Five greatest NBA fights of all time

Basketball, as we know it, has always been a contact sport. And despite the NBA's efforts to keep things as clean as humanly possible, there's always going to be a bit of roughness in the game.

Most of the time, that roughness fizzles out as quickly as it comes, but every now and then, it erupts into an almighty brawl that culminates in multiple fines and suspensions.

Over the years, the league has witnessed several fights, and this list covers five of the best we have ever seen.

So, if your heart can take it -- and we're sure it can, as NBA players make their money on the hardwood and not in the ring anyhow -- go ahead and have a browse.

#5. Willis Reed vs. All of the Lakers

Willis Reed's legendary fight against an entire Los Angeles Lakers squad was beginning to feel like a myth until the footage was finally unearthed a few years ago by ESPN.

The brawl, which took place in 1966, started when Reed got tangled up with Rudy LaRusso. He would turn into a one-man wrecking machine, going at every Laker in his path, even getting off the floor to continue his assault after taking a plunge.

Until ESPN somehow found the video, the fight was simply hearsay. And it's quite fortunate that they did, as we can all get to enjoy the epic battle. Reed and LaRusso were only fined $50 for their actions -- a right slap on the wrist in comparison to the sanctions of today's game.

#4. Pacers vs. Pistons

The NBA's most infamous brawl

Undoubtedly the biggest brawl the NBA has ever witnessed, the infamous match between the Pacers and Pistons in November of 2004 was never going to be overlooked.

It all started when the pugnacious Ron Artest fouled Ben Wallace beneath the rim. Wallace responded with a strong shove, leading to a commotion between the teams. Somehow, Artest left Wallace and his teammate Stephen Jackson to sort things out with their physicality, and walked away to the announcers' table, where he lay down and struck a pose.

That should have been all from Artest, but some bright Piston fan decided to throw a cup at the steaming player, who immediately ran into the crowd to begin an assault on the said fan. Jackson should have probably recognised that it was time to draw the line and pull his colleague away, but he seemed to relish the opportunity to get a few in himself.

Even after the players retreated to the court and things seemed to simmer down, a couple of fans still found themselves at the receiving end of punches from Artest and Jackson.

To be honest though, it would have been pretty hard for anyone to keep calm under such circumstances.

#3. Larry Johnson vs. Alonzo Mourning

Larry Johnson is held back by the referee

There was never any love lost between Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson, so when they got the opportunity to square off during Game 4 of the 1998 Eastern Conference quarter-finals, they literally grabbed it with both hands.

Mourning was apparently displeased with Johnson's aggressiveness over a rebound with just seconds left in the fourth quarter, and decided to take a swipe at his counterpart. An unrighteous brawl ensued on the court, and continued on until Jeff Van Gundy jumped in and found himself hanging onto Mourning's leg in quite comical fashion.

The players were fined a combined $32,500, and were also slapped with a two-game suspension each. Trust good old Van Gundy to find himself in the middle of a fight.

#2. Kobe Bryant vs Chris Childs

Kobe Bryant is restrained by his teammate after an altercation with Childs

This one took place 17 years ago during a face-off between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. Laker legend Kobe Bryant and former Knicks and Nets guard Chris Childs got into quite a tussle after Bryant delivered a sneaky elbow off a screen.

The pair got in each other's faces before Childs lashed out with two punches, with Kobe responding with a punch of his own. The players were separated and eventually ejected from the game.

Speaking on the incident some years later, Childs claimed that he could have really hurt the Mamba, but didn't want to.

"I didn’t want to knock him out, because I could have," he said in an interview. "But if I did, I’d still be suspended right now. I didn’t put the shoulder in or lean in to it. I didn’t want to hurt him."

#1. Shaquille O'Neal vs. Brad Miller

Shaq quite nearly kills Brad Miller with a giant fist

Shaquille O'Neal is perhaps the most dominant big man to ever play the game. But his career could have been cut short with some real jail time, had his punch landed on Brad Miller during a feisty match between the Lakers and Bulls in 2002.

After receiving the ball in the paint, the Diesel found himself the victim of hard simultaneous fouls from Charles Oakley and Brad Miller. He decided to retaliate by launching, at Miller, one of the most dangerous punches you'll ever see.

Fortunately, his fist whizzed an inch past Miller's face, but things blew up immediately, with members of both teams getting into a huge melee on the floor. Miller somehow emerged from the wreckage unscathed, but not without having to give up his jersey.