Sixteen-year-old Don Mattingly watched on television as the Philadelphia 76ers’ Darryl Dawkins and the Portland Trail Blazers’ Bob Gross clawed for a rebound during Game 2 of the 1977 NBA Finals.
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Dawkins used his sizeable height and weight advantage to muscle the ball from Gross and fling him to the floor.
Gross bounced up, and Dawkins swung at him. He punched his Philadelphia teammate Doug Collins instead. Then, as Dawkins backpedaled away from the scrum, the Blazers’ Maurice Lucas clocked the center from behind.
“Somebody do something!” broadcaster Brent Musberger yelled.
Everyone on either side, as well as fans, appeared to be involved, until Mattingly saw TV cameras capture the Sixers’ Julius Erving. Dr. J was sitting on the floor, observing everything from afar, not getting involved.
