Basketball fans are one of the most die-hard fans in spectator sports history. Since the ABA-NBA years, veteran basketball fans have been around cheering for every field goal, contesting all of the referee’s calls, jeering opposing fan groups, and overall just plain having a good time at the ballgame.
The success of the National Basketball Association has brought them billions of fans all over the world. And especially now that basketball players from around the world are slowly making their names in the NBA, they have the support of their entire country to back them up. Yao Ming for example, has brought in a new age of basketball fandom to the NBA even months before he was drafted. Now, his native China has hosted numerous NBA events in their country, to the delight of their many, screaming-crazy fans. The same can be said to countries like Spain, where NBA superstar Pao Gasol hails from. His success in the NBA with the LA Lakers has fueled both media and fan frenzy every time NBA superstars would visit their soil. Other NBA stars like Steve Nash from Canada, Dirk Nowitzki from Germany, Andrei Kirilenko of Russia, and Manu Ginobili from Argentina, have ushered in more appreciating and supporting fans into the NBA.
Basketball fans also have their share of crazy incidents. One very notable event was the Indiana Pacers- Detroit Pistons fight that happened last November 19, 2004. The altercation took place at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, home turf for the Detroit Pistons. Less than a minute before the game was to end, a heated tussle happened on the court. Moments later, a plastic cup filled with beer was thrown at former Indiana Pacer Ron Artest, who charged towards the fan. An near-uncontrollable ensued between players and fans, causing a frenzy between other fans and security. The whole professional player-crazy fan fiasco ended with nine players suspended without pay for a combined total of 146 games. About $10 million worth of salaries were lost thanks to the incident. Five of the NBA players involved were sentenced to one year each on probation and community service. There were also five fans legally charged. And the crazy fan who threw the cup and started it all, John Green, what of him? He received a lifetime ban from attending any of the Detroit Pistons games. The incident with the NBA fans also led the league to issue a ban on selling alcohol at the beginning of the 4th quarter.