Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Kevin Johnson Started One of the Greatest NBA Brawls Ever

By Scott Hanna-Riggs

May 3, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Sacramento mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson arrives before the 2014 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Sacramento mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson arrives before the 2014 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kevin Johnson, the Phoenix Suns legend and Sacramento Mayor, was recently assaulted by a pie wielding protester while giving a speech at the Edible Sac High Seeds of Hope Harvest Dinner.

I did not make any of that up. You can see photos of Kevin Johnson scuffling with the man in the link above.

The protester also alleges that he took a serious beating after smashing a pie into Kevin Johnson’s face, and that KJ ‘overreacted‘. I don’t think anyone will have any sympathy for that guy, except maybe his lawyer and his mom.

The man ended up needing nine stitches before going to jail to face a felony charge of assaulting a public official (whoops!). He also claims KJ hit him at least twice, “pretty hard”.

Kevin Johnson was a professional basketball player for 13 seasons, despite being listed at 6 foot 1 inch and 180 pounds. He made a career battling massive men. It should be no surprised he sent a protester to the hospital with two punches (allegedly).

This did bring back memories of another time Kevin Johnson had to take a cheap shot: Greg Anthony, in street clothes, during one of the greatest brawls in NBA history.

Turn the sound up on this and enjoy. Seriously, it is worth it. Skip to 2:20 if you must.

I had seen other versions of this fight before, but this one is absolutely the best. Sure, you can’t tell what is happening half the time. But the call is just amazing.

This brawl was pure chaos. If it happened today, there would be 100 games in suspensions. People would lose their minds.

Here is a great story detailing the rule changes caused by this fight. It also details the fall out: in all, six players were ejected: Doc Rivers, Kevin Johnson, Danny Ainge, Greg Anthony (in street clothes), John Starks, and Anthony Mason.

Rivers and Johnson got suspended for two games each, and Anthony got five games. Nine games total for this fight!

The fines: “In addition, besides Anthony, fourteen players left the bench during the brawl, receiving $500 fines. They were Charles Smith, Rolando Blackman, Charles Oakley, Herb Williams, Hubert Davis, Eric Anderson and Bo Kimble of the Knicks; Cedric Ceballos, Tom Chambers, Frank Johnson, Tim Kempton, Negele Knight, Mark West and Richard Dumas of the Suns.”

You also likely noticed Pat Riley coaching the New York Knicks and Paul Westphal coaching the Phoenix Suns. The number of big names involved was amazing.

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