Evenard M. Panes
Spennies
Sports InsiderThe Best NBA Villains Ever.
October 1st 2006 07:51
The NBA as a form of entertainment and as an entity uncannily prescribes to other diversionary mediums – drama, suspense, comedy, violence, sex, heroes and villains are all on display in the league. Regular readers of NBALOUD would be familiar by now that this space is more interested in the seedy underbelly of the league, rather than the clean cut, white bread version that is dished off for the consumption of the mass public. This brings us to the topic of this post – great NBA villains!
Villains in the league come in all forms and to the supporters and teammates of these players they’re an essential component to the success of the squad. However, opposing fans and the wider public in general boo and hiss at these players with passion and why not? It makes good sport. We may love our heroes, but it is the villains that maintain our interest.
So, without further ado here are the top five bad guys to have ever picked up a basketball.
5. Karl Malone
Now, the Mailman has an enviable reputation as one of the greatest power forwards to play the game, but his elbows were some of the most deadly
weapons ever to be seen in an NBA arena.
There has been more than one player in NBA history who has denounced the manner that Malone would use his impressive body and attributes to bully opposing players big and small. The Mailman was fearless and as a consequence of his tough as nuts style of play didn’t endear him to a lot of fans.
Here we have one of the best players to have played the game but was never given the love he deserved. Yes, he was widely cheered when he was playing for Utah, but you can make an argument that John Stockton was the favourite son of the Jazz.
Malone was also seen as arrogant, complimenting his physical reputation. Karl was bad and when he apparently made a pass at Kobe Bryant’s wife during that tumultuous final year with Shaq in LA – the shit really hit the fan. But this is all speculation and hearsay. Let’s just celebrate the Mailman’s presence on this list.
4. Dennis Rodman
During the years that Rodman played for Detroit he was a widely respected, while being an underappreciated player. The Worm largely flew under the radar amongst the wider public but was very much known to NBA fans both obsessive and casual. Dennis was normal and went about his business quietly and enthusiastically.
That all changed one night in the early 90’s when Rodman was found with a loaded shotgun in the carpark of Detroit’s home stadium with the intention of taking his own life. He didn’t, but according to the Worm this was the night when the old and “good” Rodman was metaphorically killed off.
Rising out of the ashes of this mystical corpse was a Dennis Rodman that suddenly garnered world wide attention and condemnation. Upon joining the San Antonio Spurs Rodman would have his hair dyed in a myriad of colours,
whilst sporting tattoos and piercings all over his body before they became commonplace on NBA players.
Rodman did whatever he wanted and didn’t give a shit – whether it was going out with Madonna, partying late into the night, or not listening to management in the Spurs organisation, Dennis broke off the shackles to become one of the most loved and loathed players in history.
Dennis’ behaviour would soon see him sent packing from San Antonio to the Bulls where the attention became even greater when he teamed up with Michael Jordan. Chicago quickly became a circus and Dennis was the clown. Rodman was both a genius and a headcase. However, the Bulls won, whilst Rodman was hated by the establishment but loved by fans.
His act grew tiresome when the Bulls broke up after the second three-peat and was seen more as a dickhead freak show. Short stints with Dallas and the Lakers illustrated this point more than ever when his talent and usefulness began to wane.
Rodzilla was an individual who marched to the beat of his own drum – he is sorely missed by NBALOUD.
3. Bill Laimbeer
Wild Bill was the baddest of the Detroit ‘Bad Boy’s’ Pistons. In the late 80’s and early 90’s when Detroit reigned supreme Laimbeer was the enforcer of the team that would do anything to win no matter how dirty. If it took punches, kicking, shoving, or talking about a player’s Mama Billy was game.
Whenever Detroit was in town Laimbeer was booed lustfully by opposing fans, but the Pistons understood his value to the team and so did the Detroit fans. Underlying this thuggery was a player that was superbly talented, while doing the grunt work that is so important for championship teams.
You could hate the man, but you also had to admire him as well.
2, Reggie Miller
Towards the end of his career Reggie was a widely respected and loved
player. During his final season wild acclaim and accolades followed the man throughout all the NBA stadiums that Indiana played in, but it wasn’t always like this.
When Miller was at his best and deadliest he was a much maligned individual, especially in New York and Chicago. Fans of the Bulls hated him because he dared to take a swing at Michael Jordan, while in New York Reggie was hated due to the fact that he tormented the Knicks mercilessly and rubbed it in to boot.
Miller thrived hearing the boos at Madison Square Garden which was the scene of some of his greatest individual performances. Prominent New York Knicks fan and uber-director, Spike Lee would regularly have verbal sparring sessions with Miller from his front row seats. The media and the fans lapped it up and Reggie loved being the bad guy.
It must be noted that Reggie was only bad on court because he was a perfect gentleman off it.
1. Latrell Sprewell
There is no disputing the talent of Spree when he was at his best. The man could straight up ball with the best of them. Underlying this ability was a nut job personified.
The first inkling that Latrell was way too ghetto for even the NBA was when in 1997 he decided to choke his then head Coach PJ Carlesimo during a
practice session. After being pulled away from teammates, Latrell allegedly came back 20 minutes later to take a swing at his Coach.
His reputation as a bad guy was set from that moment onwards.
Having been suspended for the best part of the season Latrell was eventually traded to the New York Knicks where he once again flourished, quickly becoming a Gotham fan favourite. Sprewell excelled and was granted an All-Star spot in 2001.
New York’s love for Spree quickly dissipated when during contract re-negotiations with the Knicks went sour and Latrell began a verbal tirade against management during a game – shouting obscenities to the boss during a televised game isn’t a way to endear yourself to the public and management. Spree was quickly shipped off to Minnesota after that incident.
Once again Sprewell vowed to change his ways and was a star contributor once more. History would repeat itself when Latrell’s contract was up for re-negotiation and the man was insulted by the $21 million contract that was on offer. It was during this period that he infamously uttered that the money wasn’t enough and that he had a family to feed.
The karmic gods would hit Sprewell when he ended up having a really crap season the year after and was offered no extension by Minnesota, while no other NBA team showed any interest. The $21 million all of the sudden seemed like a good deal.
* All Images from wikipedia
Villains in the league come in all forms and to the supporters and teammates of these players they’re an essential component to the success of the squad. However, opposing fans and the wider public in general boo and hiss at these players with passion and why not? It makes good sport. We may love our heroes, but it is the villains that maintain our interest.
So, without further ado here are the top five bad guys to have ever picked up a basketball.
5. Karl Malone
Now, the Mailman has an enviable reputation as one of the greatest power forwards to play the game, but his elbows were some of the most deadly
The Mailman with his deadly elbows.
There has been more than one player in NBA history who has denounced the manner that Malone would use his impressive body and attributes to bully opposing players big and small. The Mailman was fearless and as a consequence of his tough as nuts style of play didn’t endear him to a lot of fans.
Here we have one of the best players to have played the game but was never given the love he deserved. Yes, he was widely cheered when he was playing for Utah, but you can make an argument that John Stockton was the favourite son of the Jazz.
Malone was also seen as arrogant, complimenting his physical reputation. Karl was bad and when he apparently made a pass at Kobe Bryant’s wife during that tumultuous final year with Shaq in LA – the shit really hit the fan. But this is all speculation and hearsay. Let’s just celebrate the Mailman’s presence on this list.
4. Dennis Rodman
During the years that Rodman played for Detroit he was a widely respected, while being an underappreciated player. The Worm largely flew under the radar amongst the wider public but was very much known to NBA fans both obsessive and casual. Dennis was normal and went about his business quietly and enthusiastically.
That all changed one night in the early 90’s when Rodman was found with a loaded shotgun in the carpark of Detroit’s home stadium with the intention of taking his own life. He didn’t, but according to the Worm this was the night when the old and “good” Rodman was metaphorically killed off.
Rising out of the ashes of this mystical corpse was a Dennis Rodman that suddenly garnered world wide attention and condemnation. Upon joining the San Antonio Spurs Rodman would have his hair dyed in a myriad of colours,
'Who me?' Dennis playing the innocent.
Rodman did whatever he wanted and didn’t give a shit – whether it was going out with Madonna, partying late into the night, or not listening to management in the Spurs organisation, Dennis broke off the shackles to become one of the most loved and loathed players in history.
Dennis’ behaviour would soon see him sent packing from San Antonio to the Bulls where the attention became even greater when he teamed up with Michael Jordan. Chicago quickly became a circus and Dennis was the clown. Rodman was both a genius and a headcase. However, the Bulls won, whilst Rodman was hated by the establishment but loved by fans.
His act grew tiresome when the Bulls broke up after the second three-peat and was seen more as a dickhead freak show. Short stints with Dallas and the Lakers illustrated this point more than ever when his talent and usefulness began to wane.
Rodzilla was an individual who marched to the beat of his own drum – he is sorely missed by NBALOUD.
3. Bill Laimbeer
Wild Bill was the baddest of the Detroit ‘Bad Boy’s’ Pistons. In the late 80’s and early 90’s when Detroit reigned supreme Laimbeer was the enforcer of the team that would do anything to win no matter how dirty. If it took punches, kicking, shoving, or talking about a player’s Mama Billy was game.
Whenever Detroit was in town Laimbeer was booed lustfully by opposing fans, but the Pistons understood his value to the team and so did the Detroit fans. Underlying this thuggery was a player that was superbly talented, while doing the grunt work that is so important for championship teams.
You could hate the man, but you also had to admire him as well.
2, Reggie Miller
Towards the end of his career Reggie was a widely respected and loved
Reggie with his 'Most Hated NBA Player in New York' Award.
When Miller was at his best and deadliest he was a much maligned individual, especially in New York and Chicago. Fans of the Bulls hated him because he dared to take a swing at Michael Jordan, while in New York Reggie was hated due to the fact that he tormented the Knicks mercilessly and rubbed it in to boot.
Miller thrived hearing the boos at Madison Square Garden which was the scene of some of his greatest individual performances. Prominent New York Knicks fan and uber-director, Spike Lee would regularly have verbal sparring sessions with Miller from his front row seats. The media and the fans lapped it up and Reggie loved being the bad guy.
It must be noted that Reggie was only bad on court because he was a perfect gentleman off it.
1. Latrell Sprewell
There is no disputing the talent of Spree when he was at his best. The man could straight up ball with the best of them. Underlying this ability was a nut job personified.
The first inkling that Latrell was way too ghetto for even the NBA was when in 1997 he decided to choke his then head Coach PJ Carlesimo during a
Spree can't keep his mouth shut.
His reputation as a bad guy was set from that moment onwards.
Having been suspended for the best part of the season Latrell was eventually traded to the New York Knicks where he once again flourished, quickly becoming a Gotham fan favourite. Sprewell excelled and was granted an All-Star spot in 2001.
New York’s love for Spree quickly dissipated when during contract re-negotiations with the Knicks went sour and Latrell began a verbal tirade against management during a game – shouting obscenities to the boss during a televised game isn’t a way to endear yourself to the public and management. Spree was quickly shipped off to Minnesota after that incident.
Once again Sprewell vowed to change his ways and was a star contributor once more. History would repeat itself when Latrell’s contract was up for re-negotiation and the man was insulted by the $21 million contract that was on offer. It was during this period that he infamously uttered that the money wasn’t enough and that he had a family to feed.
The karmic gods would hit Sprewell when he ended up having a really crap season the year after and was offered no extension by Minnesota, while no other NBA team showed any interest. The $21 million all of the sudden seemed like a good deal.
* All Images from wikipedia
| 98 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Sisi
Comment by Sports Insider
Rasheed Wallace, Rambis, Mahorn, Artest and Kenyon Martin could be candidates if you have a top 10 for this.
Comment by Justin
The Mailman (with his signature dunk and dangerous fadeaway) and Stockton were a great two-man team leading the Jazz to the Finals against the mighty Bulls into a 7 game series.
Rodman was essential to the Bulls offensive and defensive rebounds and from memory got into the All-Defensive Team a few times.
Bill Laimbeer was the Pistons official bodyguard in the driving lane.
Reggie Miller was one of the best three point shooters of the game and Latrell reinvented the Knicks after Ewing left to a team like that of the mid-nineties.
Comment by Stanley
justin - thanks and i agree with all your points there.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Stanley
i actually respect both wild bill and reggie. bill because he did a lot of the dirty things and little things that were extremely important but underappreciated, while miller his work rate was second to none.
Comment by Bernadette
Article Dime
Tips in 365 Days
Flick Picks
Quotable Quotes
Laugh 'Til You Drop
Band on the Run
Fashion 101
Robust Beauty
Comment by Stanley