1977 65438+On February 9, the Lakers played against the Rockets, and there was a physical conflict on the field. At that time, Tom Janovich ran to stop the fight, but Comite Washington misunderstood his intention and punched him in the face. Tom Janovich was covered with his face and fell to the ground on the spot. His chin and face were broken, and his skull was broken when he fell. Tom Janovich underwent plastic surgery and recuperation, and it took him five months to return to the court, while comite was suspended for 60 games, which was an unprecedented severe punishment in the NBA at that time. Tom Ianovici later recalled that it was the scoreboard hanging above the stadium that hit him on the head.