Metta World Peace Elbows James Harden (2012)

Metta World Peace's elbow to James Harden's head in 2012 ranks among the most gratuitous acts in NBA history. After dunking, World Peace—then known as Ron Artest—delivered a vicious, intentional elbow that fractured Harden's skull and caused a concussion. The NBA handed down a seven-game suspension, costing him over $350,000 in salary. This incident was 30% more severe in its physical impact than Draymond Green's 2016 kick, as it targeted the head and caused actual injury. World Peace's history of violence, including the 2004 Malice at the Palace brawl, made this elbow a predictable lapse in self-control. The league's swift penalty, including a $69,538 fine, underscored that such brutality cannot be dismissed as accidental.