Metta World Peace's Elbow and the 10 Worst Cheap Shots in NBA History

In a battle of the two of the best in the West, the Lakers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in double overtime. However, perhaps the biggest story of the game was Metta World Peace being ejected for elbowing James Harden in the head. Even for the misnamed World Peace, it was a cheap shot for the ages.

Like in any sport, though, the NBA is no stranger to more than a few bad cheap shots. So while this was bad, there have been worse cheap shots, but at the same time, others look tame compared to this elbow.

So without further ado, here are the 10 worst cheap shots in NBA history. 

Honorable Mention

Dennis Rodman finds himself at the honorable mention slide for kicking the cameraman not because it wasn't enough of a cheap shot, just because it was to a cameraman while all the others were player-to-player cheap shots.

Still, though, this was was bad. I mean, what did the cameraman even do? The biggest takeaway from this (if it wasn't clear before): Dennis Rodman is insane. 

10. Kevin Love Stomps on Luis Scola

Kevin Love is by no means a dirty player like the last dominant forward for the T'Wolves (don't worry; he'll make an appearance on this list soon). What I don't get, though, is why Love did it. He is the one that fouled Scola in the first place even though it wasn't called. Then, he decided to add insult to injury by stomping on him? Maybe he just wants to be the next great nose tackle in the NFL. He must have heard from Albert Haynesworth and Ndamukong Suh that the only way to make it in professional sports is to stomp on opposing players. 

9. Dwyane Wade Dislocates Rajon Rondo's Elbow

Forget the announcers trying to sugarcoat it. This was not Dwyane Wade trying to make a fundamental box out on Rajon Rondo; he was frustrated that Rondo poked the ball away and threw him to the ground. It was a cheap shot and a costly one to Rondo, who dislocated his elbow, and the Celtics who would go on to lose the series.

But at least in that game, you got to love how Boston responded. First, with the fans starting, as Mike Breen would say, "an anti D-Wade chant." Then, with Rondo coming back to lead the team to victory. Regardless of how big of a cheap shot it was, it still turned out to be a defining moment in Rajon Rondo's young career. 

8. Kevin Garnett Hits Channing Frye

First of all, Kevin Garnett did not hit Channing Frye in "the stomach area," as Jeff Van Gundy said. It was certainly a groin shot, and for that reason, it was a bad cheap shot. Despite plays like this, I still love Kevin Garnett and his intensity, although this type of play is hardly defensible. It was a cheap shot if I have ever seen one, and I don't blame Channing Frye for how he reacted because I don't know many people who wouldn't react the same way. 

7. Raja Bell Clotheslines Kobe Bryant

Come on; that's a play on. No harm, no foul are the only rules Raja Bell plays by. Besides, someone has to let Kobe know that it's not that easy to get in the lane. All kidding aside, though, I bet that Kobe thought twice before driving on Raja Bell again. Raja plays for keeps; even if his team is up by 14 in a critical game within a playoff series in which he can't afford to be suspended from, he still protects the lane.

That is the mark of a true defender. No mercy, and no thought for repercussions. 

6. Bruce Bowen Kicks Chris Paul

Bruce Bowen was a great defender. Unfortunately, he was also great at delivering cheap shots, and he made some people think that the two went hand-in-hand. This is a perfect example of his cheap play. A little discreet and in the heat of the play so that some wouldn't even notice.

Besides, how can he be guilty? He did the whole thing with his hands up to show that he was totally innocent. 

5. Robert Horry Hip Checks Steve Nash

When Greg Popovich was screaming "foul" from the sidelines, I'm pretty sure that this was not what he had in mind. Just the hip check alone probably was not as bad as some of the other cheap shots on this list. But for me at least, it gets bonus points for Horry strutting away like nothing happened, the fight that ensued and the fact that it was at an incredibly critical point in an incredibly critical playoff game. But, hey, you don't get the nickname "Big Shot Rob" for nothing. 

4. Kevin McHale Clotheslines Kurt Rambis

As a Celtics fan, regardless of how big of a cheap shot it really was, it is an iconic moment. Because make no mistake about it, this play turned the tides of this series in the Celtics favor and helped them raise banner No. 15 into the rafters at the expense of the vaunted Lakers.

The best part about this, though, is the fact that it was only a foul called on this play, no flagrant one or two, no double technicals for the skirmish after and no ejections or suspensions. You gotta love the NBA in the 80s. 

3. Metta World Peace Elbows James Harden

I think it's safe to say that Metta World Peace is due for another name change because it doesn't seem that the whole "World Peace" thing is working for him. Again, though, I'm not quite sure why World Peace did it. He made a great play. Why follow it up with an unnecessary elbow and ejection?

Like Rodman, though, the biggest takeaway from this should just be that World Peace is certifiably insane and not to be messed with. 

2. Andrew Bynum Hits JJ Barea

I think that Mike Tirico summed this up best with his reaction to the play. "That is one of the biggest bush league things I've ever seen. That is terrible."

I'm with you, Mike; that is why Bynum is at No. 2 on the list. And for those who defend Bynum's maturity, I point to this. Probably one of the most immature ways to handle a playoff loss. Not only did he just cheap shot a guys who he had 15 inches on, but then he strutted away like nothing happened, then took his jersey off on the court. It truly was "disgusting," as Mike said. 

1. Kermit Washington Punches Rudy Tomjanovich

I doubt anyone would argue that this was by far the biggest cheap shot in NBA history. Rudy Tomjanovich nearly died from the blow and would require surgery. However, Rudy would go on to have a successful career as a coach of the Rockets. As a coach, he won two NBA championships and, besides Kevin Garnett's "anything is possible", had potentially the most memorable post-championship quote of all-time. So things worked out pretty well for Rudy after falling victim to the worst cheap shot in NBA history.