Which NBA team has been the dirtiest over the past decade? The Heat lead, Rockets rank 4th, Warriors 7th, Spurs last.

On September 17th Beijing time, Rotowire investigated which NBA team has been the dirtiest over the past decade. By utilizing Spotrac’s database on fines and suspensions, they created a “fines and suspensions index” to rank every team — this index combines the frequency of fines, the total fines paid, suspension occurrences, and the number of games missed. The ranking reveals which teams have earned the label of “dirtiest” in the last 10 years.

The detailed ranking is as follows (the higher the rank, the “dirtier” the team is considered) —

Ranks 1 to 10: 1. Heat, 2. Nets, 3. Grizzlies, 4. Rockets, 5. 76ers, 6. Pistons, 7. Warriors, 8. Suns, 9. Bucks, 10. Hornets;

Ranks 11 to 20: 11. Magic, 12. Wizards, 13. Hawks, 14. Timberwolves, 15. Pelicans, 16. Raptors, 17. Cavaliers, 18. Kings, 19. Lakers, 20. Thunder;

Ranks 21 to 30: 21. Clippers, 22. Mavericks, 23. Knicks, 24. Celtics, 25. Jazz, 26. Nuggets, 27. Bulls, 28. Pacers, 29. Trail Blazers, 30. Spurs.

Over the past decade, the Heat have been fined 295 times, with players missing 43 games due to suspensions, resulting in an index score of 2.635, surprisingly making them the NBA’s “dirtiest team.” Clearly, their reputation for physical play and tough style comes with consequences.

In contrast, the Spurs have only been fined 155 times in 10 years, with players missing just 6 games due to suspensions, reinforcing their reputation for strong discipline. Coach Popovich is likely the key reason for the Spurs’ consistent standing — this legendary coach, who stepped down due to health issues, maintained strict team discipline during his tenure, with almost no player daring to break the rules.

Technical fouls are the most common violation, occurring over 8,600 times in the decade; ejections (617 times) and on-court fights (54 times) are also relatively frequent. Additionally, off-court violations (resulting in 118 fines and 17 suspensions) indicate that NBA disciplinary measures extend beyond the playing floor.

Although Draymond Green of the Warriors has been fined a total of “only” $948,000, his 203 violations are the highest in the league. His difficulty controlling emotions and aggressive playing style have negatively impacted the Warriors’ ranking in this category.

Which team do you think is the dirtiest in the league? Feel free to share your thoughts.