“How can some scrub come off the bench in street clothes and take a cheap shot” – Kevin Johnson fumes after getting sucker-punched in the face by the inactive Knicks guard

Most have heard about the physical and rough games the NBA played in the 1980s and 90s. There were many brawls and skirmishes that saw players go at each other’s throats. The ugly incidents were not limited to players in uniform. Even those who were not suited up would get involved in some way.

One such incident happened in March 1993 when the Phoenix Suns played the New York Knicks . It was one of the worst games for the 1992-93 season that saw six players ejected in the hellacious game.

Chaotic halftime

For the Suns, Kevin Johnson and Danny Ainge were banished after that halftime bench-clearing brawl. The Knicks got the worse end of it, with four players—John Starks, Doc Rivers, Anthony Mason, and Greg Anthony—being thrown out. Curiously, G-Money was in street clothes and was not playing due to an ankle injury at the time.

The incident happened with 24.2 seconds left before halftime. Rivers and Johnson were jawing and nearly came to blows. Both were assessed as technical fouls. Ainge and Starks also drew Ts.

Tempers flared after a buzzer-beating play when KJ charged Doc with a forearm. The Marquette product would get up and charge at Kevin and both exchanged punches just as the halftime buzzer sounded. Both benches were emptied, with some playing peacemakers and others looking to fight.

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Cheap shot by Greg

As some semblance of order was restored, Anthony approached Johnson and continued to question him about his hit on Rivers. As Kevin and Doc continued to argue, Greg would sucker-punch the Suns guard as he was being held back by Knicks player Bo Kimble.

“How can some scrub come off the bench in street clothes and take a cheap shot? I set a good pick on Doc Rivers. He got flattened, I didn't try to hurt him,” Johnson said via the New York Times . “I really want to know what the league office is going to do with this Greg Anthony guy."

When the contest resumed, the ejections would work in the Suns' favor. Phoenix would romp off with a 121-92 win, with Charles Barkley finishing with 31 points while Dan Majerle had 22 of his own.

After the game, the league meted out a stiff $20,5000 fine and a five-game suspension on Anthony without pay. Aside from that, he also needed to petition the NBA to be allowed to return to action per another article via the New York Times .

The brawl cost Johnson $15,000 and Rivers $10,000 for their roles. Both were also suspended for two games without pay. Jerrod Mustaff of the Suns was also fined $10,500 for leaving the bench and throwing punches, while Mason, Starks, and Ainge got fined $7,500 for their involvement.

It was this brawl that critics feel led to the changing of the NBA rules to what they are now. The league now pays closer attention to the physicality that goes on on the court, something that has severely affected team strategies – especially on the defensive end.

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