game
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In the 1950-51 season, the Minneapolis Lakers were the best team in the league, and had a frontcourt that featured legends George Mikan, Jim Pollard and Vern Mikkelsen.
On November 22, 1950 in Minnesota, that team took on the Fort Wayne Pistons.
After Pistons head coach Murray Mendenhall promised "a tussle" in Minneapolis, the Pistons instead went on to hold the ball for as long as five minutes in a row without taking a shot, and as a result, the final score was 19-18 in favor of the Pistons. Mikan had the only four field goals in the Lakers' losing effort.
Although this is one of the NBA's most embarrassing moments, it was certainly revolutionary in the fact that it helped bring about the 24-second shot clock.
14. Magic's Phenomenal Game...That Was on Tape Delay
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On May 16th, 1980, Game 6 of the NBA Finals was seen on tape delay in most American television markets, while reruns of shows such as The Incredible Hulk and Dallas appeared in prime time.
Many people missed one of the greatest Finals performances of all time live, as Magic Johnson scored 42 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished seven assists.
13. Michael Jordan's Gambling Issues on Golf Courses and Casinos
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Michael Jordan's gambling problems were well-documented in the early 1990s.
After a book called Michael and Me: Our Gambling Addiction, My Cry For Help! was released, it was made public how big of a problem it was. The author, a sports businessman named Richard Esquinas, claimed His Airness had given him over $1.252 million over the course of a few years on the links.
He also routinely lost money at casinos in great amounts.
He wasn't exactly the best husband either, having an affair with a woman named Karla Knafel, who tried to extort money from Jordan in a failed paternity suit.
12. Len Bias' Sudden Death
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The 1986 NBA draft featured a plethora of seemingly future superstars, and among them was the University of Maryland's Len Bias.
After being selected second by the Boston Celtics, Bias was back in the school the following night when he took cocaine that led to his cardiac arrhythmia.
His untimely death was called "the cruelest thing I ever heard" from Larry Bird, and it was incredibly embarrassing for the NBA because it exposed some of the drug abuse that was rampant around the league.
I am not saying Bias' death is embarrassing (because that would be downright insensitive), but the aftermath and the fact that the NBA had to take a look at what kind of "role models" they were promoting is very embarrassing.
He is perhaps basketball's greatest "what if?" of all time.
11. Latrell Sprewell's Family Needs Food
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After a successful season in Minnesota, Latrell Sprewell was offered a three-year, $21 million extension.
The problem is, Spree didn't think this was generous at all, noting that, "Why would I want to help [the Timberwolves] win a title? They're not doing anything for me. I've got a lot at risk here. I've got my family to feed."
Needless to say, the Wolves didn't and thus concluded Spree's tenure in the NBA.
This, however, can't be the worst moment in even Sprewell's career.
10. Magic Johnson's Confession
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On November 7th, 1991, rumors circulated early in the morning that Magic Johnson was retiring, but why?
Later Magic revealed that he had "attained" HIV. He contracted the disease amidst many sexual encounters with women during his playing days.
The NBA took the biggest hit here, and they immediately took mental note of players who were sleazes alike.
9. Rose Gets a Sub for the ACT
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In 2008, it was revealed that Derrick Rose had someone pass his SAT for him (he had previously failed the ACT three times) so that he could attend Memphis and play for John Calipari. The NCAA then vacated Memphis' 2007-08 runner-up season, when the Tigers lost to Kansas in the championship game.
8. Greg Oden Sends Naughty Pictures of Himself
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Not only has Greg Oden's career thus far been a disappointment (and, ahem, much worse than Kevin Durant's), but in the summer of 2009, he came under heat for pictures of his nude self that were floating around the internet.
The only thing that might make the situation worse is a dismal NBA career.
Oh, wait...
7. Jayson Williams' Fatal Mistake
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In 2002, 34-year-old Jayson Williams shot his limo driver, Costas Christofi, while hanging out with some of his friends in his home.
According to Williams he was only "playing around" with the gun, but he still pleaded guilty to aggravated assault last year.
Although he wasn't playing in the NBA at the time, it still obviously brought about negativity and embarrassment to everyone involved with the league.
6. Tim Hardaway Bashes Gays
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In 2007, John Amaechi, who played in the NBA from 1995-2003, became the first former or current NBA player to openly declare his homosexuality, and Tim Hardaway was asked about the issue.
"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."
This is how he responded, and his image, as well as the NBA's perspective of it, may never recover.
5. Latrell Sprewell Chokes His Coach
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On December 1, 1997, Golden State Warriors guard Latrell Sprewell was allegedly upset when coach P.J. Carlesimo asked him to put "more mustard" on his passes.
After a brief altercation, Spree then proceeded to strangle his head coach for 10 to 15 seconds.
Always a man to finish the job, Spree returned a three a few punches at Carlesimo.
The NBA didn't find the stunt humorous, and eventually suspended Sprewell for the remainder of the 1997-98 season (68 games).
4. Kobe Bryant's Rape Charge
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We all know the story of Kobe Bryant's rape charge, so I'll spare you the details and get right to the point.
Bryant was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old hotel employee in Colorado.
Although he did admit to having adulterous relations with her, all charges were dropped by the prosecution after the woman refused to testify.
Still, it was a moment that haunted the NBA and will continue to do so in the following years.
3. Kermit Washington Punch
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I don't know how many times you've actually seen the video of Kermit Washington absolutely obliterating Rudy Tomjanovich, but it truly was a sad sight.
It is especially when you consider poor Rudy Tomjonavich was simply trying to check on things, and Washington swung with all his might at the All-Star.
The NBA was incredibly embarrassed as a result, and neither man's career would ever be the same.
2. Pistons-Pacers Brawl
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As everyone remembers, a cup of Diet Coke ultimately helped lead to this fight.
If it hadn't been thrown at Ron Artest, he wouldn't have charged the stands.
I am not saying what he did was right, because obviously he acted childish and in turn the nine-player, 146-game massive suspension helped create one of the most embarrassing moments in NBA history.
Artest is now known as the current "Bad Boy" of the league, and the punch of the fan and the 73-game suspension is much of the reason he has been "blessed" with this honor.
1. Tim Donaghy Scandal
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The man on the left single-handedly represents the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to the NBA.
Tim Donaghy bet on games that he officiated in, and gave insider information to mobsters as well. It was never proven that he made calls to swing games in his favor, but the 13-year official was fired and landed in jail on illegal gambling charges.
The reason I put Michael Jordan on the slide is ironic. This way you have the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) in His Airness on the right, and the newly-proclaimed W.O.A.T. (the "w" meaning worst) in Donaghy.
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