Thomas was the captain of the dirtiest team in the league, and possibly the dirtiest team in the league's history. That comes out to 39 percent more than the second best ever. 8 Dirtiest Players In Today's NBA All Rights Reserved. With Barnes, the statistics don't lie. He even "shoved" Lisa Leslie during a 2008 WNBA brawl when he was a coach on the Detroit Shock, earning a two-game suspension. 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. That's 1,006 more than Jason Kidd who is second on the list. Additionally, to really know if a player is dirty or not you have to actually watch him play. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. So with that explanation, here are the 25 dirtiest players in NBA history. But in the NBA, it's easier to understand why Jackson felt the need to overemphasize his physicality. Garnett is apparently oblivious to the fact that we have the luxury of multiple angles and instant replay! 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Some say that he is merely reckless. Bowen had a tendency to slip his foot under opponents feet when they went up for a jump shot. Some players have a reputation for being "dirty" because of a single hard foul or cheap shot but otherwise weren't necessarily dirty players. NBA DIRTIEST PLAYERS - Win Big Sports Charles Oakley may very well be the toughest player in the history of the league. That's Rondo. He is an extremely active, energetic player and a lot of times that frenetic nature of his play is misconstrued as "dirty" play. Boo hoo. John Stocktons dirty plays became the talk of the town and even on one occasion Chicago Bulls player Steve Kerr even referred to John Stockton as a dirty Player. WebThe Top 25 Players in the NBA in 2021-22 Ranking the very best the league has to offer as the season nears its conclusion By The Ringer Staff Mar 9, 2022, 6:30am EST There are some lines you just don't cross, Reggie. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Dellavedova clotheslined him during a regular season game in 2018 and was promptly ejected. There are other famous cheap shots. Though the league has tried to crack down on this in recent years, there's still a significant presence of "underhandedness" in the modern NBA. He won't hesitate to get into a fight with anyone. He doesnt have the most skill on the basketball court so he needs to find other ways to contribute. NBA 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. Certainly he's a crafty,wily defender who knows how to foul without getting caught, but he's cheap too. No single play defines a player. On the other hand he's constantly getting in other players' ears, and does an awful lot of shoving and pushing around. There's a way you can know that Paul got away with a dirty play. One of the incidents the gives him the label as a dirty player is the fact that he punched Blake Griffin in the crotch. One of the best defenders in the game during his playing days, Artest was also known for throwing cheap shots at opponents as part of his intimidating tactics. Each NBA Team's Dirtiest Player - Bleacher Report Apart from yanking other players shorts, Ron Artest also at times was also quick to trade punches with other players after playing dirty. 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. Todays NBA is less physical and more sensitive than it was back in the day, but the dirty plays are still present. 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. I love the guy. If you asked Wallace, he never committed a single foul. - back in 2006. Thats what makes him one of the dirties NBA players right now. Artest was central to the 'Malice at the Palace' incident that rocked the basketball world to its core during the 2004-05 season. Fighting will never help your team like it can in hockey, it will only hurt them. It was not uncommon for teams to use Thomas to "send a message." He knew how to get under a player's skin and he did so. Despite being a physical specimen Karl Malone had one Lethal Weapon in his Arsenal, his elbow. Although hes small in stature, he can still land a deadly strike on a bigger players crotch. The "Bad Boy" Pistons would be proud of the players on this list, that's for sure. Several notable NBA stars, including Kevin Durant and Rudy Gobert, have been on the receiving end of a Chris Paul groin shot. Pauls most recent groin-related offense was against Jose Alvarado during the 2021-22 postseason. The incident drew an eight-second violation. The foul by Marc Gasol makes for an easy distraction from the hit on Ayton. During the 2001 2002 Seasons, Bruce Bowen world received a contract from San Antonio spas in the process of joining our Championship-caliber team led by Tim Duncan and David Robinson. In his 18-year NBA career, Karl Malone was a member off the Utah Jazz franchise, since his rookie year 2 the end of his NBA career. He wasn't Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo, getting steals by jumping passing lanes. The primary reason for that is that her son is a thug. Some might see him as a larrikin, one who likes to run his mouth in order I will be listing the NBA players who I feel are the dirtiest because of the things Ive seen them do or how other NBA players feel about their peers. Someone should have grabbed that finger and broken it. NBA History: 5 dirtiest players of the 21st century - Sportskeeda The kick out became such a problem in the league that officials eventually had to ban it. Apart from stopping players, Oakley also developed a habit of throwing punches and picking up fights with both players and security staff. The omission of earlier players is because it's just hard to know who should and shouldn't have been included. Critics say that Evans has to play dirty because he isn't capable of doing anything else other than rebounding. The Malone Jazz were such a dirty team that they didn't have showers in the locker room. All I'm saying is once you get into the teens and you're still hurting people you need to consider what you can change. A lot of NBA players have thrown punches. Virtually nothing was sacred to Garnett, who intimidated opponents night in and night out with his words and actions at the same time. 9. Cousins is such a baby, I guarantee if the Kings were winning, Cousins would have never pulled this. Thats right, the 6' 3" veteran guard is in the top five. The most recent example is his outrageous elbowing of James Harden. I consider Chris Paul to be one of the dirty NBA players because hes the king of groin shots. For that matter how do you compare players of the 50s and 60s with players of today? The rules were different and the idea of a dirty player didn't even exist. The injury set Jordans conditioning back by a few weeks, and that caused quite a stir around the NBA. His ability to play supreme defense makes it difficult for referees to catch all the dirty little tricks he does. Steven Adams on "the Draymond Green rule," where the league will look at "unnatural acts" like, kicking: pic.twitter.com/sGbjytkWBL. An elite NBA player Bill Laimbeer Average starting points and 10 rebounds per game throughout his NBA career. He was simply a blunt instrument. comments). Hes also gotten into numerous scuffles, and hes good at getting under the skin of other players. Beverley injured Russell Westbrook a few years ago when trying to steal the ball as Westbrook tried to call a timeout. 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. It's a reasonable defensive action in the midst of a brawl. Reddit calls out LeBron James on history of dirty plays In college when he was at Oklahoma State University, he shoved a fan who was in the stands. 10 Most Hated NBA Players in 2021 - YouTube LeBron James A Dirty Player? Top 5 Dirtiest Plays Another incident arose in the playoffs against the Bulls where Rondo threw Kirk Hinrich into the scorer's table. He pushes players around. Knowing the dirties NBA players can be really helpful from a betting perspective. Wallace didn't take the gesture lightly. The blow almost killed him, knocked him unconscious, and ended his playing career. Thomas is one of the great enforcer types in the history of the game, which is ironic because his off-court persona is that he's actually one of the nicest guys in the league. 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 If you take eras and rules into consideration, Rodman is the greatest rebounder in the history of the game. He does what Scottie Pippen did, only he does it with an element of meanness which borders at times on cruelty. Rudy T's head hit the floor, his jaw and nose were broken, and spinal fluid began leaking onto the court. Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul are merely learningwhat Stockton mastered. Even when it's not resulting in injuries, the fear of an injury can throw a player off his rhythm. Theres a difference between competitive and just plain dirty. Some. First think of an adjective that describes World Peace. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Last updated on May 8th, 2022 at 11:11 am. pic.twitter.com/vbQ5j3TBvf. Courtesyof ESPN, here is a list of 25 injuries he caused when he hit opponents with one of his elbows. Beverley has been the source of multiple incidents and his tactics don't seem to have an end in sight. However, despite being one of the best players on the In 1991, when Isiah Thomas tried to penetrate on a drive, Malone attempted to block the shot but gave Thomas 40 stitches in his eye instead. I'm willing to wager that he easily hit 5,000 players with elbows in his career. By the peak of his NBA career, Dennis Rodman was not only named Into the all-NBA defensive team but also received the NBA defensive Player of the Year award on two separate occasions. The punch was delivered in the middle of a brawl with Tomjanovich running at Washington. led to WestbrooksayingPachulia is "for sure" adirty player. Cousins, in a game against the Celtics, aggressively threw Marcus Smart to the ground. Fun fact: Wallace was traded to Atlanta in February of 2004, played in one game, and was then traded to Detroit. If youre new, Subscribe! There's legal jockeying for position and there's illegal jockeying for position and a lot of times it's illegal with Howard. Due to the style of play, many of the teams during this period had a designated hitman and many of the players on this list fitted the profile. Consider how he caused Russell Westbrooks torn meniscus injury in the 2013 NBA playoffs, whether intentionally or unintentionally, by going after the knees of the former Oklahoma City Thunder guard. Unlike all the other players on the team, Bill Lambier wore this title with Pride. A record thats yet to be broken nor matched. That move alone puts him high on this list. As a member of the Boston Celtics franchise, Kevin Garnett ultimately became their designated hitman, taking out opponents with elbows and unexpected swings. Cheap shots can become the easy way out when a player is frustrated. Different people consider "dirty" in different ways. As a member of the self-proclaimed Bad Boys of the NBA, the Detroit Pistons Dennis Rodman often embraced the teams Top style of play which included Stopping the opponent at all costs. In fact, as successful as their teams have been, they have cost their teams an NBA championship or two in the process as well. Doesn't he know the "bro" code?! Mahorn subscribed to the "no ticky-tack" fouls rule, since he was known for making all of his six fouls count. Despite being considered one of the dirtiest players of all time there are those who still argue that John Stockton whos a clean player who only retaliated when the opposing player took a cheap shot on him. 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. He received a technical foul and threw a tantrum. Apart from plastic in the warm John Stockton also on one occasion Body slams, San Antonio Spurs guard David Robinsons onto the hardwood floor. Video via YouTube. But sometimes, players go into games with an agenda and are determined to cause trouble in any way they can. My list includes some of the biggest stars in the NBA as well as role players wholl do anything to throw off their opponents. Reggie Evans whole career is based off of his hard work, rebounding and his scrappy defense. NFL players have a way of becoming household names. No single incident does. Soon both teams got involved in an all-out brawl. Web4. Adams is known for doing the dirty work, but the way he does it earns him this honor. WebWithout further ado, here is the dirtiest player from every team in the NBA. Draymond Green (#23) scores on a layup past LeBron James (#23). He had over 11,000 boards, and virtually every time he went up for one he was hitting someone, so that's a conservative estimate. Lockdown504090 wrote:theres two camps of questionable plays imo. I am not saying that these guys need to lower their intensity or love the game any less, these are just the guys by today's standards that qualify as being "dirty" players. His language on the court is about as vulgar as a sailor's. In the 1970s John Brisker took the entire American Basketball Association by Storm when he began to insert fights And even on one occasion took a gun with him on courtside. That's why for the most part this list is going to be modern players within the last 30 years. He was dirty in a "yippy" sort of way. He also gave Griffin a bloody nose. Ainge was certainly a whiner, but he was also a dirty player, too. While some of these moments resulted in humor, others led to ejections and in other cases suspensions. Remember when Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban told Martin's mother that her son was a thug? DeMarcus Cousins is certainly one of the biggest whiners in the NBA but dirty might not come to mind when Cousins name is brought up. #1 Metta Sandiford-Artest. The 9 Dirtiest Players in the NBA Today | Complex The release of Netflixs Untold: Malice at the Palace documentary early this month showed the ugly side of the NBA, with Metta Sandiford-Artest, aka Ron Artest at the center of the disgraceful incident. 10 Dirtiest Players in the NFL Today Draymond Green is the human moving screen. Rodman was an absolute masterof that and a lot of that meant being dirty. The very next season, he got caught tripping another player. He also did dirtiest players Before there was Bruce Bowen and Ron Artest/Metta World Peace there was Scottie Pippen. I swear he grew that ponytail to try to look a little crazier. He got them by reaching in and getting away with it. 50 inspiring Michael Jordan quotes to help you reach your goals While the fan may have been saying inappropriate things to Smart, he needs to take the high road because he is the one on the court. My list of dirty NBA players wouldnt be complete without Grayson Allen. WebThe NBA markets its stars better than any other sports organization in North America. Sometimes, though, their activities on the court take away from the game, and hinders their teams success. Like the prolific slugger on your rival baseball squad, the late-sliding tackler on the soccer pitch, the guy in the NFL who likes to lay hits after the whistle blows, or the NHL enforcers who rack up more penalties than points. Even the third-best shooting guard to ever play the game is not free from this slander. dirtier Big Ten player than Brad Davison That was long enough to piss off many different players, including a few legends. Apart from being named the most valuable player in the NBA on two separate occasions, Karl Malone was also A 14 times all-star. The 6' 1" Beverley knows a thing or two about how to get a player to focus on him rather than in the game. Just none connected as hard, or did as much damage as Washington's did. ADAPTED BY SAM. You could even argue that his actions are malicious, with the most notable example involving Bradley Beal. He was as dirty as a third-world city though. Loves absence was a big reason why the Cavaliers fell short of capturing a title that year. N.B.A WebWho are the dirtiest players in the NBA? 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. The Indiana legend not only used that move to lash out at defenders, but he would pair it with a flop to draw countless fouls and earn many a trip to the free throw line. But more often than not, Stockton got away with it because of his hustle and his "Who, me?" Many believe Adams is a gentle giant, but weve seen his dark side too. A bigger percentage of these players ultimately earned the role of the teams enforcer. Unlike other players, Charles Oakley did very little to hide his ill intentions on the basketball court. Convinced hes got something against Niang the number of times hes injured him. One NBA player says Bogut throws elbows when he sets screens, grabs, and pushes guys in the back every chance he gets. Hedidn't throw the first punch in the fight, Kunnert did. Barnes was heated because Fisher was dating his ex. Danny Granger called Noah "a coward and a cheapshot." The fact that he often gets away with it makes him even more irritating.. Like being an effective scorer and Elise Defender Karl Malone often at times Was at the center of dirty plays. He is arguably the best defensive small forward in league history. The WWE and other pro wrestling organizations knew this early on, which is why they have been actively cultivating "bad guys" for decades. He also owns the single-season record with 40. So Rasheed can say he never picked up a technical foul in a Hawks uniform. Who are the top 10 midfielders of all time? - sportsbrief.com 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. But there's a fine line between the two; and given that Noah has a reputation for getting into players' ears, that pendulum sometimes swings into the realm of unacceptability. Sometimes, the spirit of competition can get the best of NBA players, leading to normal human mistakes that they later regret. Before Anderson Varejao, before Joakim Noah and before Kevin Garnett there was Dennis Rodman, the original high energy, high intensity big man. He also led the NBA in flagrant fouls in both 2011-12 and 2012-13, and was second in that category last season. 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. Olynyk is certainly among the sneakier dirty players in the NBA, but he can be really dangerous at times. [removed] scary to play against him imo. The Jazz teams he coached over the years contained several players on this list. dirtiest player Because of that he gets away with being dirty. Way before players were handed out technicals for salsa dancing on the court, we had an era in the NBA where players could trade punches and kicks without any serious repercussions. Pippen was absolutely ubiquitous on the court and he was as fierce a wing defender as there was in the league. 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. Many of these players grew up in the projects and on other occasions were even subject to various kinds of prejudice. Moreover, Bruce Bowen was part of the San Antonio Spurs that went ahead to win the 2003, 2005, and 2008 NBA championships. New NBA players and repeat offenders make headlines for crossing the line every year. He knew how to foul while using his body to shield the foul from the refs. When you combine his athleticism, intensity and dirtiness, he's the perfect storm. On and off the court, Barnes is a dirty guy. Moreover, he was also effective in pick-and-pop plays alongside Joe Dumars and Isaiah Thomas. On the other hand he pushes a lot, and having the physique of a seven-footMichelangelostatue, that's a strong man to be shoving you around. Malone is the epitome of what I mean when I say the aggregate of little cheap shots greatly exceeds the big cheap shot. He's been known to slap opponents in thetesticleswhile they're going up for jump shots. 25 Most Undisciplined and Dirtiest Players in They explained how frustrating it is because he never gets caught but he is constantly grabbing and setting illegal screens. Nick is a sports writer and fanatic who loves all Philly sports. WebNBA History: 5 dirtiest players of the 21st century. Rondo plays with absolute nastiness, and if he's on your team you love him, but if he's on the other team you want to punch him. Barnes is even dirty off of the court. He's certainly not the gentleman on the basketball court that his father was on the tennis court. He smiles. After the incident, Ron Artest would end up receiving a 7-day suspension from the NBA. Years ago he may have gotten away with these dangerous antics but he needs to adjust his game to shed this label. You can't argue with the results. For his career, Artest was ejected 11 times, including three times in the playoffs. JOS LUIS MARTNEZ. When Kobe Bryant comes to mind, dirty is not the word I would use to describe him, although he can be at times. Of course, Wallace would probably insist that he always playedfairand was unjustly targeted; but you can't play squeaky-clean basketball and average one T every 3 1/2 games over your career. WebAn elite NBA player Bill Laimbeer Average starting points and 10 rebounds per game throughout his NBA career. Rondo has been involved in multiple incidents throughout his rollercoaster career. Remember all the debate about whether that was appropriate or not? Again, I point to the Jerry Sloan School of Dirty Play. WebNBA Daily: The Dirtiest Plays in NBA History Not even Dennis Rodman committed a dirty play worse than one from a high school game in Kansas. Who are the dirtiest players in the NBA? | HoopsHype Where he truly excelled though was hiding contact when he was guarding the perimeter. He just said he did what he had to in order to win. Kinda like a peskylittle mosquito. After all, he didn't stay in the league past his 40th birthday because of his exceptional talent. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Kings will win for a while. What was even more excruciating for opponents is that Kobe frequently got foul calls when he initiated the illegal contact. He was able to absolutely mug opponents and steal the ball. Garnett certainly has the "killer" mentality. The injury required surgery to repair the damage. 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. 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.). Don't take that literally. WebThe 9 Dirtiest Players in the NBA Today. He has two rings. NBA players are no exception. He plays dirty andhe plays cheap. Hes notorious for being a bully and making outlandish statements about other NBA players. This is the chronic mean little brother who knows that he's protected by his big brothers. 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.