The NBA has overseen a great many unprecedented scenarios in the history of the sport. However, none comes close to the racing pulses and anxiousness that one experiences when a fight breaks out.
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Fighting in a sport like basketball is not unheard of. In the 1970s and 1980s players used to ‘sqaure-up’ to each other with the intention of engaging in a brawl. The 1980s Detroit Pistons were the epitome of this.
Their antics to ensure that they emerge victorious were largely frowned upon by their counterparts. In fact, the franchise would often get into physical altercations with their peers to display their superiority.
Charles Barkley was an eminent figure in the league due to his ruthless and aggressive persona in the 1980s and 1990s. The former NBA MVP has been involved in some substantial fights with his teammates.
And needless to say, Charles Barkley wasn’t impressed.
Charles Barkley lists the players who couldn’t fight but believed they could
Although a more cultured and civilized game is adhered to and played by the athletes of today, there once was a time when the league bore witness to some incredible sights. Incidents that left fans flabbergasted.
Charles Barkley, who was a prominent figure during an era where these instances occurred on a frequent basis, has provided his judgment on some of the ‘tough’ players of the past.
On a recent episode of ‘InsidetheNBA’, Barkley was seen providing his arguments as to why he is of the opinion that some of the athletes of the 1980s and 1990s are wrongfully portrayed as individuals who can engage in fights.
Barkley said:
“John Salley, Dennis Rodman, Mahorn..can’t fight a lick. Those three guys. Now, Laimbeer, he can’t fight either. He was always just getting beat up.”
Quite an interesting statement from Barkley, given that the players mentioned above all played for the Detroit Pistons. Ironically, the one franchise that held a reputation for engaging in unsportsmanlike and aggressive conduct.
Perhaps the franchise was overcompensating. Nonetheless, for someone of Barkley’s character to make that statement is indicative of just what the NBA thought of the Pistons and its players.
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Barkley and the Detroit Pistons!
While one may assume that the dig at the Pistons is unwarranted, the 11-time NBA All-Star had his own history with the roster. In fact, in 1990, Barkley was involved in a heated brawl with Pistons Center, Bill Laimbeer.
Laimbeer can be seen reacting to a dunk made by Rick Mahiorn, to which Barkley took exception and flung his fists at Laimbeer. That ignited a fierce brawl between the pair, where punches were exchanged.
And the video also clearly showcases the poor quality of punches being thrown between the pair. It goes without saying that the pair weren’t fighters to begin with, which is the primary reason behind the quality of punches being thrown.
However as Barkley found out firsthand, there might after all be some truth to his statements.
