20 Things Centers Could Do in the 1970s and 80s That the NBA Banned

Step back in time to the wild, physical, and completely lawless eras of 1970s and 1980s NBA basketball, where centers weren't just tall—they were the most physically imposing enforcers on the floor. From exploding glass backboards to designated team enforcers and uncalled off-ball violence, explore 20 things big men used to get away with that would get them suspended, fined, or arrested in today's league. Discover how the rules of basketball evolved, why certain tactics were completely legal, and the brutal moments that forced the NBA to rewrite its rulebook forever. If you enjoyed diving into this piece of basketball history, make sure to hit that subscribe button, leave a thumbs up, and ring the notification bell for more deep dives into classic sports eras! Let us know in the comments which of these rules shocked you the most. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction: The Lawless Era of NBA Centers 0:29 - Number 20: Setting Bone-Crushing Screens 1:19 - Number 19: The Evolution of Flopping 2:03 - Number 18: Arguing and Stalking Officials 2:45 - Number 17: Benches Clearing for Fights 3:35 - Number 16: Zero Instant Replay on Blocks 4:15 - Number 15: Chest-to-Chest Confrontations 5:34 - Number 14: Tactical Breakaway Fouls 6:19 - Number 13: Invisible Off-Ball Holding 7:13 - Number 12 & 11: Hand-Checking and Post Defense 8:45 - Number 10: Verticality vs. Body Checks 9:24 - Number 9: Undercutting Jumpers 10:02 - Number 8: Rebounding Forearms and Elbows 10:43 - Number 7: Staredowns and Showmanship 11:21 - Number 6: The Dedicated Team Enforcer 12:47 - Number 5: The Ban of ISO-Only Post Play 13:30 - Number 4: Uncategorized Violent Fouls 14:15 - Number 3: No Defensive Three Seconds 15:02 - Number 2: The Kermit Washington Incident 16:11 - Number 1: Shattering Glass Backboards 17:13 - Conclusion: How the Game Changed #NBABasketball #BasketballHistory #RetroNBA #1970sNBA #1980sNBA #BasketballLegends #DarrylDawkins #KermitWashington #NBACenters #OldSchoolBasketball #BasketballRules #NBATrivia #SportsHistory #HardFouls #Enforcers #RimProtectors #NBADocumentary #HoopsHistory #VintageNBA #BasketballTalk #SportsDocumentary #NBALegends #ClassicNBA #BasketballFan #NBAPast #BallIsLife #BasketballCulture #CourtsideHistory #SportsDebate #BasketballStories