It might be cruel to some people but I would go at it.” Yes indeed it was cruel and a definitive characteristic of a “bad boy”. Here’s a quote from Gary Payton himself: “If I knew something about a person’s mother, if he had just gotten a drunk driving charge, I would go at the situation. The guard was known for talking about people’s mothers, personal situations, and underground scandals. While 6’4’’ and only 180 pounds, Gary ‘the glove” Payton never backed down from a fight. Gary Payton is considered by many to be the NBA’s greatest trash talker and, for that reason, has to make the list. His effort when on the court – coupled with his feisty nature which led to many technical fouls were some of the few incidents that solidified himself as a “bad boy”. While a great teammate, many NBA players hated going up against the Birdman because he played with a physicality missing in the modern NBA. He lit up screens with his bird-shaped mohawk, vivid tattoos, and feisty attitude on the court. #15 Chris “Birdman” AndersenĬhris “Birdman” Andersen makes this list because of his unconventional style, swagger, and approach to life. He was consistently in the top five in technical fouls and has dissed quite a few players like Chandler Parsons and Tony Parker in his post-NBA analyst position. Jackson was known as an avid trash-talker to not only his teammates but also to the refs. However, Jackson’s bad-boy persona did not end there. Jackson was fined for his role in jumping into the stands and making contact with a fan. I had to include Stephen Jackson on the list given his role in the Malice at the Palance – one of the biggest sports altercations in history. Beverley is that game-changing pit bull-type of player, one that will always be at the center of skirmishes and brawls. He’s famous for his feud with Russell Westbrook after he injured the point guard’s knee, sinking the Thunder’s playoff chances in the process. Beverley often plays tight full-court press on his guys and is one of the leagues most voracious trash talkers. The late second pick had to make a name for himself in the NBA and choose to focus his game around tenacious defensive intensity. Patrick Beverley is the modern NBA’s version of a bad boy. His most famous incident occurred when he drove over 100 miles to fight Derek Fisher. Off the court, he headlined many nightclub incidents and engaged in arguments with fans. However, he was hated by opponents for his nagging trash-talking, technical fouls, and aggressive defense. He was beloved by his teammates for his incredible loyalty and willingness to put his reputation on the line while also loved by fans for raising awareness against cancer. Matt Barnes is one of the most polarizing players on the list and truly personifies a “love-hate” relationship. While he has turned it around with the Heat, people shouldn’t forget his involvement in some of the most controversial incidents in the past decade. There are just too many weird incidents with Olynyk’s name at the front and center. He used the same maneuver with Brook Lopez. In the incident, Kelly Olynyk pulled Kevin Love’s arm away from a potential rebound but wouldn’t let go of it. Before this event, Olynyk dislocated Kevin Love’s shoulder in the 2015 playoffs. This of course happened in game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on national TV. He was the main piece in the infamous brawl after shoving Kelly Oubre Jr. Kelly Olynyk is on this list for the very same reason as ZaZa Pachulia. There's no convincing me Zaza Pachulia wasn't trying to injure Kawhi Leonard. With these incidents in mind, I tend to lean dirty. While his teammates such as Kevin Durant have called it clumsiness, other neutral parties like Kyrie Irving have called the incidents “unacceptable”. There was the even more famous incident where he stepped under Kawhi Leonard’s landing spot on a corner three, forcing Leonard to miss the entire postseason and the Spurs to lose the playoff series. There was the famous incident where he fell onto Russell Westbrook’s lower leg after getting “tangled” with Nick Young’s feet. ZaZa has toed the line of clumsy and dirty on numerous occasions. This list will highlight these talented but baggage-carrying players.
These are also guys that move through life with their own set of rules. Often the glue to their championship teams, these players instilled fear into their opponents who faced them.
Defined by their trash-talking, physical style of play, off-court lifestyle, and arguments with coaches, bad boys have been apart of the NBA since its inception. The NBA bad boy persona is one fans hate, coaches stress over, and teammates love.