20 Strangest Moments and Stories from the NBA Court

20 Strangest Moments and Stories from the NBA Court

The NBA floor has seen its fair share of exceptional incidents inside the exciting domain of professional basketball, where elite athletes push the boundaries of toughness and elegance.

Beyond the spectacular dunks, amazing buzzer-beaters, and heated rivalries are the strange and perplexing stories that have captivated both fans and players. These are the moments when the story deviates, breaking preconceptions and reminding us of the strangeness of human conduct.

The rich tapestry of the NBA shows a treasure trove of odd, weird, and even plain crazy events that have taken place on the court. These incidents, which range from peculiar on-court antics to strange interactions, add a touch of the odd to a sport that is already remarkable.

Here are 20 surprising interactions, puzzling athletic feats, and intriguing incidents that go beyond the scope of the NBA, uncovering the oddest moments and tales that have occurred on the floor.

1. Gilbert Arenas brought guns to the locker room

Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In a locker room incident, Gilbert Arenas, who was then a member of the Washington Wizards, brought guns to settle a gambling debt with teammate Javaris Crittenton. A Washington Wizards player at the time, Gilbert Arenas, brought unloaded guns to the team’s locker room and dared Javaris Crittenton to shoot him. Arguments between teammates JaVale McGee and Crittenton of the Wizards over a $1,100 bet from a card game (Arenas was not a part of the bet) led to the altercation.

Crittenton received a 50-game suspension, while Arenas received a complete season-long suspension. The two athletes also had to pay $50,000 in fines.

The event caused significant controversy in the NBA and brought gun violence in the sport under close investigation. Arenas has since said that he regrets bringing the guns to the locker room, and he has apologized to his teammates and the Wizards organization.

2. Oliver Miller threw a chair at a referee

On December 5, 1995, Oliver Miller was dismissed from the game while representing the Toronto Raptors against the Orlando Magic after being called for a technical foul by referee Ronnie Garretson.

Miller yelled at Garretson after becoming irate at the call. After that, he grabbed a chair and flung it in the direction of the scorer’s table, but it missed and fell on the court. Miller’s conduct resulted in a two-game suspension.

3. Charles Barkley goes head-on with Godzilla

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Michael Owens directed a Nike television ad from 1992 called Charles Barkley vs. Godzilla. The advertisement, which was created by Industrial Light & Magic, depicted a gigantic Charles Barkley, an NBA great, challenging Godzilla to a game of basketball on the streets of Tokyo.

Because of the success of the advertisement, Barkley became known as a global icon. It was also among the first ads to incorporate computer-generated imagery (CGI), which paved the path for its use in subsequent ads.

Also Read: 30 Top Black Basketball Players of All Time: From Wilt to LeBron

4. Latrell Sprewell choke holds head coach

Latrell Sprewell choked his head coach, P.J. Carlesimo, on December 1, 1997, while he was a member of the Golden State Warriors. The event was recorded on camera, and it soon rose to the top of the list of the most notorious NBA incidents.

According to reports, Sprewell disapproved of Carlesimo’s coaching approach and thought that Carlesimo was being unfair to him. After a heated argument, Sprewell lost his cool and briefly suffocated Carlesimo. The Warriors’ team’s other players had to yank Sprewell away from Carlesimo.

The Warriors quickly suspended Sprewell, and they subsequently cut him loose. In addition, he received a 12-month NBA suspension. Even though Sprewell subsequently offered his regrets, the episode had a long-lasting effect on his professional life.

5. Charles Barkley throws up on the court

Copyright held by Steve Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It is untrue that Charles Barkley puked during an NBA game on the floor. There is a well-known tale about his doing this, though.

According to the legend, Barkley was on the court for the Philadelphia 76ers against the New York Knicks in 1991. Throughout the game, Barkley was feeling nauseous, and he ultimately puked on the court. Because of how much vomit there was, a sizable area of the court was covered, and the game had to be paused while it was cleaned up for a while.

Although the tale is frequently cited as truth, it is not backed up by any evidence. No one who was there at the game has ever come forward to confirm the account, and there are no recordings or pictures of the occurrence.

The tale may have been misunderstood, in which case. In 1991, Barkley did throw up during a game, but not one involving the Knicks. Barkley puked off the floor during a game against the Boston Celtics.

6. The 2002 Western Conference Finals

Bridget Samuels from College Park, MD, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the most contentious NBA series in history was the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers. With 1:46 left in Game 6, the Kings were up by 10 points, winning the series 3-2. But the Lakers rallied and won, forcing a seventh game. After winning Game 7, the Lakers went on to the NBA Finals.

In Game 6, there were numerous contentious calls, including one on Kings player Vlade Divac that resulted in a Lakers free shot that tied the score. Some people think that the Lakers were given an unfair advantage by the officials, depriving the Kings of a victory.

As a result of the controversies surrounding Game 6, the NBA’s replay system has come under fire. The NBA, on the other hand, has backed the officials’ decisions and stated that they think the Kings were dealt a fair loss.

7. Dennis Rodman kissed a ref.

El Gráfico #4036, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the oddest and most unexpected players in NBA history is Dennis Rodman. He had a reputation for picking fights, getting kicked out of games, and having crazy hair, tattoos, and body piercings.

After a game in 1996, Rodman, then a member of the Chicago Bulls, gave referee Ted Bernhardt a cheek kiss. When the kiss was photographed, it instantly went viral.

Later, Rodman said that he kissed Bernhardt to express his gratitude for a solid game. He said that his intention was not to be impolite.

The kiss did not delight Bernhardt, who punished Rodman with a $2,000 fine. In addition, the NBA fined Rodman $5,000 for his misbehaviour.

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8. Shaquille O’Neal tears down a backboard

Robert H Alpert, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On December 12, 1993, Shaquille O’Neal famously destroyed a backboard while playing the New Jersey Nets. O’Neal slammed the ball with such force that the backboard broke and the rim bend. The backboard needed to be fixed, so the game was paused for a bit. The event garnered international attention and solidified O’Neal’s standing as one of the most dominant players in NBA history.

9. Malice at the palace

Kevin Ward from Eastpointe, U.S., CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Malice at the Palace was a game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons that took place on November 19, 2004 and is now legendary. A fight broke out when Ben Wallace of the Pistons fouled Ron Artest of the Pacers during the game. Artest tossed the ball at Wallace after becoming irate with the decision. After that, Wallace attacked Artest, sparking a fight.

As things were hurled by spectators toward the players, a melee broke out in the stands. The altercation involved players from both teams, and it took security some time to restore peace. Ten players were suspended as a consequence of the altercation, including Pacers’ Artest, Wallace, and Stephen Jackson.

The Malice at the Palace was one of the most infamous brawls in NBA history. The NBA experienced a bad day, but it also brought about some good things. The new regulations have made the NBA a more family-friendly league while also assisting in the prevention of more altercations.

10. Vince Carter dunked from the free-throw line

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One of the most athletic players in NBA history, Vince Carter is renowned for his spectacular dunks. When Carter participated in the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000, he stunned everyone by dunking from the free-throw line.

One of the most iconic moments in NBA history was Carter’s dunk. From the free-throw line, he launched himself over the rim and slammed the ball through the net. Slam Magazine awarded the dunk the “Dunk of the Decade” because it was so amazing.

Carter’s slam from the free-throw line is evidence of his physical prowess and amazing jumping capacity. It also serves as a reminder of the energy he gave to the NBA in its heyday.

11. KCPs wear an ankle monitor in a game

File: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Bradley Beal.jpg: Keith Allison derivative work: Chrishmt0423, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

KCP, also known as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, was a member of the Detroit Pistons in 2017 when he was required to wear an ankle monitor as a condition of his probation after being charged with DUI. KCP was permitted to wear the ankle monitor while participating in NBA games, but he had to take it off before entering the arena.

Although KCP’s ankle monitor served as a conspicuous reminder of his legal issues, it did not appear to have any impact on his play on the court. KCP averaged 13.2 points per game for the Pistons during the regular season.

The experience of KCP wearing an ankle monitor while competing in the NBA serves as a reminder that even professional athletes are subject to the law.

12. Dennis Rodman rocks a dress

Tuomas Venhola, CC BY-SA 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the weirdest and most surprising NBA players in history was Dennis Rodman. Rodman donned a bridal gown at a book signing in 1996 while he was a member of the Chicago Bulls. It cost close to $10,000 and was made especially for him in France.

Rodman said that he donned the clothing to demonstrate his individualism and defy gender conventions. He said that his mother, who had always urged him to be himself, had served as an inspiration to him.

13. Shaq and Chris Dudley mismatch free throw contest 

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Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Dudley squared off in a free throw competition on March 28, 1999, during a Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks game. Dudley has a lifetime free throw percentage of 75% whereas O’Neal had a famously poor free throw shooting record.

O’Neal only made one of his fifteen attempts at the line, while Dudley made fourteen. This created an imbalance that persisted throughout the game. Dudley comfortably prevailed in the match, and O’Neal was left to lament his subpar free-throw shooting.

14. JR Smith throws soup at Assistant Coach

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JR Smith, an NBA player who was then playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, was allegedly involved in a strange incident in which he flung a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones. The specific cause of the occurrence is still unknown, but because of its distinctive nature, it generated buzz and attracted attention.

Because of his antics, Smith was later given a one-game suspension by the Cavaliers organization, and the event further strengthened Smith’s reputation as a colourful and unpredictable player for the course of his career.

15. Manu Ginobili swatted a bat mid-game

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A bat entered the floor during the San Antonio Spurs game against the Phoenix Suns on February 19, 2009. The first player to see the bat was Ginobili, who began shouting and flailing his arms to catch the officials’ attention. To remove the bat, the officials halted play and ordered the evacuation of the arena.

After a 15-minute delay, the game ultimately started again. Ginobili finished the game with 24 points, and the Spurs triumphed 104-94.

16. Taming Shaquille O’Neal’s Strategy

A bad free throw shooter is purposefully fouled as part of the hack-a-Shaq basketball defensive tactic to force them to take free throws. Shaquille O’Neal, one of the worst free throw shooters in NBA history, inspired the name of the tactic.

Don Nelson, the Dallas Mavericks head coach, employed the Hack-a-Shaq tactic for the first time in the late 1990s. Nelson noticed that O’Neal’s poor free throw shooting made it more advantageous to foul him than to let him score naturally.

The Hack-a-Shaq tactic was divisive because some people thought it was unfair to capitalize on a player’s flaw. But the tactic worked well, slowing down O’Neal and other mediocre free-throw shooters.

17. Blake Griffin’s Car Jumpoff dunk

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One of the most well-known NBA moments is Blake Griffin’s leaping over an automobile slam. Griffin cleared a Kia Optima at the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest to win the competition. Slam Magazine awarded Griffin’s dunk the “Dunk of the Decade” because it was so amazing. It is regarded as one of the greatest athletic dunks ever made and is evidence of Griffin’s extraordinary jumping prowess.

Griffin’s reputation as one of the NBA’s most dynamic players was further cemented by the dunk. He was already well-known for his spectacular dunks, but the automobile dunk elevated his level of athleticism even further.

18. Kevin Love panic attack

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NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Love experienced a panic episode in 2017 while playing against the Atlanta Hawks. Love was dealing with a confluence of pressures at the time, including concerns about his on-court performance, sleep problems, and family troubles.

Love recalled having a panic episode in which he felt like he was “dying” and “couldn’t breathe.” He was transported to the locker room where an anxiety and panic disorder diagnosis was made.

Love’s panic episode served as a wake-up call for him, and he started talking openly about his battles with mental illness. Since then, he has acted as a spokesperson for mental health issues and stressed the significance of getting assistance.

19. Steve Nash nose bleeds to finals MVP

Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the most memorable incidents in NBA history is Steve Nash’s bleeding nose in Game 1 of the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs. During a play, Nash accidentally headbutted Tony Parker, causing severe nose bleeding.

Nash kept playing despite having a bloody nose and even managed to make a basket while having blood running down his face. Nash’s bleeding nose became a recognizable representation of his tenacity and willpower.

Nash’s performance was unaffected by the bloodied nose, and the Suns went on to win the match. The Suns advanced to their first NBA Finals in team history, and Nash was awarded the MVP of the Western Conference Finals.

20. Kevin Garnett trash-talks Tim Duncan’s late mother

Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The NBA’s most infamous trash-talkers in history included Kevin Garnett. He had a reputation for being able to influence his rivals’ thinking and affect how they played.

In a 2004 game against the New York Knicks, one of Garnett’s most well-known episodes of trash-talking occurred. While guarding Carmelo Anthony, Garnett remarked to Anthony that his wife Lala “tasted like Honey Nut Cheerios.” Garnett had to be physically pulled from Anthony after he tossed the ball at him out of rage.

Garnett was frequently successful in his use of trash talk, which aided in his victory. The downside was that it occasionally landed him in trouble. For disparaging Tim Duncan’s late mother in 2005, Garnett was hit with a $50,000 punishment.

Garnett’s use of profanity in his performance contributed to his rise to one of the greatest NBA players ever. He became divisive as a result, which is something for which he is still renowned today.

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