Athletes - Kermit Washington

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	Athletes - Kermit Washington

Kermit Alan Washington (born September 17 1951, Washington, DC) is a former professional basketball player who played collegiate basketball at American University before he played ten seasons in the NBA.

Washington is best remembered for punching opposing player Rudy Tomjanovich during an on-court fight on December 9 1977. The punch, which took Tomjanovich by surprise, left him with a fractured skull. The frightening incident resulted in the NBA clamping down on on-court fights. Washington, then playing with the Los Angeles Lakers, was suspended for two months, missing 26 games. Tomjanovich, then of the Houston Rockets, missed the entire season and later won a court judgment against the NBA for $3.2 million.

Despite the incident, Washington had an otherwise good reputation, and it was often stated at the time that he was being used as a scapegoat for the NBA's recurring problems with violence. Washington played five more years in the NBA. A skilled defensive forward, he was known for his ability to gather rebounds. He averaged 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in ten NBA seasons, playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, San Diego Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors.

Since retiring in 1983, Washington has run restaurants and is a founder and operator of a number of charitable organizations. He has also served in a coaching role with Stanford University.

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Athletes - Kermit Washington

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