5 meanest players in NBA history

• Dirty basketball play refers to purposefully agitating opposing team members
• It could be through physical play or foul language
• Dirty play worked for the teams in most cases

In a competitive sport such as basketball, the phenomenon of the meanest NBA players of all time plainly exist.

Every season gives the league a new breed of the dirtiest players and it hurts and entertains sometimes. Dirty or offensive play is common in basketball but it is, in most cases, viewed as a great sin.

However, dirty basketball play refers to purposefully agitating opposing team members through physical play or trash language. Some people enjoy it while others simply do not like it but the truth is it is part of the game.

While some NBA lovers view it as a natural element of the game, others look at it as a cheap technique to gain an advantage the opponent. Therefore, in the history of the NBA, the following pass off as the meanest NBA players of all time.

DRAYMOND GREEN

Draymond Green. Photo/SFGate

Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green has a penchant for annoyance. Whenever he is on the pitch, he is spelling trouble and loves it. He doesn’t care whose skin he gets under; not even Lebron James.

He committed so many fouls in the 2016 NBA Finals series that he was suspended for Game 5. The Warriors lost the series without Green. Although he is the meanest NBA players of all time, he also has fantastic leadership skills.

BILL LAIMBEER

Bill Laimbeer played for Detroit Pistons for a record 12 seasons. He played as a centre guard and his defensive skills remain unrivalled.  His dirty playing earned the Pistons a tag of NBA’s Bad Boys because they utilised all measures necessary to win.

They won two consecutive NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990, defeating some of the best teams in history. Laimbeer’s dirty playing tricks saw his team defeat big and established clubs such as Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. He was the spanner guy for the Pistons whenever they needed dirty moves on the court.

CHARLES OAKLEY

His combative style of play and intimidation makes Charles Oakley one of the meanest NBA players of all time. He fouled out over 4000 times throughout his 19-year NBA career.

People nicknamed him “Oak Tree” to signify his roughness whenever he was on the court. He smacked many players, including Charles Barkley during matches and care less what the world had to say about this.  The 1994 NBA All-Star was a member of several teams, including the Chicago Bulls where he played with the legendary Michael Jordan. His other teams include the Toronto Raptors, the Washington Wizards, and the Houston Rockets. Oakley’s stint with the New York Knicks that went to the 1990s is particularly well remembered, as they were regarded as one of the hardest teams at the time.

It was largely because of his rough nature that always made opponents threatened and he always took advantage of his intimidating demeanour.  Despite retiring, Oakley kept his rough nature and has made headlines since then.

First was when he was booted out of New York’s Madison Square Garden after an argument with the Garden’s chairman. He also has misdemeanours in his file following an assault and illegal trespassing but this doesn’t bother him at all.

DENNIS RODMAN

Dennis Rodman spent the most of his basketball career playing in the NBA. Photo/ CharityStars.

Figure this out; Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman playing for Detroit Pistons. Rodman was a stunning king of rebounds and he often used his fists and elbows to get it al right while wronging his opponents.

Rodman had a nudge of getting aggressive and frequently attempted to get inside his opponents’ heads. That’s why he was nicknamed ‘the worm’.  Besides rightfully earning the status of the meanest NBA players of all time, Rodman loved wrestling. He competed in World Championship Wrestling during his suspension in 1997.

BRUCE BOWEN

Bruce Bowen was aggressive but equally dazzling. His NBA history indicates that he is a three-time NBA champion with strong defence skills but a mean one at that.  He is deservedly among the dirtiest NBA players.

Bowen was always constant in his cheap tricks and did whatever it took to hinder his opponents from scoring. He would put his foot underneath a player as he went up for a jump shot, taking away their landing space and leaving them with twisted knees and sprained ankles. This move damaged players like Steve Francis and Vince Carter.