John Starks Commits a Whole Slate of '90s Fouls in One Game

May 20, 1994 - A few notes:
1. This is not indicative of how every game in the '90s played out. The game above comes from Game 6 of a contentious 1994 playoff series between the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls (in the midst of Michael Jordan's first retirement).
2. The league first revisited its flagrant foul rules in 1990, following the Detroit Pistons' second NBA championship. Prior to 1990, the flagrant foul was nearly non-existent, as it came with a mandatory ejection, which officials were collectively reluctant to administer. 1990's reassessment of the rule led to the implementation of a two-tiered system-Flagrant 1 violations, which did not result in ejection; and Flagrant 2 violations, which did necessitate an ejection.
3. The threshold for what constituted a flagrant foul in 1994 differed greatly from what is considered a flagrant foul in 2024. In part, there was much greater leeway for contact considered circumstantial. That is to say, contact to a player's upper body (even shoulders or higher) in the midst of appearing to make a basketball play was often considered a common foul and nothing more.
4. There was no in-game video review on potential flagrant foul violations. This often led to officials erring on the side of common foul rulings unless the act committed was particularly intentional and/or heinous.
5. Upon its initial rollout, the new flagrant foul rule did bring about a semblance of confusion, most clearly exemplified just weeks prior to the game above when Atlanta Hawks forward Danny Manning committed two flagrant fouls within minutes of one another and remained in the game (i.e. he was not ejected). This event ultimately led to one of the most violent postseason brawls in modern NBA history. The NBA clarified its rule following the season, mandating that any player committing two flagrant fouls would be ejected from the game in progress.
Manning's flagrants: • Danny Manning Commits ...
Subsequent brawl: • Hawks & Heat Throw Dow...
6. Despite fouling out, Starks finished with 18 points (6-of-12 shooting, 4-of-7 from three) and 7 assists in a 93-79 loss.
7. The Knicks went on to eliminate the Bulls with a grimy 87-77 win in Game 7.
8. The game above is the same contest in which Scottie Pippen baptized Patrick Ewing: • Scottie Pippen Baptize...
9. No. 20 on the Bulls is Pete Myers, Michael Jordan's replacement in the starting lineup following Jordan's retirement in 1993. Myers started 81 of 82 regular season games for the Bulls in '94 (and all 10 in the postseason). He averaged 7 points and 2.8 assists that season.
Game 6 box score: www.basketball...

[@biggsweaty]

Ill always love John Starks. I got his autograph in 1992 as an eight year old at a place called Sports Dog in Hazlet NJ. I was star struck. As an adult I remember the look on Starks' face when I met him-if you know what it took for Starks to finally get big playing time in the league;that was what I saw. He deserved that success and the look he gave me was one of shock and gratefulness-I didnt know it then but looking back he had to have been thinking, "I cant believe I made it! Im this kids hero!", or something to that affect. And his ascent was not over. That was during the winter, that signing-and that 91-92 playoff year was the year of The Dunk. So I was lucky enough to meet him before that. In the years after he did make an all star team and win a sixth man of the year award as well. One of my favorite players of all time. I can understand if people not from the tri state dont feel that way about him, but he was a special part of those special 90s teams, and Ill never forget being so excited to meet him basically during the calm before the storm that was his career.

[@29mailliw]

Your correct in terms of getting autograph before the dunk but the dunk happened in game 2 the final seconds of the 1993 eastern conference finals not 91-92

[@biggsweaty]

@@29mailliw youre right, my bad. I was caught up in the moment of writing that

[@Jenny010132]

John Starks was one of my favorites!

[@Dwayne12345]

- Not a Knicks fan but that Steve Kerr foul was 1000% a block and not a charge - If John Starks did this today they'd have him in anger management like Draymond

[@soramirez5473]

Starks, Oakley, Mason and Greg Anthony were all doing this kind of stuff on the regular basis. as were the other Knicks but not AS MUCH as those four. They are the main reason teams didnt like playing them. not cuz they were GOOD per say (they were legit good but not great, their emotions got the better of them too much) but cuz they played like this more often than not. Similar to the Pistons.. and Later the Heat and Pacers.

[@bubufubu]

@@soramirez5473 In case you're unaware of this fact, that style of play did *not* originate with Detroit in the late '80s.

[@bubufubu]

I'd have to agree on the Starks/Kerr clash. It definitely looks like a block from that second angle.

[@soramirez5473]

@@bubufubu I am WELL aware of the physicality of the 80s, 70s, 60s.. but modern day fans talk as if the 80s and 90s wasnt physical so hence my examples of Starks and the Knicks, Pistons, Pacers, Heat.. that IS MY era.. but i know the Celtics were stiff and physical in the 80s as well. my point was mIKES COMPETITION..

[@bubufubu]

@@soramirez5473 It's been a while since I read up on it, but it may go as far back as the '50s. There are some good stories from former players about how they roughhoused back then. Detroit was not only taught to play that way by other teams in the '80s, but, purportedly, Chuck Daly would bench players if they didn't follow through on his demands for hard fouls. You're right about a lot of modern fans denigrating the talent and defense of the '80s and '90s. They don't stop there, though. They'll joyfully make fun of the competition that Chamberlain and Russell faced, too. Unfortunately, even some modern players have joined in on that.

[@baldheadkid]

LOVE this!!!

[@ryanjoslyn]

Starks was not even trying to display a modicum of restraint. He was pretty out of control.

[@ColdSnapVA]

John Starks went undrafted--he had scratched and clawed his way to the NBA, and would do anything to stay there. Plus, the Knicks were in full "no layups" mode in those days.

[@TheLakers81]

No, actually that's how you supposed to foul in real basketball. Bron made these modern day plays soft divas.

[@ryanjoslyn]

My favorite team, is / was the Detroit Pistons. I can remember going to a game at the Palace, way back in 1989. I mention that, because I’m providing context that I understand how the rugged the game was, especially during Playoff games. That said, I still think Stark’s is showing his relative inexperience, with the not-trying-to hide my excessive force kind of fouls. Specifically, the play where he trips Pippen, mid-court. And also the one, early in the video, fouling Pete Meyers. Looks like he’s trying to prove something, to someone. Not a good look.

[@inallairness]

1:47 Scottie Trippen.

[@Equint77]

As a Knicks fan… as much as I hate to say it I miss the old chicago stadium. So many memories of these knicks/bulls clashes in the early 90’s. I wish the current nba allowed these kind of heated rivalries/series.

[@jumpnam]

Love Starks! Even when he was antagonising Jordan and the Bulls I thought he was such a wicked player 🔥

[@bubufubu]

Ryan, I'm confused by the title. Most of these are fouls that already occurred in the '80s, especially come playoff time. I'm not saying they originated in the '80s, just that they're most definitely not unique to the '90s.

[@ManChan-w5p]

Spike Lee is the New York Knickerbockers nemesis.

[@henny6566]

As a Knicks fan at that time I can admit, Starks was out of control this game. He often let his emotions get the best of him. Some of these were just frustration fouls more than anything.

[@123slasher.16]

Notice the Bulls aren't still crying about THEM 35 years later.. I guess no need to cry over a team you constantly beat?

[@dannynhl9441]

Who said anything to that display here? As a Knicks fan watching this live back then yeah the Bulls beat them. It's over 30 years ago. 35 years ago? 35 years ago the Detroit Pistons won the championship. The Knicks/Bulls really didn't kick off until 91 but more 92.

[@soramirez5473]

Bulls did plenty of crying, they OPENLY said they HATED playing the Knicks cuz it was like playing the Pistons.. BOTH Jordan AND Pippen said that.

[@bubufubu]

@@soramirez5473 The Bulls also cried to the league in the late '80s about Detroit.

[@bubufubu]

Nearly 30 years later, Jordan was *still* whining about Isiah in _The Last Dance_ documentary. Nice try.

[@soramirez5473]

@@bubufubu yea jordan did cry. but I cant say that he cried on the same level of say a Lebron James............... not even close.. but I guess that is why I prefer Bird over Jordan.. Cuz Bird dealt with physicality and he was just a tough tough guy.