Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and the Toughest Players in the NBA

1 of 13

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Some guys are gamers. Some players are just tough as nails.

There are several ways to describe a tough NBA player, but in this instance we are looking for the guys that despite the injuries and the bumps and bruises, they have the ability to suck it up and deal with the pain.

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has long been one of those players.

Bryant recently told NBA columnist Kevin Ding that his torn wrist ligament is now healed and that he got through it.

Not every player in the NBA could have done that. Bryant is just tougher than most.

With that being said, here's a look at the toughest players currently in the NBA.

Honorable Mention: Brandon Roy

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Even though that he's out of the league, I wanted to give a little bit of love to Roy.

He saw a promising career derailed by horrible knee pain, but despite not having any cartilage in his knees, Roy just kept on going.

His Game 4 performance against Dallas last year is quite the way to go out. He will always be thought of as one tough player.

Kobe Bryant

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

All the bump and bruises.

All the injuries.

Yet you would have to kill Bryant to get him off the floor.

Bryant is a true warrior and as long as he can get out of bed in the morning, you can bet that he will be in the Lakers' lineup and perform at a high level.

Paul Pierce

Elsa/Getty Images

Anyone that has ever doubted the toughness of Pierce, consider this.

In September of 2000, Pierce was stabbed 11 times in the head, neck and chest.

He underwent lung surgery and doctors claim he was within minutes of death, but despite the severity of the wounds, Pierce played all 82 games during the 2000-01 season and averaged what were at the time career highs in points, minutes, assists and field-goal percentage.

He didn't miss a single game. That's tough in my book.

Derrick Rose

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Rose pretty much plays the game like a power forward.

He's ultra-aggressive and his body takes a beating every night.

In the past he had to deal with wrist, elbow and ankle issues but it didn't stop him from becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history.

Carl Landry

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Landry is another guy that may not be at the top of people's list when it comes to toughness, but in 2009 he was in a violent car wreck that resulted in him being shot in the leg.

Add all that up and Landry was out of action for a mere 13 days.

Kevin Garnett

Elsa/Getty Images

Toughness is often reflected in attitude and Garnett certainly has that.

Ignore his mouth for a second and just look at the fact that he's made a living of banging nightly in the post against guys that are usually much bigger and stronger.

Sometimes Garnett can talk bigger than he is, but don't ever doubt his physical and mental toughness.

Gerald Wallace

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

He's nicknamed Crash. That should tell you how tough he is.

No one in the NBA has experienced as many bad crashes and spills as Wallace, but he just keeps picking himself up and playing without fear.

The guy has had like four to five concussions and serious back problems, but he still throws his body all over the court.

Manu Ginobili

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Even tough guys get injuries that they can't play through every now and then, but even though Ginobili is out of the Spurs lineup right now, it doesn't take away from the fact that he's one of the toughest guys in the league.

He's fearless going to the hole and he takes a nightly beating.

This guy even knocked a bat out of mid-air with his bare hands. He's either fearless or nuts.

Rajon Rondo

Elsa/Getty Images

Rondo may not be the most popular player in the world, but his teammates love him because he's tough as nails.

He's got no problem mixing it up with the big guys and has a hard-nosed style of play that's reminiscent to days of the past.

Metta World Peace

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

You can make the case that he's been tough or you can say he's just crazy, but despite his lack of production this season, World Peace has been one of the tougher players in the game.

He's been known to give out as much punishment as he receives and fits every description of an NBA tough guy from his defensive mentality to his willingness to take on anyone at anytime.