Strict rules and regulations about the overall conduct of the player are part of the NBA. Eradicating unsportsmanlike behavior and violent altercations is the primary reason for introducing the concept of ejections in a game.
In basketball, a player, coach, or other team bench member can also be ejected for a foul. These fouls can be violations, conduct fouls, technical fouls, or the exhibition of prohibited behavior during the game. Taking into account the recent Trae Young, Nikola Jokić, and Draymond Green ejections, this topic has gotten immense traction among NBA fans.
Most ejections:
Rasheed Wallace (29)
Draymond Green (18)
Dwight Howard (17)
Anthony Mason (16)
Charles Barkley (16)
Shaquille O’Neal (14)
Demarcus Cousins (14)
Matt Barnes (13)
Kenyon Martin (12)
Dennis Rodman (12)
Reggie Miller (12)— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) November 15, 2023
Dishonoring a game official, physicality with an official, taunting, mockery, use of slang, or any other kind of violation of the proper code of conduct has been a major reason for players getting booted time and again. When you ponder this topic, Draymond Green comes to mind. However, in the history of the NBA, there have been many notable players who made records, not for positive reasons.
Rasheed Wallace
The former All-Star and star player of the New York Knicks, Rashid Wallace, was a pretty versatile player. Apart from a decent defense and even block shots, Wallace stood out from the entire league for his record-breaking tally of ejections. The player was ejected 29 times. He registered a total of 41 technical fouls during his season with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000–01.
‘Sheed’ has been down for on-court confrontations since his college days, when he used to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels. In the 2007 Eastern Conference finals between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers, ‘Sheed’ was tossed from the game as he wrapped LeBron James in a blatantly illegal manner. Wallace was once ejected for looking at referee Ron Garretson in the 2000 Western Conference finals between the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Draymond Green
The forward/center of the Golden State Warriors comes next on the list with a tally of 20 ejections after December 12, 2023. Tonight, Draymond Green was booted for practicing his antics against Jusuf Nurkic of the New York Knicks. This is his third ejection this season. What’s astonishing is that ‘DrayMagic’ has always found a place in the top 5 of the list for most ejections in the NBA.
A Draymond Green hoop mixtape of just dirty plays over the years is GOLD pic.twitter.com/zx0IP7tAwe
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 15, 2023
After suffering a five-game suspension after choking Rudy Gobert on November 14, 2023, Draymond Green is back to his age-old tactics. His famous feud with Steven Adams (whom he hit in the groin), LeBron James, and many other players has gotten enough traction from the media and NBA officials to consider another suspension for the player.
Dwight Howard
The former player of the Los Angeles Lakers comes in third on the list of ‘Most Ejections in the NBA’ with 17 ejections in his career. The center played for the Lakers in the 2021–22 season and is now playing for the Taoyuan Leopards. Howard is well-known as a physical player and is famous for using rough tactics to get under the opponent’s skin.
Recently, the player was involved in a brawl between the Taoyuan Leopards and the TaiwanBeer HeroBears in February 2023. Although he has earned the reputation of a fan favorite in the league, his track record of dominant physical play doesn’t keep him off the hooks on the ‘ejection’ list.
Anthony Mason
Anthony George Douglas Mason was an American professional football player who left his mark on the league. He played for the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, and Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA. After playing for 13 seasons in the NBA, the player was booted 16 times. The NBA All-Star (2001) and NBA Sixth Man of the Year, no doubt, knew his way around.
The 6’8″ player made a name for himself while helping the New York Knicks reach the NBA finals in 1993–94. He faced tossed yet again in 1995, after recording just a single minute on the hardwood. With 16 ejections, the player ties with another NBA legend, Charles Barkley.
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley, aka ‘Chuck’, now works as a television analyst on TNT and CBS Sports. A former player of the Houston Rockets has a record of 16 ejections to his name in his 16-year NBA career. The 6’6″ height and 252 lbs weight of the star forward worked magic when it came to physical gameplay against the rival team.
He was a brilliant rebounder, and he even earned the NBA rebounding title when playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. The star forward has several accolades to his name, ranging from NBA MVP (1993), 11-Time All-Star, and NBA All-Star Game MVP (1991).
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is a player big enough as compared to all the mid-range forwards and centers. His height and big frame helped the Lakers win three consecutive championships. Later on, the player was traded to the Miami Heat, and then he further used his antics to win titles for the franchise.
Shaq pulled a Draymond Green last night on Inside the NBA as he put Charles Barkley in a chokehold 🤣
(via @NBAonTNT)pic.twitter.com/kfUIEGjcZ5
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 15, 2023
The dominant and big man got ejected 14 times during his 19-year-long career. Although the player was often criticized for his overweight and out-of-structure body, he knew how to turn the negatives into positives. Continuing the same trend, Shaq choked Charles Barkley on a show, imitating Draymond Green’s antics on Rudy Gobert.
Many players in history have scored enough ejections to be included in a list. Start with the DeMarcus cousins, Matt Barnes, Kenyon Martin, Reggie Miller, and many more; the list is ongoing. What’s your take on the frequent ejections in recent years? Let us know in the comments section below.