If you aren’t familiar with former NBA player Charlie Ward, here are a few things you should know about one of the greatest college athletes ever:
- In 1993, he was a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Florida State University (go Noles and yes, I’m an FSU alumnus too).
- Instead of pursuing a career in the NFL, he decided to take his talents to the NBA.
- The New York Knicks took a chance with him with their 26th pick in the 1994 NBA draft.
- Two MLB teams also drafted him: Brewers (1993) and Yankees (1994).
- He never averaged double-figures in points or even six assists in a season. Still, he lasted 11 seasons in the NBA (8 years longer than the average NFL career), mainly with the Knicks.
It was during his time in the Big Apple that his most infamous incident happened: Game 5 of the 1997 ECSF game against the rival Miami Heat.
THE 1997 KNICKS & HEAT BRAWL
The results of the fiasco were the most severe penalty in playoffs history up to that point: 5 Knicks, including their four leading scorers (Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, John Starks) and one Heat player, were suspended for Game 6 of the series. The four mentioned Knicks were suspended for leaving the bench, and Charlie Ward was suspended for his tussle with PJ Brown that started the brawl. Brown was suspended for two games because he treated Ward like a Quarterback on a football field.
Heat Coach Pat Riley also brought up Ward’s football days during an appearance on a local radio station to discuss the incident.
”Last night, New York couldn’t take their loss, and they continued right up until the last minute and a half to instigate something. As a matter of fact, there were people from the Knick bench that were telling the reserves to start something. And of course, on the free throw, Charlie Ward still thinks he’s at Florida State.”
Riley’s comments pissed off the always-pissed-off Knicks coach, Jeff Van Gundy.
”If you go back and watch the film. we have our small guys in there to block out. Chris Childs and Charlie have taken six shots to the mouth each because of Alonzo Mourning and P. J. Brown.”
Knicks GM Ernie Grunfeld also released a statement sticking up for his players.
”All of our players served as peacekeepers and the reason they came out was to protect one of their own. ‘The reason they did it is the right reason. The action wasn’t right because now, unfortunately, they’re going to have to be suspended. But I’m proud that they stuck up for a teammate.”
All the players were fined, with Starks receiving an additional $5,000 for giving fans in the crowd the middle finger.
When all of the dust and trash talking was done, the Heat went into the Garden, won Game 6, and then became only the sixth team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit after beating the Knicks 101-90 in Game 7, behind 38 points from point guard Tim Hardaway.
Larry Johnson says the NBA unfairly suspended the Knicks for Knicks vs Heat brawl of 1997 between Charlie Ward and PJ Brown. Many believed that ’97 team was the best of the Ewing era and could’ve won it all. Did the NBA conspire against the ’97 Knicks?! pic.twitter.com/m0UQivF8HY
— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) March 15, 2025
AFTER BASKETBALL, BACK TO FOOTBALL
After retiring from the NBA and a short stint as an assistant coach with the Rockets, Charlie Ward returned to football, first as a head coach at a Houston high school and now as a head coach back in Florida, where he’s still considered a legend.
Source: New York Times
October 9, 1993: Florida State quarterback and future New York Knicks point guard Charlie Ward runs for a touchdown as Miami’s Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson looks on, then Ward is sacked by Johnson later in the second quarter.
Ward was also 21-31 passing for 256 yards and threw for… pic.twitter.com/wxxxeNtYuY
— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) October 9, 2025