Kermit was fined $10K and suspended only 26 games for almost killing a man. Most brutal punch in NBA history.
But there was a similar incident just a few weeks earlier (late ‘77) when Kareem sucker-punched rookie Kent Benson. Kareem had been elbowing Benson throughout the first quarter when he got an elbow in return. The Muzzie then exhibited a complete lack of impulse control and sucker-punched Benson in the face, knocking him down, but not out. Fortunately the only real damage was done to Kareem’s right hand, which he broke, and he was forced to miss 21 games because of it.
Alcindor turned out to be a real dick over the years.