Strange But True:Steve Smith And Kevin Willis were traded for one another days into the 1994-1995 NBA season then years later, won a championship together in San Antonio in 2003…..
No wonder they changed some rules after that, and rightfully so! Also funny to think that about 6-7 months later, the Steve Smith/Grant Long for Kevin Willis trade happened, so players involved in the melee here became teammates not too long afterwards.
3 Metro Detroit guys . Kevin Willis and Steve Smith attended the same Detroit high school. Grant Long is from Romulus, cousin of Terry Mills and nephew of former Pistons John Long.
Grant Long was suspended for Game 3, the Heat won that game but dropped the series in 5. Grant Long then played 2 more games for the Heat and then traded to the Hawks early in 94-95 playing the following 2 seasons. Two seasons for the Detroit Pistons. Another 50 games for the Hawks in 1999. He finished his career with Vancouver, Memphis and Boston. Steve Smith also played for the Hawks too.
I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American. Male. (these show you where, when and HOW I grew up) I cannot believe, that Grant Long and Duane Ferrell, two of the NICEST guys, were the ones who started all of this! Grant Long: Intangibles: AAA. Duane Ferrell: Intangibles: AAA. One of the nicest, coachable players. If you had 10 Duane Ferrells on your team, coaching in the NBA would be an easy job.
I’m not sure what’s worse, this one, the Knicks-Heat (Charlie Ward and PJ Brown) in 1997, or Malice at the Palice in 2004 or Knicks and Suns in 1993 or the Pistons and Knicks in 1992?
Good old days. I’ve seen way more people than usual out wearing Hawks hats today. Just showing love. Nothing beats that 90s Hawks logo and design. And I used to give Ed credit for all the games we saw here. Capt of They give an inch, take a mile club but whatever. We all know that strategy rarely works in the end. Still grateful for all of my experiences. And going to get a Hawks game again soon.
I remember I was in a Sam's Club when this game was playing on the TVs. Then this fight broke out, live for all the customers to see. I was 11 at the time.
I remembered some basketball fans back in the 1990's were constantly complaining about how violent the NBA was becoming. David Stern at that time implemented the rules which to a degree has affected today's game. And now fans clamor and wish that the NBA can be the way it was during the 1980's & 1990's - SMH.
I agree it was a cheap shot but the reason why Atkins did that is because earlier in the fight when atkins was on the ground Doug Edwards stood over him and threw a punch at him. So I guess Atkins wanted his revenge lol.
The commentators those days needs to know how to see a fight and name what kind of punches thrown. Now they only know flagrant fouls like a gwadamn perfume.
The perfect example of why the NBA had to tighten up on foul calls! Everyone saying that the modern league is weak: please explain to me why brawls of this nature made for a better game of basketball!?
The early 80’s Celtics started it, and the Pistons grabbed that baton & hauled ass with it. They’re the reason why the flagrant foul rules were implemented. Hell, Bill Laimbeer had his own video game based off of it!
