To this day, Ron Artest's 86-game suspension (73 regular season, 13 post season) is the longest in NBA history, surpassing the former record of 68 by Latrell Spreewell.
After the incident, the NBA bolstered and changed multiple rules to security and alcohol consumption at games. More officers were expected to be hired as well as per customer caps on total alcohol consumed along with smaller serving sizes. The NBA also instituted a controversial dress code for players fearing the public perception at the time. Any player not in uniform was expected to wear business attire on the sideline.
Tim Donaghy has had a knack for being in some of the most notoriously officiated games in NBA history. He officiated the infamous 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals in game 6 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, which to this day many believe was fixed to prolong the series. He also officiated the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals Game 4 between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, which had an infamous incident that resulted in multiple suspensions for the Suns, costing them the series. Donaghy admitted later after being indicted for game fixing that that series was one he helped rig in an elaborate gambling scheme that resulted in jail time and fines for his actions. This also helped institute a rule where officials were not allowed to gamble under any circumstance.
While a local and ESPN broadcast were both covering the game, the ESPN broadcast is regarded as the definitive version of events. The broadcast was famous for Bill Walton's statement "This is a disgrace." Soon after Walton left NBA broadcasting and switched exclusively to college basketball.
The largest NBA brawl to date (2021)