AP Photo/Duane Burleson
Malice at the Palace was “the most infamous brawl in NBA history. 19 years ago, with less than a minute left in the game, a fight broke out on the court between several players. After the fight was broken up, a fan threw a drink from the stands at Pacers player Ron Artest while he was lying on the scorer’s table. Artest then entered the crowd and sparked a massive brawl between players and fans that stretched onto the court.
After the game, the NBA suspended nine players for a total of 146 games, which led to $11 million in salary being lost by the players. Five players were also charged with assault, and eventually sentenced to a year of probation and community service. Five fans also faced criminal charges and were banned from attending Pistons home games for life.
It turns out that Josh Jackson was involved in the historic brawl. Back when the forward was eight-years old, he was at the infamous game – and not only that, young Jackson even threw a water bottle. That’s what he revealed in a diary entry for The Undefeated:
“I remember seeing so many people everywhere fighting. I remember [then-Indiana Pacers forward] Jermaine O’Neal getting hit with a chair. That was one of my most vivid memories. I remember Ron Artest laying on the scorer’s table and someone throwing a drink on him.
“I was looking around and everyone was throwing something onto the court. I am not going to lie. I threw a water bottle. Why? It’s my home team. I’m a Pistons fan. What? The Pacers came in here throwing punches on my favorite players. I couldn’t have that. But that is neither here nor there.”
After playing for the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons last season, averaging 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists through his 51 games, the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft currently remains a free agent.
