An NBA player once played for both teams in the same game. We can explain. | Weird Rules

When the 76ers and Nets played in 1978, it felt like any other game. But after referee Richie Powers started giving out technicals to everyone in sight, it went off the rails.

Ok, maybe that's a slight exaggeration. BUT! He did hit someone with three technicals, which led to the coach protesting and getting hit with three techs as well. Since you can't do that, the Nets took offense and protested the result of the game. It was successful, and the end of the game would be replayed. The trouble was, it wouldn't be for another four months, and in that time these teams combined for a trade. Thanks to that, Eric Money played for both teams and helped create one of the weirdest box scores in NBA history.

(As mc88dx pointed out in the comments, Ralph Simpson and Harvey Catchings, who were a part of the same trade, also had minutes in both games, and I should have clarified that Eric Money was the only player to record *baskets* for two teams in one box score. Thanks for catching! -Ryan)

Written and produced by Ryan Simmons and Seth Rosenthal
Shot and edited by Joe Ali and Jiazhen Zhang
Animations and graphics by Philip Pasternak

[gregtjr.]

This is my favorite episode of weird rules. How in the world was that ref allowed to stay in the NBA?!

[BBand]

"YOU CAN'T GIVE MY GUY THREE TECHNICALS!"

"Okay, YOU get three technicals."
**surprised pikachu**

[armedtitanium]

JR Smith did this in game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals

[-subscriberswithahammerad]

When you can’t decide what team you want to be on

Just be on both

[conorfaught]

“He was responding within a reality that should not exist” is an absolutely amazing quote

[ugoeze]

Eric Money, Richie Powers... those are the type of names that are nicknames in of itself

[gregtjr.]

Also whoever animates these is a legend

[jonpinyan]

3:22 "He was responding within a reality that *TECHNICALLY* does not and should not exist." I see what you did there, Seth!

[tastyquicksandnfl]

Legend has it he is still getting technicals

[TylrTheDstryr]

Ref: Technical
Fans: "No."
NBA: "It's Rewind Time."

[cory]

There is a rule in NASCAR that states every driver must drive 100% of their ability. This came after a driver purposely wrecked to change the points standings. Maybe you could make a weird rules episode about this

[tastyquicksandnfl]

Purposely starts air balling every shot

[therealAZLN]

"Teams have been auto-balanced, you are now on BLU"
"YOU FAILED!!!"

[asdf]

I vaguely remember a MLB game where the two managers were idly chatting before they finalised their lineup cards and gave them to the umpire, when they decided to immediately trade players - the two players had to go the clubhouse, get changed, then go to the other clubhouse and get changed into their new uniforms.

[fenleydorismond]

Best sports YouTube channel just waiting for a rewinder

[coopercharneco]

A similar situation happened last year to Juan Soto. When the nationals played the Yankees he wasn’t in the mlb yet, but when the game got postponed he hit a home run. So technically his first hit was before he was even called up to the MLB.

[Rockhound]

On a similar note, in 1979, the Phillies and Mets were playing a double header. In between games, Jose Carenal was traded from the Phillies to the Mets and played for both teams on the same night. Also, in 1982, Joel Youngblood has the distinction of getting a hit for 2 different teams playing in different cities on the same day. He was on the Mets playing a day game in Chicago. He got a hit. After the game he was traded to the Expos who were in Philly so he flies to Philly and singles for the Expos that night. Incidentally, both of his hits came off of eventual Hall of Famers(Fergie Jenkins & Steve Carlton).

[kourii]

Actually Harvey Catchings (another great NBA name) and Ralph Simpson both played on both sides in the game as well; Eric Money was the only one who scored as a member of both teams.

And the fourth traded player, Al Skinner, played for _neither_ team — that is didn't play in the game in the original version nor in the resumed, alternate-reality one — making him, to my knowledge, the only player to record a DNP for both teams in a single game.

[WhiskyOctober]

On June 26, 2024, Danny Jansen was batting for the Blue Jays vs. Red Sox. During the at bat, the game was delayed and later suspended for rain, to be made up on August 26th. On July 27th Jansen was traded to the Red Sox. He is now the scheduled catcher for the Red Sox for that game, making him potentially the first player in MLB history to play for both teams in a single game.

[perciusmandate]

I like to imagine that every time Richie messed up a game, the commissioner would shake his fist and yell "POWEEEERS!!" like a classic sitcom.