When Cal Bowdler committed seven fouls in one game…

Since the emergence of the BAA (formerly the NBA) in 1946, personal fouls have been counted and distinguished from technical fouls. After six, the player automatically switches off.

Certain rules unknown (or almost) to everyone still led to crazy situations, like when Robert Sacre continued to play despite his six fouls, in February 2014.

Indeed, with NBA regulations stipulating that there must always be 10 players on the floor, the then-Lakers were forced to stay in the game because his franchise only had four “valid” players. The only limitation in this scenario: any additional personal foul for which the player should be sent off results in a technical foul (and therefore a free throw).

“Garbage Time” where everyone is distracted

November 13, 1999. Cal Bowdler would, however, exceed the six-foul mark, setting a record since the establishment of the 24-second clock during the 1954-55 season. And it was not due to a lack of players – but due to a counting error by the referees and scorekeepers. Unaware that their hometown team would write their name in the history books, the Hawks traveled to Oregon that night to challenge the Blazers.

Already at halftime (76-44 in Portland’s favor), this encounter allowed Atlanta’s usual substitutes to benefit from much more playing time. Among them we find Cal Bowdler and he will deliver the disgusting copy in almost 15 minutes. Naively burdened in each of his interventions, the 17th pick in the 1999 draft accumulates personal fouls and offers several “and-ones” to his opponents, including Jermaine O’Neal and Joe Klein.

Entering the game 3 minutes and 30 from the end of the third quarter, the rookie blew his first whistle a minute later. Then he started the fourth quarter with two more fouls in two minutes. Then it was Bonzie Wells and Greg Anthony’s turn to blame the powerful Hawks wing who now have five in total.

With 2 minutes and 50 minutes left in the match, Jermaine O’Neal provokes Cal Bowdler’s sixth foul and gets an “and-one” as a bonus. Supposedly shut out, Atlanta’s interior finally took advantage of the lack of attention from the referees and scorer’s table officials to stay in the game! Before completing his “masterpiece” with his seventh and final foul, still on Jermaine O’Neill, two minutes later. That’s how he leaves the floor forever, 50 seconds before the end of the game.

Precedent to note: Don Otten

Upon his arrival, Cal Bowdler finished with incredible stats: 2 points, 2 rebounds and 7 fouls, in 15 minutes. No one in history has recorded as many fouls as the former Hawks forward since the 1954-55 season and the establishment of the 24-second clock. “Since the 1954-55 season and the establishment of the 24-second clock” because, in reality, a player had done even better before: Don Otten.

On November 24, 1949, the man then wearing the jersey of the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (who later became… the Atlanta Hawks) committed eight fouls against the (now defunct) Sheboygan Red Skins. Taking advantage, this time, of this point of regulation which authorizes players who should be sent off to continue playing so that there are always the required 10 on the floor.

In any case, these two records – distinguished by the presence (or not) of a 24-second clock – will probably never be broken, unless the referees and officials interfere again…