10 of the most infamous NBA coach-player feuds

One of the unique things about the sport of basketball is how closely players and their head coaches work together. Sometimes the proximity of that relationship forges a bond between a player and coach that can last a lifetime and enrich the lives of both individuals.

Other times, it goes completely haywire, such as reports that LeBron James had a large hand in the ouster of David Blatt as Cleveland Cavaliers coach. Here are 10 times in NBA history when a player-coach relationship took a turn for the worst.

1) Latrell Sprewell and P.J. Carlesimo

Already a four-time All-Star by late 1997, former Golden State Warriors shooting guard Latrell Sprewell felt head coach P.J. Carlesimo was getting on his case too much in practice for making a few poor passes. Sprewell told Carlesimo he wasn’t in the mood to receive criticism that day and, boy, was he ever not kidding.

When Carlesimo got on Sprewell’s case even more, Sprewell responded by threatening to kill his head coach and then proceeded to choke him for a little less than 10 seconds before the two were separated.

Needless to say, the relationship between Carlesimo and Sprewell was broken and wouldn’t be fixed. Sprewell was suspended 10 games by the team and one year by the NBA. His contract was eventually voided, and he signed with the Knicks in 1998. Sprewell would abstain from choking his coaches for the rest of his years in the NBA.

2) Allen Iverson and Larry Brown

“We talking 'bout practice, man. Practice!” Who could ever forget this shining moment from former 76ers guard Allen Iverson? After being called out in 2002 by head coach Larry Brown for missing too many practices, Iverson went on a legendary tirade against his former coach.

Considering the 76ers had just been eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the Boston Celtics, Iverson’s timing made him look bad to say the least. In any event, Brown would leave Philadelphia in 2003, and it was later reported that Iverson was intoxicated during his rant.

3) Magic Johnson and Paul Westhead

One of the most beloved athletes in all of American sports, it seems to get brushed under the rug that Magic Johnson, essentially by himself, got former Lakers coach Paul Westhead fired in 1981. Westhead had won an NBA title with Magic and the Lakers in 1980 but, for whatever reason, had a poor relationship with Johnson.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss capitulated to his star and hired Pat Riley following Westhead’s dismissal. Four championships later, no one in Los Angeles was complaining.

4) Michael Jordan and Doug Collins

Contrary to popular opinion, Bulls legend Michael Jordan didn’t get head coach Doug Collins fired in 1989. That being said, he certainly didn’t stop it from happening when Bulls management informed Jordan of the decision.

Collins and Jordan butted heads plenty of times, but their most famous incident came during a practice. Jordan, frustrated with Collins, walked out on his team. Most players would have been suspended for making such a move. Instead, Collins was forced to apologize to Jordan.

Jordan was also never shy about bad-mouthing his former coach in front of his fellow NBA players, calling him “too erratic to succeed.” The Bulls replaced Collins with Phil Jackson in 1989, and we all know what happened from there.

5) Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson

Although they would do more than just salvage their relationship by coming back together and winning two additional championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, for a short period of time, Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson couldn’t stand each other.

After leaving his position as head coach in 2004, Jackson published “The Last Season,” a book chronicling his final season as Lakers head coach. Jackson lambasted Kobe in the book, calling him “uncoachable” and criticizing him at every turn of the page. Fortunately for Lakers fans, Bryant and Jackson were able to mend their relationship and have an extra two rings to show for it.

6) Shaquille O’Neal and Stan Van Gundy

History has a way of repeating itself. In 2005, the Miami Heat, led by Shaquille O’Neal, was off to a disappointing 11-10 start. Head coach Stan Van Gundy was then fired, and Pat Riley took control of the team, leading them to a championship.

A few years later, Van Gundy would intimate that placating Shaq was the primary reason he was fired, calling the big man “a master of panic.”

7) Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan

Former Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan was known for being extremely tough on his players, and that just didn’t jive with point guard Deron Williams. Williams and Sloan clashed constantly, and the two nearly came to blows during halftime of a 2011 game against the Chicago Bulls.

Sloan would retire that very same night, and Williams was soon shipped off to the Nets via trade.

8) Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy

In retrospect, Stan Van Gundy may have been the best thing to happen to Dwight Howard’s career. Van Gundy turned Howard into one of the most dominating centers in the NBA with the Orlando Magic. How did Dwight return the favor? By repeatedly lobbying management to fire Van Gundy, of course.

Prior to a 2011 game against the Knicks, Van Gundy all but confirmed the rumors that Dwight was trying to get him fired, when out of the blue, Howard came up to his head coach and put his arm around him as a friend would. It was an awkward moment to say the least. Van Gundy was fired in May of 2012.

9) Stephon Marbury and Isiah Thomas

Talented but troubled, former Knicks guard Stephon Marbury was infamous for clashing with coaches, but the former All-Star reached his breaking point in 2008 with Isiah Thomas. In the midst of a disappointing season, and on the heals of benching Marbury, the former Knicks coach and Marbury reportedly had a physical altercation on the team plane after a game in 2008.

Although with the Knicks there a few winners, you could say Marbury won this feud, as the Knicks fired Thomas in February of 2009.

10) Rajon Rondo and Rick Carlisle

After acquiring All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics in 2014, the Dallas Mavericks looked poised to make a deep playoff run. Instead, Rondo and head coach Rick Carsisle clashed from the outset.

Rondo was eventually benched and sent home during the 2015 playoffs, as the Mavs' season ended in the first round. In the offseason, Rondo bolted to the Sacramento Kings, where he has since revived his career.