NBA players can’t all be choir boys. Some have to be a little villainous. This is for the best; these players know that being the “bad guy” can be a good thing. Some players build their entire personas, and careers, around being the guy that no one likes. To some degree it’s admirable that some players in the league realize that their real talent is being a pest on and off the court. Without further ado, here are six of the best villains in NBA history.
LeBron James
Nowadays he’s the league’s older statesmen and has hordes of fans and followers, but when James joined the Miami Heat, there may not have been a more hated player in the league. He left his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. The combined talent of the three instantly made them an NBA Finals contender. James saw his jerseys burned and his legacy tarnished. Only returning to Cleveland and beating the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals was able to fully rebuild his image for some.
Dillon Brooks
Perhaps the perfect foil for LeBron James. Brooks is a defensive specialist that—like many on this list—have made a career out of inciting drama on the court. Brooks had his tussles with James when he was on the Memphis Grizzlies in a playoff series against James’ Los Angeles Lakers in which James emerged victorious. Brooks is now on the Phoenix Suns and has transformed into a valuable scorer, averaging over 20 points per game this past season. But that hasn’t stopped him from pestering James as he was present at the Lakers series versus the Oklahoma City Thunder to watch James get swept. He could be seen under the basket, in all black, doing his best Dr. Evil impression.
Metta Sandiford-Artest
Forged during an era in which basketball was less of game of artistry and more of a rock fight, Sandiford-Artest is best known for one singular event: the Malice at the Palace. Sandiford-Artest (who then went by the name Ron Artest) took part in a fight between Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers players when he committed a hard foul on Ben Wallace, the center for the Pistons. The fight, and Sandiford-Artest, eventually moved to the stands after a fan threw a drink at him. As one would expect, Sandiford-Artest was given a hefty suspension as he wasn’t allowed to play out the remainder of the season.
Draymond Green
Yet another player to entangle himself on the web of LeBron James. They had their run-in during the 2016 NBA Finals when James stepped over Green while Green was attempting to get up, which resulted in the ensuing scuffle. Apart from this, Green has also made it his mission to antagonize just about everyone on the court. This includes numerous altercations that have led to suspensions. And teammates aren’t safe either as Kevin Durant and Jordan Poole found out for themselves.
Dennis Rodman
Rodman is, in many ways, the precursor to Draymond Green. He is the model of how an undersized power forward can thrive with the right blend of grit and villainy. Be it crazy hair, dramatic rebounds, or off-court antics, Rodman drew attention to himself. He was purposely abrasive and it often worked to his advantage. There are countless stories about Rodman’s personal life that add to his mystique. His playstyle was built around being a pest on the court, and his personality beautifully reflected that.
The Bad Boy Pistons
Perhaps this is cheating, but the Detroit Pistons of the late 80s and early 90s are the quintessential NBA villains. Spearheaded by point guard Isiah Thomas and head coach Chuck Daly, they were built on two simple principles: defense and physicality. Enforcers—back when it was practically a position to itself in the NBA—Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn made sure players regretted their decision to attack the basket when they were in the paint. They enjoyed inflicting pain and committing hard fouls. Their villainy is best exemplified by the rivalry with Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Jordan was an ascendant star that was going to become the face of the NBA and arguably sports as a whole. In their playoff matchups, the Pistons relished in tossing Jordan to the floor when he dared drive to the hoop. They even had the “Jordan Rules” which were tactics used to specific stop Jordan. The Pistons didn’t just want to win; they wanted to break the spirit of their opponents.
