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NBA: 20 Past Players That Would Have Owned Twitter

By Bill Speros

Nov 11, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The NBA Canada Twitter logo is displayed on a signboard and reflected in the floor before the Toronto Raptors game against the Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 104-100. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The NBA Canada Twitter logo is displayed on a signboard and reflected in the floor before the Toronto Raptors game against the Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 104-100. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York – January 30, 1976: Calvin Murphy #23 of the Houston Rockets argues with the referee during a game against the New York Knicks. (Photo by Rogers Photo Archive/Getty Images)
New York – January 30, 1976: Calvin Murphy #23 of the Houston Rockets argues with the referee during a game against the New York Knicks. (Photo by Rogers Photo Archive/Getty Images) /

15. Calvin Murphy

The mercurial point guard played the majority of his career with the Houston Rockets from 1970-83. He has the good fortune of social media technology not being on line during his career. Murphy’s on-court anger, passion and fury was often called “crazy” back in the day.

He started and/or participated in at least 17 fights during an eight-year span in his NBA career. At just 5-foot-9, Murphy was the living embodiment of the “Napoleon Complex” and would engage in battle with players a foot or more taller than he with amazing regularity.

Kermit Washington’s near-fatal punch-to-the-face of Houston’s Rudy Tomjanovich’s face left Murphy so enraged he was going to “kill the sonofabitch who had done that to my buddy” but only “an act of God” prevented him from doing it.

While fighting Boston’s Sidney Wicks in 1976, Murphy yanked the 6-9 Wicks’ afro with his left hand and jack-hammered him sans mercy with his right, He would then credit God once again, this for stopping him before he murdered Wicks.

Even more potential social media fodder: Murphy fathered 14 kids by nine different women.

He was found not guilty on all counts by a jury in 2004 after five of daughters accused him of sexual molestation.

Now a broadcaster with the Rockets, a much more mature and well-dressed Murphy Tweets at @CalvinMurphyRS.

Elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, Murphy is its shortest member and averaged 17.9 points per game during his career.

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