Dwight Howard and 10 NBA Players We Love to Hate

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Four years ago, Dwight Howard was lighting up the NBA world with his infectious smile and his Superman dunks. Fast forward to today, and he's become one of the most hated players in the entire NBA.

Howard only has himself to blame for the downfall of his reputation, but he's not on the only player in the NBA that fans love to hate.

From Metta World Peace to JaVale McGee, the NBA is full of players who fans just can't stop hating on.

Ahead is a list of the 10 NBA players that fans love to hate. 

Chris Bosh

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Why We Love to Hate: Bosh is downright goofy

Chris Bosh is an interesting player. At times he plays like the tough, almost seven footer that he is. At other times though he plays soft, and that's part of the reason why Bosh is hated.

People love to make fun of Bosh, and rightfully so. He doesn't have the best track record when it comes to doing things that make him look extremely odd.

Take for example, the 2008 All-Star video he made, promoting himself and a potential appearance in the 2008 All-Star game.

As long as Bosh is in the NBA, he'll be on the list of players that fans love to hate, and he really only has himself to blame for that.

The only way he can get off this list is by showing up at the start of the 2012-13 season 50 pounds stronger and committed to not looking goofy throughout the season. 

Metta World Peace

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Why We Love to Hate: Flagrant foul, after flagrant foul, after flagrant foul

The moment when Ron Artest became Metta World Peace, he earned a permanent spot on this list. Okay, he was on here before that, but changing his name certainly bolstered his placement.

From the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills, to his goofy attempts at a rap career and all his nonsensical interviews, World Peace gives NBA fans something to unify around, and that is hating on him.

There's really nothing World Peace can do to get himself off this list. He's done everything possible to earn the hate that fans constantly give to him, and just when we all thought he had maybe matured a bit, he landed a UFC-quality elbow on James Harden.

LeBron James

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Why We Love to Hate: Because LeBron is so darn good

Sometimes the only reason to hate on someone is because they are just that good, and that's why some people choose to hate LeBron.

Sure, he also made a questionable move by holding "The Decision" and he didn't handle his departure from Cleveland with maturity, but people hate on him because he's great at what he does.

LeBron could win 15 NBA titles, and there would still be a majority of people who would argue that he's not clutch and that he's not one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA.

That's what happens when people drop the word "king" before your name, and I'm sure LeBron is okay with that. 

Kobe Bryant

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Why We Love to Hate: Kobe's great, but he's also arrogant

Kobe is one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA. That's not a problem. The problem with Kobe is that he knows he's that good, and he buys into the ego that fuels the way he approaches the game.

His arrogance is at the foundation of what makes Kobe so great. But it's also at the forefront of why people love to hate on him.

Arrogance and confidence is who Kobe is, so there's no doubt that is what his legacy will be defined by. That's not a bad thing, it's just part of who he is, and I'm sure Kobe could not care less if fans love to hate on him. 

Blake Griffin

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Why We Love to Hate: He's the creator of Flop City

Blake Griffin is a human highlight reel. But at the same time he's also one of the creators of "Flop City."

As long as Griffin keeps flopping, he'll continue to be hated by fans who don't have any allegiance to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Flopping is the one thing that all NBA fans hate, and the fact that Griffin is one of the worst floppers makes him a clear target to be hated on.

Griffin also doesn't help himself out with the emotionless expression he always has on his face. Come on Blake, make it look like you actually care about something—besides flopping. 

Kevin Garnett

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Why We Love to Hate: KG is downright crazy

Kevin Garnett brings a level of intensity to the court that is unrivaled in the NBA. While that's at the foundation of what makes him such an elite talent, it also makes him the focus of ridicule and hate.

From asking Craig Sager if he had ever been in a bar fight, to telling him to burn his clothes, all the way to hitting Channing Frye where the sun don't shine, it's clear that KG has the crazy gene in his DNA.

It's a love/hate relationship for fans and Garnett. On one hand, his craziness is something to embrace, but it's clear that he doesn't understand how to harness it to his benefit all the time, and that's why fans love to hate on the dichotomy known as Kevin Garnett. 

Joakim Noah

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Why We Love to Hate: Noah thinks he's God's gift to basketball

Don't get me wrong, Joakim Noah is a good basketball player. But he's not nearly as good as he thinks he his most of the time.

Noah runs around the court like he owns it, and while he's a decent center, he's certainly not good enough to be throwing jabs at legitimate All-Star talent like Kevin Garnett. 

Another reason why fans love to hate him is because he looks goofy—which is putting it nicely. I have no clue what Noah would look like without his 1980's rocker hairdo, or his creepy goatee/mustache combo, but there's no way he could look worse than how he looks now.

Changing his look is Noah's only hope at lessening his "hate-ability."

Dwight Howard

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Why We Love to Hate: The whole D12 saga 

Dwight Howard is quickly becoming the most hated NBA player, if not the most hated athlete in all of professional sports. Howard only has himself to blame for that.

After flip-flopping on his future in Orlando like a fish on dry land, D12 proceeded to get his head coach and GM fired. The worst part of it all for Howard, is that his drama down in Orlando hasn't stopped, it's only gotten worse over the last few weeks.

With his reputation in shambles and the handling of his situation with the Magic falling apart, Howard has earned every bit of the hate that fans have for him.

D12 has a long road of recovery ahead of him. The bad news is that he's not even on that road yet. 

Andrew Bynum

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Why We Love to Hate: All the memorable, immature moments

Andrew Bynum is the king of immaturity, and it all started with his memorable, yet terrible, flagrant foul on J.J. Barea.

Whenever a high-profile player gets ejected from a playoff game, and then exits the court without a shirt on, he earns a permanent spot on this list.

Bynum's immaturity doesn't just take place on the court, he also takes his immaturity to the bench, and that's what makes him such a hated player.

Immaturity is something NBA fans hate, as evidenced by increased hating on Dwight Howard, and that's why Bynum is more than deserving of being on this list. 

JaVale McGee

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Why We Love to Hate: Bonehead play after bonehead play

JaVale McGee is a player we love to hate because he's just so amazingly mindless out on the court.

The hating that is focused on McGee isn't actual hate, it's more just annoyance, but that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to be on this list.

If you're wondering what "bonehead" moments McGee has had during his NBA career, get ready for the funniest and most aggravating three minutes of your life.

What draws NBA fans to hate McGee is that in spite of his boneheadedness, he still gets paid $3.5 million per year to play a game. As I typed that, I could feel the hate boiling up inside me.