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'{{Infobox basketball game eqioanstfgiosdngoivsedzxnbgvep ]oidxzNMHR {PO PBFLrwesfdipkwgverdsxcibwodsiucgrefdixoknbgsrd cb fd bzfdvc bfd cvnb dfc nd fvc n f gc vn fgcx nbdrf zcn trfgs hbrdfz bfdc b | game_name = Denver Nuggets at New York Knicks | image = [[Image:Knicks playing at Madison Square Garden.jpg|250px]] | visitor = '''[[Denver Nuggets]]''' | home = [[New York Knicks]] | visitor_total = 123 | home_total = 100 | visitor_per1 = 29 | visitor_per2 = 38 | visitor_per3 = 27 | visitor_per4 = 29 | home_per1 = 22 | home_per2 = 32 | home_per3 = 30 | home_per4 = 16 | date = December 16, 2006 | arena = [[Madison Square Garden]] | city = [[New York City]] | attendance = 19,763}} The '''Knicks–Nuggets brawl''' was an on-court altercation at a [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) game between the [[New York Knicks]] and [[Denver Nuggets]] at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City|New York]], [[New York]], [[United States|U.S.]], on December 16, 2006. This altercation was the most penalized on-court fight in the NBA since the [[Pacers–Pistons brawl]] two years before. The fight began with a [[flagrant foul]] by Knicks [[shooting guard|guard]] [[Mardy Collins]] on Nuggets guard [[J. R. Smith]] in the closing seconds of the game. Several players joined in the confrontation, and began to make physical contact. The fight briefly spilled into the stands, and also stretched to the other end of the court. All ten players on the floor at the time were ejected after the altercation was finished. When suspensions were announced, seven players were suspended without pay for a combined total of 47 games. Although they were not penalized, Nuggets coach [[George Karl]] and Knicks coach [[Isiah Thomas]] were both scrutinized for their part in the brawl. [[Carmelo Anthony]] was also criticized for harming his image as a star, and several writers said the league had penalized the players excessively because it wanted to keep its image free from violence. ==Game recap== Entering the game, the New York Knicks had a record of 9–17 while the Denver Nuggets sported a 13–9 record.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=nyk&year=2007 |title=New York Knicks Schedule - 2006-07 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=den&year=2007 |title=Denver Nuggets Schedule - 2006-07 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> Despite trailing the entire game, the Knicks would come as close as 2 points in the first half but the Nuggets would regroup and close the half with a 13 point advantage and would continue to lead in the second half by as much as 26 points in the third quarter. The Knicks briefly came within 10 points with ten minutes left in the game, but the Nuggets would go on a 12–2 run and were never threatened again.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=261216018 |title=Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks - Play By Play - December 16, 2006 |date=December 16, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> Carmelo Anthony scored 24 [[point (basketball)|points]] to lead the Nuggets, and [[Marcus Camby]] added 24 points and 9 [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]]; [[Stephon Marbury]] scored a season-high 31 points for the Knicks.<ref name="espnrecap" /> ===Altercation=== The incident occurred with 75 seconds remaining in the Knicks' home game at [[Madison Square Garden]], where the Nuggets were leading 119–100. The Knicks' [[Mardy Collins]] fouled Nuggets guard [[J. R. Smith]] on a [[fast break]] by slapping his arms around Smith's neck causing him to fall to the ground. Upon getting up both players began arguing. The players eventually were separated and pulled away from the photographers and spectators as they were surrounded by officials and teammates.<ref name="espnrecap">{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=261216018 |title=Nuggets, Knicks in wild free-for-all; 10 players tossed |date=December 16, 2006 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |accessdate=2009-04-04}}</ref> As the fighting was apparently coming to an end, Anthony punched Collins in the face and retreated to the other end of the court. Knicks forward [[Jared Jeffries]] and guard [[Nate Robinson]] chased Anthony. All ten players on the court at the time of the incident were ejected by the officiating crew that consisted of [[Violet Palmer]], [[Dick Bavetta]], and [[Robbie Robinson (referee)|Robbie Robinson]].<ref name="espnrecap"/> ==Reactions== ===Suspensions=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em" |- !Player||Team||align=center|Suspension by the NBA||align=center|Salary lost |- |{{sortname|Carmelo|Anthony}}||Nuggets||{{ntsh|15}}15 games||{{ntsh|640097}}$640,097 |- |{{sortname|J.R.|Smith}}||Nuggets||{{ntsh|10}}10 games||{{ntsh|126142}}$126,142 |- |{{sortname|Nate|Robinson}}||Knicks||{{ntsh|10}}10 games||{{ntsh|107771}} $107,771 |- |{{sortname|Mardy|Collins}}||Knicks||{{ntsh|6}}6 games||{{ntsh|49084.36}}$49,084 |- |{{sortname|Jared|Jeffries}}|||Knicks||{{ntsh|4}}4 games||{{ntsh|189,636}}$189,636 |- |[[Nenê]]||Nuggets||{{ntsh|1}}1 game||{{ntsh|72,727}}$72,727 |- |{{sortname|Jerome|James}}||Knicks||{{ntsh|1}}1 game||{{ntsh|49,091}}$49,091 |- |} NBA commissioner [[David Stern]] reacted with strict penalties for the players involved, stating, "It is our obligation to take the strongest possible steps to avoid such failures in the future." Seven players were suspended for a total of 47 games, and the players lost in excess of $1.2 million in salary. Each team was also fined $500,000.<ref name="suspensions">{{cite news |url=http://www.nba.com/news/Nuggets_Knicks_Suspensions.html |title=Nuggets-Knicks Suspensions |date=December 18, 2006 |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2009-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2701228 |title=Suspensions total 47 games from Knicks-Nuggets fight |date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> Because Anthony's suspension was longer than 12 games, he was eligible to appeal to an arbitrator; however, Anthony eventually announced he would not attempt one, saying he did not "want to be a further distraction".<ref name="wontappeal">{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2704934 |title=Anthony doesn't want to be distraction, won't appeal |last=Stein |first=Marc |date=December 22, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-06}}</ref> ===Public reaction=== Several sportswriters said the brawl was not as violent as the [[Pacers–Pistons brawl]] two years before,<ref name="plentyblame" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/basketball/296541_miller20.html |title=Brawl fell far short of all the outrage |last=Miller |first=Ted |date=December 20, 2006 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> and 81% of respondents in a [[SportsNation (Website)|SportsNation]] poll said the biggest difference between the two brawls was that it "didn't involve players going into the stands and fighting fans".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=2642&action=1 |title=Vote: How long should 'Melo and Isiah be suspended? |date=December 17, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> However, Michael Ventre said that the Knicks and Nuggets brawl was worse because "it was touched off by the actions of players, and it escalated because of them."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/16254683/ |title=Two years later, a brawl that's worse |last=Ventre |first=Michael |date=December 18, 2006 |publisher=NBC Sports |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> Several writers said that the penalties were more severe because of the Pacers–Pistons brawl, because the league was on a "very serious image-cleanup campaign."<ref name="hittinimage" /><ref name="rockylow" /> [[Steve Francis]] claimed that the media reaction to the fight and the suspensions itself were "racially motivated." He argued that [[Major League Baseball]] and the [[National Hockey League]] had "incidents that are way worse than basketball," but did not face the scrutiny that the NBA received "because there are more black players in the NBA."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/12192006/sports/knicks/knicks_francis__race_a_factor_knicks_dan_martin_and_marc_berman.htm |title=Knicks' Francis: Race a Factor |last=Martin |first=Dan |coauthors=Berman, Marc |date=December 19, 2006 |work=New York Post |accessdate=2009-04-07}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> This was echoed by several writers, and sportswriter-television personality [[Michael Wilbon]] said that "NBA players have endured more scrutiny, pertaining to image, than any other professional athletes in America."<ref name="plentyblame">{{cite news |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/16245553/ |title=Plenty of blame to go around for this brawl |last=Celizic |first=Mike |date=December 18, 2006 |publisher=NBA Sports |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref><ref name="hittinimage" /> [[Martin Luther King III]] called for a meeting to end the violence in the NBA, stating, "Individuals who play a game should be able to conduct themselves appropriately." However, the NBA said through a [[spokesman]] that they "don't think that meeting is necessary."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=aNleXFcZzNb0&refer=home |title=NBA Referees Invite League, Players to Meet on Fight |last=DiTore |first=Larry |date=December 19, 2006 |publisher=Bloomberg |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> ===Coaches' role in the brawl=== [[Image:Isiah Thomas.jpg|thumb|upright|Thomas came under scrutiny for his actions before the brawl.]] Minutes before the brawl started, Knicks coach [[Isiah Thomas]] asked Carmelo Anthony not to go into the painted area around the basket, despite the fact that they were not members of the same team. Thomas later said that because Denver head coach [[George Karl]] kept his team's [[starting lineup|starting players]] on the court for the closing minutes of the game, which Thomas thought showed a lack of [[sportsmanship]], his orders to Anthony were to "show some class."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2700761 |title=Melo apologizes; Isiah reportedly under investigation |date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-06}}</ref> However, Karl responded by saying the brawl "was directed by Isiah."<ref name="thomasescape">{{cite news |url=http://www.forbes.com/business/manufacturing/feeds/ap/2006/12/18/ap3265869.html |title=Column: Thomas Escapes Hands of Stern |last=Dahlberg |first=Tim |date=December 18, 2006 |publisher=[[Forbes]] |accessdate=2009-04-06 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070108091047/http://www.forbes.com/business/manufacturing/feeds/ap/2006/12/18/ap3265869.html |archivedate = 2007-01-08}}</ref> Thomas was not penalized after the brawl, as an NBA investigation ruled that they did not have "adequate evidence upon which to make a determination,"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/19/sports/basketball/19isiah.html?fta=y |title=Lack of Evidence Lets Thomas Avoid Punishment |last=Beck |first=Howard |date=December 19, 2006 |work=New York Times |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> but several writers criticized the NBA for not including Thomas in the suspensions.<ref name="hittinimage">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/18/AR2006121801403.html |first=Michael |last=Wilbon |title=A Hittin' Image |date=December 19, 2006 |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=2009-04-04}}</ref><ref name="thomasescape"/><ref name="bigculprit">{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16269796 |title=Stern let biggest culprit in brawl off easy: Isiah |last=Celizic |first=Mike |date=December 18, 2006 |publisher=MSNBC |accessdate=2009-04-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/481112p-404847c.html |title=Blame Isiah for brawl |last=Lupica |first=Mike |date=December 18, 2006 |work=New York Daily News |accessdate=2009-04-04 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061222192642/http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/481112p-404847c.html |archivedate = 2006-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sheridan |first=Chris |url=http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=2701751 |title=Not so Stern: Commish lets Isiah off the hook |date=December 19, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-04}}</ref> ESPN analyst [[Marc Stein (reporter)|Marc Stein]] called Thomas' explanations of his comments "laughable,"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=brawlquestions |title=Questions answered: Stern, Melo, Isiah and the brawl |last=Stein |first=Marc |date=December 19, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> and commentator [[Greg Anthony]], a former Knicks player, said he "never had a coach say that to an opponent."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/12202006/sports/knicks/not_so_tough_knicks_marc_berman.htm |title=Not so Tough |last=Berman |first=Marc |date=December 20, 2006 |work=New York Post |accessdate=2009-04-07}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> It was also suggested that Thomas was attempting to resurrect the physical tactics of his former team, the [[Detroit Pistons#1980s|"Bad Boy" Pistons]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116654838756654633-6pcmYD94gnkP_GGMfEjhoCWzkT8_20070118.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top |title=Thomas May Be Only Winner In Wake of NBA's Latest Fight |last=Bialik |first=Carl |coauthors=Fry, Jason |date=December 19, 2006 |publisher=[[Wall Street Journal]] |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_soshnick&sid=ap_76o7iBlVg |title=Thomas Has Knicks Fighting Phantoms |last=Soshnick |first=Scott |date=December 18, 2006 |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> In response to Thomas saying that keeping the Nuggets starters on the floor in the final minutes of the game was unsportsmanlike, Karl said that he "never thought about running up the score," and only wanted to "get a big win on the road."<ref name="karlescapes" /> However, several sportswriters criticized his decision, and some said that he should also have been penalized.<ref name="karlescapes">{{cite news |url=http://select.nytimes.com/2006/12/19/sports/basketball/19araton.html?fta=y |title=As Thomas Takes Heat, Karl Escapes Scrutiny |last=Araton |first=Harvey |date=December 19, 2006 |work=New York Times |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref><ref name="earnedban">{{cite news |url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/12182006/sports/knicks/nuggets_karl_also_earned_ban_knicks_peter_vecsey.htm |title=Nuggets' Karl also earned ban |last=Vecsey |first=Peter |date=December 18, 2006 |work=New York Post |accessdate=2009-04-07}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="sternreality">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2006/12/19/the_stern_reality____7_players_suspended/ |title=The Stern reality -- 7 players suspended |last=May |first=Peter |date=December 19, 2006 |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> It was also suggested that Karl was trying to humiliate Thomas due to the perception that Thomas had mistreated [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]], a friend of Karl's.<ref name="bigculprit" /><ref name="earnedban" /><ref name="sternreality" /> Karl was also blamed for putting his players in a position to start a fight.<ref name="plentyblame" /><ref name="earnedban" /> ===Carmelo Anthony=== The day following the brawl, Anthony issued a statement and apology to his family, the league, and fans. He also specifically apologized to Mardy Collins, whom he directly struck during the incident.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/anthony_statement_061217.html |title=Statement from Carmelo Anthony |date=December 17, 2006 |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> At the time of the brawl, Anthony was the league's leading scorer;<ref name="rockylow" /> his suspension was also the longest of the players suspended, and the sixth-longest in NBA history.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-12-18-brawl-suspensions_x.htm |title=NBA hands out penalties — Anthony suspended 15 games |last=Nance |first=Roscoe |date=December 19, 2006 |work=USA Today |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> According to former NBA player [[Steve Kerr]], Anthony had "tarnished" his image,<ref name="rockylow">{{cite news |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=sk-carmelo121806&prov=yhoo&type=lgns |title=Rocky Mountain low |last=Kerr |first=Steve |date=December 18, 2006 |publisher=Yahoo Sports |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> and [[Ric Bucher]] said that Anthony had "torched his own career".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=bucherfightview |title=Melo's walking a dangerous line again |last=Bucher |first=Ric |date=December 19, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> [[Sports Illustrated]] writer Marty Burns said that Anthony faced becoming known by sports fans across America as the player who punched Collins in the face and then ran away.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/12/17/brawl.knicks.nuggets/ |title='Melo drama |last=Burns |first=Marty |date=December 17, 2006 |publisher=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> An example of the backlash was [[Northwest Airlines]] pulling Anthony from its in-flight magazine cover, as it said it did not want "to condone the behavior of Anthony".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2703887 |title=Airline doesn't want to condone brawl, pulls feature |date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> ==Events after the brawl== A day after Anthony was suspended, Denver acquired [[Allen Iverson]], who was then second in the league in scoring behind Anthony.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2702501 |title=Miller, Smith go to Sixers in deal for Iverson |date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> After Anthony and Smith returned from their suspensions, the trio led the Nuggets to 45 wins and the sixth seed in the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] for the [[2007 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]].<ref name="standings">{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/standings?season=2007 |title=NBA Standings - 2006-2007 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> However, they were eliminated in the first round by the [[San Antonio Spurs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2007.html |title=2006-07 Denver Nuggets Roster and Statistics |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> The Knicks finished 33–49, 12th in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]], and did not make the playoffs.<ref name="standings"/> The two teams faced each other for the first time since the altercation on November 17, 2007, which the Nuggets won 115–83. Opposing players [[Renaldo Balkman]] and [[Linas Kleiza]] began arguing with each other after Balkman was called for a hard foul on Kleiza, but the incident was defused after Balkman was given a [[technical foul]]. Iverson, Anthony, and [[Marcus Camby]] were all removed early in the fourth quarter.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=271117007 |title=Melo scores 24, Iverson adds 23 as Nuggets roll Knicks in Randolph's return |date=November 17, 2007 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> Balkman and Kleiza later became teammates<ref>[http://www.basketballreference.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=DEN&lg=n&yr=2008 Denver Nuggets (1976 - ) 2008 Stats, History, Awards and More]</ref> after Balkman was traded to the Nuggets in the 2008 off-season.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3508429 Nuggets acquire Knicks' Balkman in trade package - NBA - ESPN]</ref> As of the [[2010–11 NBA season|2010–11 season]], of the seven suspended players, three were still with their respective teams. [[Mardy Collins]] was traded to the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/zrandolph_collins_081121.html |title=Clippers Acquire Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins From Knicks |date=November 21, 2008 |publisher=NBA |accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> [[Jerome James]] was traded to the [[Chicago Bulls]] a year later, but never played for the Bulls as he suffered a torn achilles tendon.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3919012 |title=Knicks trade for Bulls' Hughes |date=February 19, 2009 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> Jeffries and Robinson were traded at the 2010 trade deadline to the [[Houston Rockets]] and [[Boston Celtics]], respectively. [[Carmelo Anthony]] was traded to the Knicks before the 2011 trade deadline. Meanwhile, Jeffries' contract was bought out by the Rockets and he rejoined the Knicks. In addition, [[J.R. Smith]] was signed by the Knicks in February of the 2012 season, which will make him the second former Nugget involved in the brawl to join the Knicks. ==See also== *[[Pacers–Pistons brawl]] *[[National Basketball Association criticisms and controversies]] *[[Violence in sports]] ==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Navboxes|list1= {{New York Knicks}} {{Denver Nuggets}} }} {{Good article}} [[Category:2005–06 NBA season]] [[Category:2006 in American sports]] [[Category:Brawls in team sports]] [[Category:National Basketball Association controversies]] [[Category:National Basketball Association games]] [[Category:New York Knicks]] [[Category:Denver Nuggets]]'