Few NBA fights have reached the level of sheer chaos that unfolded on December 20, 2002, when Chris Mills of the Golden State Warriors took things to an entirely new level after a heated game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Now, years later, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas has resurfaced the wild altercation, calling out then-Blazers head coach Maurice Cheeks. While revealing never-before-heard details of the infamous bus brawl.
NBA rivalries are built on competition, but sometimes, they spill over into something more volatile. Tensions in the early 2000s were particularly high, as teams embraced physicality and swagger on the court. Trash talk was rampant, and personal grudges carried over from game to game. But what happened on that fateful night in Oakland turned a heated matchup into one of the most outrageous post-game incidents in league history.
Gilbert Arenas, while on a podcast at @underdogfantasy, which was shared on Instagram, engaged in conversation when asked about his most memorable NBA fight. What he said, was an intense and long story, saying, “It’s the one nobody ever heard about. It was the Golden State versus The Trailblazers. It was kind of like the malice at the palace.” He then goes on to divulge the story of how the infamous altercation began.
Then Gilbert Arenas went on to talk about the infamous incident where the bus was halted, saying, “This is the infamous story of when they blocked the bus from leaving. Chris Mills, wanted that smoke, and then they went on the freeway and all his boys stopped it on the freeway, trenchcoats, black trenchcoats come out, what’s happening? Get off the bus, m———– knocking on the window. Mo Cheeks look back there, hey Bonzi what you gonna do?” calling out individuals who act tough and Mo Cheeks delegating responsibility to Bonzi for instigating the entire thing.
The aftermath and NBA’s reaction to the brawl
After the incident, the NBA wasted no time in responding to the incident, cracking down on what was perceived as an embarrassing display of post-game aggression. Chris Mills, who was the main instigator, received a hefty fine and a suspension, sending a clear message that such behavior would not be tolerated. Additionally, the league privately warned teams to reinforce security measures around locker rooms and team buses to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Blazers, already a team with a reputation for volatile personalities, found themselves under added scrutiny. The incident fueled the “Jail Blazers” narrative that had plagued Portland for years, further cementing their image as one of the league’s most controversial teams. While no Blazers players faced direct punishment, the team was put on notice by the league office to keep its players in check.
For Maurice Cheeks, the incident wasn’t career-altering, but Arenas’ recent comments have reignited conversations about how coaches handle on-court tensions. Some believe Cheeks’ calm demeanor was a sign of indifference, while others argue that he was simply trying to avoid escalating an already volatile situation. Regardless of perspective, the fact remains that the Warriors-Blazers bus brawl remains one of the most shocking post-game showdowns in NBA history, a reminder of just how personal and intense basketball rivalries can get.
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