Michael Jordan was the greatest player in the history of the game, and he'd be the first to tell you, if you're not cheating, you aren't really trying. That completed the biggest collapse in NBA history, after the Warriors surrendered a 3-1 series lead, only to squander it. He may cross the line though when he shoves people in the back when boxing out or talking trash in players faces. At least McDaniel didn't go after the NBA nobodies. If you don't, it's just dirty. However, despite being one of the best players on the Detroit Pistons, Bill Laimbeer would mostly be remembered As the leader of the dirtiest team in NBA history. As time went by, Garnett slowly began to embrace aggression. Karl Malone was one of the master pupils in the Jerry Sloan School of Dirty Play. World Peace is all three. Bulls' fans may characterize Noah's play as relentless, not dirty. These players would stop at nothing to win a basketball game even at the expense of an opponents well-being. I can't watch the games that Russell played, and if anyone wrote about who was dirty back then, I can't find it, so it's hard to know who is really dirty from yesteryear. Its fast-paced, physical style of play leaves plenty of room for unseen contact or unnoticed cheap shots. Also, in a game against the Spurs, Smart punched Matt Bonner in the groin. Not only does he get away with moving screens, it is essential to the Warriors offense. For Washington, it was in 1977 when the then-Laker clobbered Houston's Rudy Tomjonavich as the Rocket was coming off the bench to break up a fight. It's funny because in all that debate no one challenged the truth of the statement. Ever notice how much Paul smiles during the game? Reggie Miller invented the leg kick on his jump shot to draw the "fake shooting foul" that had become so bothersome to the NBA that they finally decided to do something about it. He even "shoved" Lisa Leslie during a 2008 WNBA brawl when he was a coach on the Detroit Shock, earning a two-game suspension. The he coached his players to do so. He has two rings. Some players still do not understand that it's not okay to purposely hurt other players, and if that is their objective, then they should play another sport such as football or hockey. Beverley injured Russell Westbrook a few years ago when trying to steal the ball as Westbrook tried to call a timeout. Although he will only play for the Miami Heat for only one game Bruce Bowens input would impress the Boston Celtics who will ultimately present him with a one-year contract. Lockdown504090 wrote:theres two camps of questionable plays imo. You don't normally think of a 6'1", 180-pound man as having a Napoleon complex. Someone should have grabbed that finger and broken it. Although many may say Adams is just a hard-nosed player, I would say that he crosses the line into the realm of dirty players. He was 180 pounds but he played like he was 240 pounds. WebThe list also included Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut, Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes and Oklahoma City But he did make his (dirty) mark in the league in other ways. The incident drew an eight-second violation. Then on the offensive end he manages to make any and every slight brush of contact look like he just got blown out of a cannon. NBArank 2021: Ranking the best players for 2021-22, from 5-1 (1:34) You can't blame people for having emotions but when they start to direct their anger towards other players, it becomes dangerous. That single incident makes a lot of people call Washington one of the dirtiest players in NBA history, but that incident wasn't part of a play, and there's nothing to suggest that apart from that instance he was a dirty player. Metta World Peace hardly even needs an explanation, does he? Martin came into the league as an athletic, high-flying player, but after injuries re-invented his game to be one of the most physical enforcers in the league. Some might see him as a larrikin, one who likes to run his mouth in order The greatest players can channel their frustrations into fuel for their game. He didn't just play dirty he was proud to play dirty. This is the guy who invaded the Miami Heat huddle. Athletes like Odell Beckham Jr., Sidney Crosby, Aaron Judge, and Tom Brady are Oh, yes - Kobe isa talented player for the Lakers, but he is also more than a little dirty. The top NBA gambling sites offer all sorts of props, including markets on fouls and ejections, so why dont you check them out? While his intense nature may spark the Cavs, other players around the league are pissed off about it. Apart from yanking other players shorts, Ron Artest also at times was also quick to trade punches with other players after playing dirty. Your email address will not be published. I wouldn't be surprised if he got away with 10 fouls for every one that he actually got called for. Oak Tree is the perfect nickname for him as it was about as easy to move one out of the way. He doesnt have the most skill on the basketball court so he needs to find other ways to contribute. NBA History: 5 dirtiest players of the 21st century, 3 things Giannis Antetokounmpo must do to become a top-5 NBA player of all time. He's also added to that another wrinkle on the other end of the table. Apart from stopping players, Oakley also developed a habit of throwing punches and picking up fights with both players and security staff. But more often than not, Stockton got away with it because of his hustle and his "Who, me?" Today's dirty players wouldn't have been dirty in the 80s. Hedidn't throw the first punch in the fight, Kunnert did. Tim Duncan is arguably the greatest power forward in the history of the game. Unlike most players on this list Bruce Bowen, despite being a highly talented athlete during his college years he was unable to secure a place in the NBA draft after his College career came to an end. Regarded as one of the best lockdown perimeter defenders of all time, Bruce Bowens ability to read plays hard-nosed playing Style made him an elite defender. His most famous 'ball-hitting' incident may have been in Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals, when he hit LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the crown jewels. 2021 Thats a horrific history of repeat offence from dangerous plays. Jordan was arguably the best ever at the "invisible foul." For years he got away with jabbing players with his elbows on his jumper. He wasn't just dirty physically, he wascerebrallydirty. 10 Dirtiest Players in the NFL Today NFL October 14, 2021 News Bot NFL players who are dirty. Web7 Dirtiest NBA Players This Season (2022-23) Draymond Green. While they may be far from the players in the 90s, they still have an edge to their game. If Paul Pierce ever had to guard Paul Pierce in the Fringe version of the playoffs, the guys who mop the floor would get so frustrated they'd throw down their mops and storm away. Wonder if the league office will have something to say about it tomorrow. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Pretty much anything short of biting was fair game to Rodman when it came to gettingpositionfor rebounds. A lot of NBA players dont like Steven Adams, and thats because hes committed his fair share of antics. Moreover, Rasheed Wallace also holds the record for the most career ejections, having received 29 of them during his illustrious NBA career. NBA players are no exception. When Kobe Bryant comes to mind, dirty is not the word I would use to describe him, although he can be at This is the guy that slung Kirk Heinrich into the scorers table and got away with it. The good news is that Green has curtailed a lot of that aggressiveness on the court. He coached players to be dirty because he was dirty. The best basketball betting sites will cover all the games from the 2022-23 season, including the playoffs. One of the incidents the gives him the label as a dirty player is the fact that he punched Blake Griffin in the crotch. Not only has he been the victim of groin kicks, but hes also doled them out to the other players. Ian Kennedy (@IanKennedyCK) May 22, 2021 However, unlike most players on this list, John Brisker was a player who did not take s*** from anyone. He knew how to get under a player's skin and he did so. In the end however, Bogut says that he doesnt care that he is labeled as dirty. Before there was Bruce Bowen and Ron Artest/Metta World Peace there was Scottie Pippen. Fans of Matthew Dellavedova say that hes a scrappy player who shows a lot of energy and enthusiasm. It may not sound all that dirty but even after he injured Westbrook, he tried the same exact thing a year later. It's not so much about these things being as it is about his mental approachhe wants you to feel bad about yourself. In fact, according to the fan survey How can anyone forget about the 2015-16 NBA Playoffs? He noted that he has never injured anyone even though he may foul hard or set hard screens. He was as dirty as a third-world city though. Miller was the master of kicking out his legs on his jumpshots to kick the defender and then have the defender get whistled for being kicked. All-in-one looking back at John Stocktons NBA career one thing becomes clear, John Stockton was a highly competitive player who was willing to do whatever it takes To win his games. Mark Jackson was the master of the physical point guard in a little man's body. Adams is known for doing the dirty work, but the way he does it earns him this honor. Hes notorious for being a bully and making outlandish statements about other NBA players. Though he was never tagged with the nickname "Oak Tree," he could have been - since driving into the lane when he was present often gave you the feeling of slamming into an oak tree. Although hes small in stature, he can still land a deadly strike on a bigger players crotch. I'm sure that dirty wouldn't even cross your mind if these guys played in the 80s or 90s, that's just how the game used to be. He was able to absolutely mug opponents and steal the ball. Thomas uses his body to moveopponentsaround, not to move aroundopponents. Mandy Rose & 9 Other Women AEW Should Hire, 10 Ridiculous Wrestling Catchphrases That Never Caught On, 4 Ways WCW Contracts Were Different Than WWE Contracts (4 Ways Theyre The Same). From one of the dirtiest teams in the NBA, the Utah Jazz (Bad Boys of the NBA) to Malice in the Palace, the NBA was not a place for soft-hearted players. WebNBA DIRTIEST PLAYERS NBA August 29, 2022 News Bot Jokic & Markief Morriss early season beef, inspired me to put together a list of the dirtiest players in the NBA today. Throughout NBA history, there have been many players who have done some of the foulest deeds in the game. An anonymous player from the Western Conference said that he believes that Ibaka is the dirtiest player in the NBA and I wouldnt be surprised if it was one of Griffin's teammates. A bigger percentage of these players ultimately earned the role of the teams enforcer. During his NBA career, Ron Artest played for six different teams and gained a reputation for his lockdown defense. Even coaches have expressed their outrage at Adams, claiming that hes overly physical and often throws elbows. The kick out became such a problem in the league that officials eventually had to ban it. His ability to play supreme defense makes it difficult for referees to catch all the dirty little tricks he does. theres guys who dont care about player safety like lowry , beverly, smart, isaiah stewart and those guys, and then theres guys that are flat out just going out of their way with the dirty stuff like jokic embiid giannis draymond and grayson.The stuff they are doing isnt even in the He also plays dirty. Look, there's a reason that Mark Cuban told Kenyon Martin's mom that her son is a thug. The foul by Marc Gasol makes for an easy distraction from the hit on Ayton. This list is more about who is good at being dirty than it is a recounting of the hardest fouls or most famous violent instances in NBA history. He plays dirty andhe plays cheap. What was even more excruciating for opponents is that Kobe frequently got foul calls when he initiated the illegal contact. Bryant has many highlights of cheap shots for which, he should be held more accountable. Despite being an elite Defender Dennis Rodman in various locations did let his emotions get the best of him. Violence was encouraged. If you are going to pull a dirty move then at least stand there like a man, dont back away. 15 years ago, the infamous MALICE IN THE PALACE!A hard foul between Ben Wallace and Ron Artest led to arguably the biggest fan-player brawl in sports history SUSPENSIONS:Ron Artest: 86Stephen Jackson: 30Jermaine ONeal: 15Ben Wallace: 6Anthony Johnson: 5 pic.twitter.com/fmrbFk94Jq. Critics say that Evans has to play dirty because he isn't capable of doing anything else other than rebounding. Bruce Greenwood began his professional NBA career in France playing for various teams in the French League. Plus, he's been ejected for screaming at referees. He was everything that Ron Artest was or Scottie Pippen was with one twist that can only be described as malicious. Also formerly known as Metta World Peace, Artest may have had a change of heart towards the latter part of his career. But his speciality was talking trash and letting opposing NBA players cringe at the foul words coming out of his mouth. Oakley, who once said, "Oh well, that's basketball. Rudy T's head hit the floor, his jaw and nose were broken, and spinal fluid began leaking onto the court. Celtics fans get mad when I say that Rajon Rondo is a nasty little gremlin, but I only say that because he's a nasty little gremlin. He was the NBA version of Tommy DeVito. Apart from plastic in the warm John Stockton also on one occasion Body slams, San Antonio Spurs guard David Robinsons onto the hardwood floor. There are some lines you just don't cross, Reggie. Additionally, to really know if a player is dirty or not you have to actually watch him play. Pauls most recent groin-related offense was against Jose Alvarado during the 2021-22 postseason. The legend is always included in any top best midfielders of all time 2021 list. Bowen had a tendency to slip his foot under opponents feet when they went up for a jump shot. Chris Paul There arent too many Unlike all the other players on the team, Bill Lambier wore this title with Pride. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'sportlister_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_11',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportlister_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); One of the most controversial players of all time, Metta World Peace is regarded to be one of the dirtiest players of all time in the NBA. The other Thomas on this list is the closest thing to an NHL-style "enforcer" on a basketball court. NFL players have a way of becoming household names. Please logout and login again. Todays NBA is less physical and more sensitive than it was back in the day, but the dirty plays are still present. One of the most notorious trash talkers during his heydays, Garnett made his opponents feel the difficulty of playing against him by setting screens that would cause many players to curl up and fall down in pain. Stockton was a genius at getting away with fouls while making it look like he was fouled when he was not. I dont think Beverly is malicious in nature, but hes willing to gain an edge on the court in any way possible. The most notable example was his karate kick against Bradley Beal in 2016. Every sport has its heroes and fan favorites. My list of dirty NBA players wouldnt be complete without Grayson Allen. He just gets away with it because of his star status. He does what Scottie Pippen did, only he does it with an element of meanness which borders at times on cruelty. Washington had already been punched by Kevin Kunnert and retaliated by punching Kunnert. Sometimes, though, their activities on the court take away from the game, and hinders their teams success. And the NBA is no exception. facial expressions which irked all non-Jazz fans. The truth is hes nothing special and often plays mediocre basketball. Draymond Green 2. After all, he didn't stay in the league past his 40th birthday because of his exceptional talent. Remember all the debate about whether that was appropriate or not? With the game out of reach and his Indiana Pacers on their way to a win against the Detroit Pistons, Artest shoved Ben Wallace hard, and that essentially started the infamous brawl that would ensue later. I swear he grew that ponytail to try to look a little crazier. Many will claim that the incident with Love was a fluke. In his first year with the San Antonio Spurs, Bruce Bowen received a $7500 fine after kicking Wally Szczerbiak in the face. Rodman was an absolute masterof that and a lot of that meant being dirty. Sometimes, one incident is good enough to secure your place in infamy. NBA veterans are really getting fed up with his moves and have been 'calling him out' in the media. #4 Kevin Garnett. Here's a fun game. Remember, Isiah was the point guard for the "Bad Boy" Pistons, and he sometimes instigated confrontations which were "finished" by his fellow goons teammates. He was the master of the psychics of dirty play. Tom Wilson suspension history: 2 GM - Sept. 2017 4 GM - Oct. 2017 3 GM - May 2018 20 GM - Sept. 2018 7 GM - Mar. Kevin Garnett reacts after being introduced as part of the NBA 75 anniversary team during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022. These guys may change your minds about that. The numbers arent too impressive, but Kelly Olynyk has caused significant injuries to other NBA players. WebWho are the dirtiest players in the NBA? This is often a hot topic so post your feedback on who you feel are the dirtiest players in the NBA. When Kobe Bryant comes to mind, dirty is not the word I would use to describe him, although he can be at times. 76ers vs. Celtics: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Heat vs. Knicks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Steve Kerr on Kevon Looney: 'Loon is one of the best centers in the league', Warriors take down Kings in Game 7 behind Stephen Curry's heroic performance, Joel Embiid officially listed as doubtful for Monday's game, Jimmy Butler's injured ankle looking visibly swollen following Game 1, Mitchell Robinson dealing with hip injury, Jalen Brunson on loss against Miami: I was horrific, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He was also one of the most feared perimeter "lockdown" defenders of the 2010s and in NBA History, Bowen was selected to the NBA All WebThey were cut from the same cloth, a fabric sewn by their coach, Jerry Sloan, who was also a dirty player of note back in his playing days. My point here is this. The primary reason for that is that her son is a thug. For example,McDaniel loved to trash talk with the likes of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, but he also got into a brawl with Charles Barkley and had to be confined to the locker room after a game during which he began tussling with Dennis Rodman. He even forced one of them to change; the "Mark Jackson" rule prohibits players from backing down opponents below the free throw line for more than five seconds. Despite being a physical specimen Karl Malone had one Lethal Weapon in his Arsenal, his elbow. This includes numerous acts of aggressiveness, such as unnecessary fouls, shots to the groin, and other bush league antics. Despite the mystery that surrounds his disappearance back in the 90s after a short trip to Iddi Amins Uganda, John brisker was considered to be the enforcer on anything that he was on. The former Defensive Player of the Year knew how to intimidate and get in his opponents face. Interestingly enough, their sully reputation doesnt diminish the effectiveness of their defense. Noah plays hard as heck. Popularly known as the worm, Dennis Rodman Is widely known for his extraordinary defensive and rebounding ability. Updated 2 years ago on Apart from adding intensity into his game, Garnett also began trash-talking opponents as a way of getting into their heads. Alongside John Stockton, Karl Malone made one of the most formidable duos in the NBA. He pushes players around. Reggie Miller 1 of 25 Reggie Miller invented the leg kick on his jump shot to draw the "fake shooting foul" Do you agree with the players on this list? 6) Zaza Pachulia. Here are the 15 dirtiest players in the NBA today. What's interesting is that Martin wasn't always a dirty player. He is where the two worlds collide. In last year's playoff run, Dellavedova's dirty tactics injured Al Horford, Kyle Korver and got Taj Gibson ejected for reacting to having his foot squeezed between Delly's legs. Who knows? Popularly known as the mailman Karl Malone is undeniably one of the greatest NBA players of all time. It's just too bad that he retired from basketball the season before his final team, the Miami Heat, won its first NBA title. He had to "prove" that he was as tough as anyone on the court and because of that he played borderline mean, except without the borderline. However, despite the fact that Karl Malone ended up Saying that the heat was unintentional Bill Laimbeer did not believe the narrative and ultimately Got His Revenge by clubbing the big man on his face. If you need to fire a warning shot at a team, there's not many better players to have on your pine than Kurt Thomas. Like most players on this list, its Rasheed Wallaces intensity and love for the game that often got him into trouble with both officials and opposing teams. Kevin Garnett could easily be on top of this list. Of course, this was after fulfilling their mission of getting into the opponents head. Apart from grabbing jerseys, these players also soccer punched opponents and in some cases pushed other players from behind in a discreet and sometimes not very discreet manner. Despite being an effective defensive player, Bill was also an efficient Outside scoring Centre. Be the first one to comment on this story. In other instances, they would even slip their foot underneath other players when they were taking jump shots. He loved to throwhiselbows, talk trash, and get into altercations with opponents. In this article, I highlight the dirtiest NBA players and explain how they got their bad reputations. Pippen was on the All-Defensive First Team eight times, and on the second team two times and a lot of that was because he, like his teammate Michael Jordan, knew how to get away with fouls. By HoopsHype | January 20, 2016. Metta World Peace was always at the center of controversy which led to disciplinary and legal issues. Bruce Bowen was the all time-dirtiest player in the history of the NBA. But in the NBA, it's easier to understand why Jackson felt the need to overemphasize his physicality. Just as things seemed to be calming down, a fan threw a drink at Artest, which evoked him to attack the fan (he attacked the wrong fan). I'm willing to wager that he easily hit 5,000 players with elbows in his career. With tougher and bulkier Celtics around him, the Kentucky producthas fostered a penchant for bad behavior - like flopping and whining about foul calls, slinging Kirk Heinrich into a scorers' table, or even popping into the Miami Heat huddle. Its truly hard to imagine that Garnett would ultimately turn into one of the dirtiest players in the history of the NBA. NBA players are no exception. He also gave Griffin a bloody nose. One NBA player says Bogut throws elbows when he sets screens, grabs, and pushes guys in the back every chance he gets. No one ever argued that Michael Jordan didn't try. His charisma, personality, and smile made him the ideal choice for various endorsements and deals. Garnett has become adept at taking shots at opponents who just took a jump shot. Kobe Bryant has taken everything he learned by emulating Michael Jordan into playing dirty without getting called. comments). Manage Settings Years ago he may have gotten away with these dangerous antics but he needs to adjust his game to shed this label. Sports Content Lead@Complex | Lehigh 18 | zion.olojede@complex.com |@NigeriaBasket | Co-Host of Complex Sports Live on@spotifylive. Hes also gotten into numerous scuffles, and hes good at getting under the skin of other players. The very next season, he got caught tripping another player. However, the replays of the event didn't show the scuffle that led up to the punch and Washington's entire career has been defined by that single incident. Rebounding and defense are the two reasons he's the lowest scoring player in the Hall of Fame (unless you count Mel Daniels who only played 11 NBA games and is in there because of his ABA accomplishments.). However, his aggressiveness makes him an asset to NBA teams. June 7, 2015: LeBron James' 39-PT triple-double and Matthew Dellavedova's notable defense to hold Steph Curry to 5-23 FG led Cleveland to a memorable Game 2 NBA Finals victory over the Warriors in the 2nd consecutive OT game of the series pic.twitter.com/QkTLeK1Q9s. It's not about Chris Kaman grabbing the junk of an opponent going for a rebound. Matt Barnes has a short temper and it's easy to get him riled up. For his career, Artest was ejected 11 times, including three times in the playoffs. He also led the NBA in flagrant fouls in both 2011-12 and 2012-13, and was second in that category last season. Dillon Brooks When even one of your fellow players deems you the dirtiest player in the league, we have to place you 3. But for every MJ or Bird or LeBron, it helps to have the dastardly opponent who will stop at nothing to being his team to victory - even if it comes at the expenses of other players' health. But that is no excuse KG is constantly throwing elbows and then putting his hands in the air as if he is innocent. Every sport has its heroes and fan favorites. I suspect that by modern standards Bill Russell was probably one of the craftiest, dirtiest players of all time, but all I have are suspicions. He has amassed a whopping 52 technical fouls over the last seven seasons with the Clippers, Lakers, Magic, Suns, and Warriors. Doesn't he know the "bro" code?! Plays such as these have resulted in Green earning a technical foul or suspension from the NBA office. He had a rough time early in his life, and it most likely shapes his attitude on the court. Refresh the page, check Medium s The usually calm and collected Curry was incensed many times because of Dellys tough brand of defense, which included physicality beyond normal means. Since his retirement in 2004, Oakley has repeatedly complained about the "softness" of today's NBA, and has even hinted at coming back to toughen it up a little. The Malone Jazz were such a dirty team that they didn't have showers in the locker room. But he's more than just a big mouth. Maybe because he's part French. Evans effort may sometimes cross the line onto the dirty side, but its hard to blame his when his whole game is based off of that. That tendency, along with the same kind of great but dirty play that the other great defensive wings on here had, earned him the top spot on the list. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Dwight Howard Dwight Howard, #39 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the Eastern Conference Playoffs on June 11, 2021, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Theres a difference between competitive and just plain dirty. Who are the 25 dirtiest players in NBA history? Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks 04/19/2023 NBA Odds and Prediction, New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers 04/17/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction, Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees 04/14/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction, OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans 04/12/2023 NBA Play-in Tournament Odds and Prediction, Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat 04/11/2023 NBA Play-in Tournament Odds and Pick, OKC Thunder vs Utah Jazz 04/06/2023 NBA Odds and Prediction, Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Yankees 04/05/2023 MLB Odds, Preview, and Prediction, San Diego State Aztecs vs Connecticut Huskies NCAA Mens Basketball Championship Game, 2023 NBA Championship Odds, Preview, and Prediction at the All-Star Break. No one embellishes contact quite like Pierce. Some. Dwight Howard is seen as the nice guy, playing and joking and there is that side of him. Consider that the Australian native was voted in 2015 as the dirtiest player in the NBA in a voting by players and coaches in a Los Angeles Times poll. Just as Stockton was the archetype of today's dirty point guards, and Scottie Pippen was the archetype of today's dirty wings, Dennis Rodman was the archetype of today's dirty power forwards.