NBA Players With More Than 6 Personal Fouls in a Game
NBA Regular-Season Games
| Date |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
Fouls |
| March 26, 1949 |
Jack Toomay |
Baltimore Bullets |
New York Knicks |
8 |
| November 24, 1949 |
Don Otten |
Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
Sheboygan Red Skins |
8 |
| January 17, 1952 |
Lew Hitch |
Minneapolis Lakers |
Syracuse Nationals |
8 |
| November 24, 1949 |
John Hargis |
Anderson Packers |
Syracuse Nationals |
7 |
| November 24, 1949 |
Richie Seltz |
Anderson Packers |
Syracuse Nationals |
7 |
| December 26, 1950 |
Alex Hannum |
Syracuse Nationals |
Boston Celtics |
7 |
| November 13, 1999 |
Cal Bowdler |
Atlanta Hawks |
Portland Trail Blazers |
7 |
NBA Playoffs
| Date |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
Fouls |
| March 21, 1953 |
Al Cervi |
Syracuse Nationals |
Boston Celtics |
7 |
BAA Note
There is also an important pre-NBA BAA occurrence. Jack Toomay of the Baltimore Bullets reportedly committed 8 fouls against the New York Knicks on March 26, 1949. Because this occurred in the Basketball Association of America before the BAA-NBL merger, it is often listed separately from official NBA single-game records, but listed with the records here
Don Otten's Eight Fouls
Don Otten's eight personal fouls are the official NBA regular-season record. He committed eight fouls for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks against the Sheboygan Red Skins on November 24, 1949.
Normally, an NBA player is disqualified after committing six personal fouls. Otten was allowed to remain in the game because Tri-Cities had run out of eligible substitutes. NBA rules require a team to maintain five players on the court whenever possible.
Lew Hitch's Eight Fouls
Lew Hitch matched Otten's record on January 17, 1952, when he committed eight personal fouls for the Minneapolis Lakers against the Syracuse Nationals.
Like Otten, Hitch was able to remain in the game under the league's special rules governing situations in which a team has no eligible substitute available.
Cal Bowdler's Seven Fouls
Cal Bowdler's case was completely different.
On November 13, 1999, Bowdler was playing for the Atlanta Hawks against the Portland Trail Blazers when the scorer's table failed to recognize that he had already committed six fouls.
Bowdler remained in the game and committed another foul with approximately 50 seconds remaining.
The mistake was discovered afterward, leaving Bowdler with an unusual official stat line of 15 minutes, 2 points and 7 personal fouls.
Summary
There are six known NBA regular-season occasions in which a player officially recorded more than six personal fouls, plus at least one playoff occurrence.
Jack Toomay, Don Otten and Lew Hitch share the NBA record with 8 personal fouls in a single game.
The regular-season list includes:
- Jack Toomay - 8
- Don Otten - 8
- Lew Hitch - 8
- John Hargis - 7
- Richie Seltz - 7
- Alex Hannum - 7
- Cal Bowdler - 7
Al Cervi also recorded 7 fouls in an NBA playoff game in 1953.
| 