The Biggest Controversies The NBA Has Seen In 2023 So Far

The NBA has seen more than its fair share of controversies throughout the years, with 2023 being no exception. While plenty of people tune into the sport to see the top basketball players of the world put their skills to the test, it can be tough to ignore everything else happening behind the scenes.

In fact, the biggest controversies the NBA has seen in 2023 so far have often dominated basketball more than the games and players themselves. Still, what would sport be without a wrench or two being thrown into the works every now and then? With the year moving so quickly, it can be tough to remember everything that's happened in the last few months.

The Los Angeles Lakers got into a heated argument with the referees

For years, the Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the most successful teams in the NBA. That's why so many people were surprised to see the team fail to get off the mark at the start of 2023. Instead, the team had to really pull together just to make it out the other side of every game, with plenty blaming the referees for turning a blind eye to things. It's not just fans who are upset. Even Russell Westbrook and LeBron James have challenged the refs more than once, with the NBA Referee Association offering an apology on social media for their actions. Still, for many, the apology came too late - with plenty still reeling from the outcome.

Dillon Brooks seemingly challenged anyone and everyone to a fight

While some people are beloved members of their team, Dillon Brooks has earned quite the reputation as an NBA villain. The player has long caused issues on the court, but things took a wild turn in February 2023 when he was playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Brooks was quick to take a cheap shot on Donovan Mitchell - and Mitchell didn't back down. It didn't take long for people to rally around Mitchell, claiming no one has ever stood up to Brooks and how he is a dirty player in the NBA. With so much heat and backlash, it appeared Brooks' instant response was to continue squaring up to anyone who dared to stand in his way.

Shannon Sharpe found himself in the middle of a shouting match

Being a Hall of Famer is no easy achievement, but it's something Shannon Sharpe has earned throughout his incredible career on the court. The problem? Sharpe couldn't hide his frustration when watching Dillon Brooks, with Brooks retaliating by throwing a host of names Sharpe's way. By the end of the shouting match, Sharpe was taking on the entire Grizzlies team, with even Ja Morant's father somehow getting himself involved in it all. It wasn't long before Sharpe offered an apology for his behavior. However, in a twist, plenty of fans have since rallied around Sharpe and accused Brooks of being the problem in it all, with many thinking the player has recently been showing his true colors on the court.

Ja Morant found himself suspended for allegations of violence

The start of March wasn't meant to be anything special, yet Ja Morant became the talk of the NBA for all the wrong reasons. The basketball star was allegedly seen with a weapon in a nightclub after losing to the Denver Nuggets, with the NBA launching an official investigation. Later that same day, it was announced Morant would be out of the Grizzlies for the next two games before that was swapped for an "indefinite amount of time." Things only got worse for Morant as the month went on, with the Grizzlies stating they had no idea if and when one of their star players would return. After several meetings, things got worse once more. In May 2023, Morant was accused of flashing a weapon during an Instagram Live session, leading to the NBA suspending the basketball player for at least another 25 games for the season.

The biggest controversies the NBA has seen in 2023 so far come in all shapes and sizes, with plenty of players being accused of all kinds of things. Still, the year is far from over, meaning there could still be plenty more to come from the sport.