NBA (DR) / Steve Lipofsky (CC)
It’s not uncommon for things to escalate between players and fights were particularly fashionable in the 80s and 90s. But it was better to leave some customers alone, as told by a former teammate of Larry Bird. Otherwise, it could end badly…
It is known to all, the NBA has never lacked strong heads. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas: the big personalities were especially present a few decades ago, when the league was much more flowing concerning the attitude of players on the floors. Like the leader of the Pistons in particular, the number of bad boys present on the floors was impressive.
Among the latter, there was also a certain Cedric Maxwell, double champion in Boston alongside Larry Legend. Within a team practicing fabulous basketball, he was in charge of dirty work and in particular of getting confused with the best opposing players. But as he explained on his podcast a few years ago, even he stayed away from one man in particular!
Lonnie Shelton is the only guy that scared me because I didn’t want to fight him. I wanted to fight once, that’s all. Lonnie wanted to fight three or four times. I don’t want to fight so many times. It was part of my game, just talking to the guy and seeing if it would rattle him or not. But with Lonnie Shelton, I wasn’t going to do that because I knew I might get in trouble.
Lonnie Shelton, the player not to annoy in the 80s
Not sure that many fans today know who this famous Lonnie Shelton is. NBA champion in 1979 when he wore the colors of Seattle, the interior was once an All-Star during his career. His averages in 10 seasons on the floors of the big league are good but not exceptional either, he who compiled 12 points, 6 rebounds and one steal per game.
But the hardness of a player can only too rarely be read through the stats and according to Maxwell, Shelton was the perfect example. We are talking about a very strong big man with 2m03 for 108 kilos on the scale and who obviously did not hesitate to go and rub shoulders with his opponents in the racket. Author of a memorable fight against Buck Williams in 1984, we immediately understand why the ex-Celtic feared him…
February 14, 1984: Cleveland’s Lonnie Shelton and Buck Williams of New Jersey are ejected in the third quarter for fighting.
Shelton was suspended for two games. Williams received a one-game suspension.
Cavaliers 103, Nets 93. pic.twitter.com/BzDIC02lD9
— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) February 14, 2023
Cedric Maxwell wasn’t one to back down from a fight though, but falling out with Lonnie Shelton was just out of the question for him. This shows how scary the latter could be, he who could seriously unpin if he was tickled too much.
2023-05-20 20:20:00
#dont #confused #fighting #times #game
