NBA Discipline Rankings: Miami Heat top “dirtiest teams” list, Spurs most disciplined

Since their inception in 1988, the Miami Heat have grown into a powerhouse in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning three championships and establishing themselves as one of the league’s most-followed franchises.

However, according to a study by RotoWire, Miami also holds the unwanted distinction of being the “dirtiest” team in the NBA over the past decade — a ranking based on player suspensions and games missed because of those suspensions.

Top 20 “Dirtiest” NBA Teams in the Past Decade

1. Miami Heat 
2. Brooklyn Nets 
3. Memphis Grizzlies 
4. Houston Rockets 
5. Philadelphia 76ers 
6. Detroit Pistons 
7. Golden State Warriors 
8. Phoenix Suns 
9. Milwaukee Bucks 
10. Charlotte Hornets 
11. Orlando Magic 
12. Washington Wizards 
13. Atlanta Hawks 
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 
15. New Orleans Pelicans 
16. Toronto Raptors 
17. Cleveland Cavaliers 
18. Sacramento Kings 
19. Los Angeles Lakers 
20. Oklahoma City Thunder 

Notably, Miami tops the list despite being well behind teams like the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers in terms of fines paid. Both the Nets and Sixers shelled out more than $15 million each in fines over the past decade, while the Heat have been fined a relatively modest $941,414.

The Miami Heat are statistically the dirtiest team in the NBA over the last 10 years, per @RotoWire

1. Miami Heat
2. Brooklyn Nets
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Houston Rockets
5. Philadelphia 76ers
6. Detroit Pistons
7. Golden State Warriors
8. Phoenix Suns
9. Milwaukee Bucks
10.… pic.twitter.com/mhxKbKrG5a

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What put Miami on top is their suspension record. The Heat have had 15 player suspensions in the last 10 years, resulting in 43 games missed. Among the biggest culprits were Jimmy Butler and Dion Waiters, both of whom served multiple suspensions imposed either by the franchise or the league.

Butler missed nine games last season due to attitude-related suspensions before his trade to the Golden State Warriors. Waiters, meanwhile, was repeatedly disciplined during the 2018–19 campaign for conduct issues.

In terms of fines, the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets lead the NBA with 487 and 481 fines, respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, the San Antonio Spurs rank as the league’s most disciplined team, accumulating just 155 fines over the same period.

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