NBA Players Who Fought Their Own Teammates..

Basketball gets intense, but sometimes the real smoke isn’t with the other team — it’s between players on the same side. From Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole during practice, to Mason Plumlee and Bones Hyland throwing hands on the Clippers bench, these are some of the wildest moments NBA players got into it with their own teammates.

Draymond Green vs. Jordan Poole

Let’s start with perhaps the most infamous teammate fight of the modern era — an incident so shocking that it literally changed the trajectory of a championship dynasty. On October 5th, 2022, during what should have been a routine Golden State Warriors practice session, Draymond Green punched Jordan Poole, knocking him down in front of teammates and coaches. This created a rift that would ultimately tear apart the Warriors’ carefully constructed future.

The buildup to the punch began with typical competitive banter, but according to reports from CBS Sports, it wasn’t just normal trash talk. Poole allegedly told Green, “You’re an expensive backpack for 30,” a devastating reference to Stephen Curry’s jersey number. The implication was that Green was just riding Curry’s coattails. For a player like Draymond, who’s built his identity around being the emotional leader and defensive anchor, this was a direct shot at his worth.

Green, fresh off a season earning over $25 million, was essentially being told he was dead weight. The confrontation that followed was caught on tape and leaked by TMZ Sports. In the footage, Green, standing 6’6″ and weighing 230 lbs, delivered a vicious right cross that sent Poole to the floor. Some observers believed Poole may have been briefly knocked unconscious, though he continued practice afterward. It was a moment that shocked the league and forever changed the Warriors’ chemistry.

Kyle Anderson vs. Rudy Gobert

On April 9th, 2023, the Minnesota Timberwolves were playing their final regular season game against the New Orleans Pelicans, fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament. Instead of unity, tensions exploded when Rudy Gobert punched teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout. The clash came after an argument about defensive effort and rebounding. Anderson told Gobert to “shut the f*** up,” and Gobert, frustrated and nursing a back injury, responded with a punch to the chest.

The Timberwolves immediately sent Gobert home. Making matters worse, teammate Jaden McDaniels fractured his hand by punching a wall during the same game. Gobert was suspended for the team’s next game, which they lost in overtime to the Lakers. However, both players eventually smoothed things over. Gobert publicly apologized on Twitter, and Anderson acknowledged that heated exchanges happen in sports. “We’re grown men. We’re able to put it behind us,” he told Yahoo Sports. Their professionalism helped them move on, showing how even ugly moments can be resolved.

Gilbert Arenas vs. Javaris Crittenton

The craziest and most dangerous teammate altercation in NBA history occurred between Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton on December 21st, 2009. What began as a dispute over a high-stakes card game turned into a locker-room standoff involving loaded firearms. The feud began on a team flight when Arenas reportedly joked about burning Crittenton’s car. Crittenton retaliated by threatening to shoot Arenas in his knees.

Arenas then escalated the situation. Before practice, he placed four unloaded guns in front of Crittenton’s locker with a note that read, “Pick one.” Instead of backing down, Crittenton pulled out a loaded, cocked weapon and pointed it at Arenas. Teammates dove for cover, and the locker room descended into chaos.

NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended both players for the remainder of the season. Arenas lost $7.5 million in salary, and both players faced legal consequences. Arenas was sentenced to probation, community service, and a fine. Crittenton also pleaded guilty but later faced even graver legal trouble unrelated to this incident. It remains one of the darkest moments in NBA history.

Mason Plumlee vs. Bones Hyland

Also on April 9th, 2023, during a crucial game between the Clippers and the Suns, tensions boiled over on the bench. The Clippers were trailing, and after a defensive breakdown, veteran center Mason Plumlee and young guard Bones Hyland got into a heated argument. Hyland shoved Plumlee during a timeout, and teammates quickly stepped in to separate them.

Surprisingly, both players returned in the fourth quarter and helped lead the Clippers to a comeback win. After the game, they both downplayed the incident. Plumlee said it was already behind them, while Hyland called it the “heat of the moment” and “just miscommunication.” Coach Tyronn Lue even joked, “Maybe we should do that more often.” The two players resolved their differences on the team plane, and it ended up strengthening team chemistry.

Dwight Howard vs. Anthony Davis

On October 22nd, 2021, the Lakers were playing the Phoenix Suns early in the season, but things were already going downhill. The team was under pressure, and during a timeout, Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis got into a shoving match. The issue reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over pick-and-roll defense.

Davis approached Howard aggressively while he was seated, grabbed his arm, and things nearly turned physical. Teammates, including LeBron James and Rajon Rondo, quickly intervened. Though it was an embarrassing moment broadcast live, it was a symptom of deeper chemistry issues that plagued the Lakers that season.

Patrick Ewing vs. John Starks

In the 1993 NBA Playoffs, emotions flared between Knicks stars Patrick Ewing and John Starks. During Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers, Reggie Miller elbowed Starks multiple times. Starks lost his cool and headbutted Miller, getting ejected. Ewing was furious, criticizing Starks for hurting the team in a critical moment.

Charles Oakley joined Ewing in reprimanding Starks, and the tension spilled off the court. Starks recalled that both teammates were “beating on him” after the incident. The drama intensified when Starks’ mother reportedly called Ewing and warned him never to put his hands on her son again. Ewing’s reply? “If he does that again, I’m going to do the same thing.” It was a raw, emotional exchange that reflected the win-at-all-costs mentality of that era.

James Harden vs. Chris Paul

The James Harden–Chris Paul experiment in Houston was full of promise but quickly soured. Though they were both All-NBA talents, their clashing play styles caused friction. During Game 3 of a playoff series against the Jazz in 2018, cameras caught them arguing on the bench. Harden slapped Paul’s hand away while coach Mike D’Antoni was drawing up a play.

This wasn’t an isolated moment — it was symbolic of their deteriorating relationship. Paul preferred structured offense and involvement from all players, while Harden thrived in isolation plays and often disengaged when off the ball. Paul reportedly grew frustrated with Harden’s lack of effort when the offense wasn’t running through him.

By the 2018–19 season, the dysfunction was obvious. Despite regular-season success, their off-court chemistry was broken. The team eventually traded Paul, ending the partnership in disappointment.