The NBA's 5 Most Pissed-off Players

Nothing can affect a team like an unhappy player causing problems in a locker room. Even if they aren't intentionally disrupting the locker room, controversy can breed controversy. 

A player gets in a shouting match with another player or a coach and teammates end up picking sides, getting sick of being asked about it or just privately remain bothered. 

Inevitably, everyone gets contaminated no matter how hard a player tries to stay away. Nothing can derail a team like an unhappy locker room, and it only takes one unhappy player to make an entire locker room unhappy. 

Here are five players that are either unhappy, rumored to be unhappy or are close to it, who could have a troubling impact on their team if they haven't already. 

Raja Bell

Clearly, Raja Bell isn't unhappy, but it tenuous, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

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Jazz guard Raja Bell said it’s this simple: If Utah wants him on its team, he’ll continue to do his job to the best of his ability. If the organization doesn’t, the 12-year veteran will perform as a professional until he joins another franchise. 

Bell’s declaration came Wednesday during an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune. It followed Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin’s comment that any frustration Bell has about his role on the team needed to be addressed by the player himself.

“I think it’s a better question for him to answer. I really don’t — you’ll have to ask him the question,” said Corbin, who appeared caught off guard by the query and acknowledged he hasn’t had a recent one-on-one talk with Bell.

"

Usually there aren't these kinds of assertions and "you talk to him" and "I'll be a professional" and so on unless someone is not happy. 

Being fair, this was a large part of last year, when Bell was having a lot of trouble dealing with the tumultuous season that the Jazz had with head coach Jerry Sloan abruptly resigning and Deron Williams being equally abruptly traded.

While Bell has come in with a renewed focus, it's tenuous. With the type of season the Jazz are having, that could be gone before long. 

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant was unhappy when the Lakers dealt Lamar Odom.

I know this because he said, "I don't like it"—and that's the nice version of  his comments. 

Now, after the media went on a rant about his shooting, he went out and shot more just to prove he could, which only provoked more ranting. 

Being fair to Bryant, he's shown more restraint this year than he has in previous ones.

When the Lakers hired Mike Brown without consulting him, he didn't blow a gasket. When Mike Brown called him out after the Lakers loss to the Bulls, he agreed with him. 

Still, those who have paid attention to basketball know that underneath, Kobe is brewing. He's contained, but if he blows, things could get ugly. 

Russell Westbrook

Not too long ago, there were reports of an all-out verbal scuffle between Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, as the two were seen shouting at one another on the bench. 

While the Thunder and Durant were quick to sweep things under the rug, things like that don't come form nowhere.

Russell Westbrook wants a bigger role than he deserves. 

Right now, things might have settled down, but don't think that means things have gone away. The same problems are still simmering beneath. 

Deron Williams

Not all anger gets expressed in the same way.

Some people tend to be very straightforward in exhibiting their anger. Others tend to be passive-aggressive.

Deron Williams might not be saying anything to indicate he's angry, but his play speaks volumes. 

It's obvious he's frustrated. 

His heart is not in it. To be fair to Williams, he never asked to be traded. He's stuck in a situation he never asked to be in.

The Nets have not done anything to get better (although they've tried.) 

It's looking more and more like Williams is on his way to his next city already. New Jersey may be better off trading him away. They won't get back what they gave up to get him, but at least they can get back something. 

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard isn't mailing it in, but he clearly still wants to be traded, as indicated by his pronouncement that he still wants to be traded.

Since this is accompanied with the suggestion that he's not going to be traded, it's not hard to figure out that there's potential trouble brewing here. 

Howard's not the most patient player in the league, and he could explode at any moment.

Nothing's happened yet, but you can bet that inwardly, he's stewing right now.