"Anybody gets into it, benches clear. If the bench don't clear, you fined" - Dominique shares the Hawks policy regarding fights back in the day

NBA basketball in the 1980s was a bygone era of physical play and intense rivalries. The most prominent were the all-out wars between the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Bulls, and the Detroit Pistons. Lost in between all that were the Atlanta Hawks and their battles with the Pistons and the New York Knicks.

The Hawks were led by the "Human Highlight Reel," Dominique Wilkins , who was the target of many opponents due to his high-flying and acrobatic style of play. Often roughed up and taken down while he was in the air, Wilkins still managed to put up impressive numbers and lead his team to the playoffs year after year.

However, intense competition also brought heated confrontations on the court, leading to fights and scuffles between players. In those moments, it was up to the Hawks to ensure they had one another's back, which led to an unspoken rule, which Nique revealed on an episode of "All The Smoke."

It was mandatory to stand up for a teammate

In the 1980s, the Eastern Conference was a fierce battleground where rivalries ran deep. The Hawks, led by Wilkins, were a powerhouse team that constantly clashed with the Pistons and Celtics. As the saying goes, "familiarity breeds contempt," which was certainly true for these teams.

"In between Boston and Detroit and New York teams, we had—we had issues. 'Cause if you hit us, we hitting you back. You know, that was just our attitude," the Hall of Famer shared .

Due to the intense competition between these teams, altercations were regular. In those days, fights weren't as frowned upon by the league as they are now. From blatant punches and kicks to full-on brawls, players often defended their honor and protected their teammates. According to the nine-time All-Star, the Hawks even had an internal policy.

"We had a policy on our team: anybody gets into it, bench clear. If the bench don't clear, you fined. You fined," Nique revealed.

The toughest guy on the Hawks

Dominique wasn't a brawler by any stretch of the imagination, but he could hold his own when needed. However, he pointed out one guy on his team who didn't need a reason to get into a scuffle: 7-foot-1 center Tree Rollins. Wilkins said one of the worst things a player could do during that time was get under the skin of Rollins, who wouldn't hesitate to slap them in the face with his giant hands.

"You talking about tough guys. Let me just explain something about Tree. There's only so much you can say to Tree before he slaps you. Yeah, I'm telling you, hey man, I'm not playing. And I've seen him slap many. He got Bill Cartwright, guards; I mean, he slaps some guys," Nique stressed .

The 1980s was a rough-and-tumble era where the phrase "only the strong survive" was apt on the hardwood. With this in mind, it's no wonder OGs often criticize the league as being "soft" today. With all the things they endured back then, it's no surprise they look down on the modern era of basketball.