NBA Power Rankings: Carmelo Anthony and the 10 Most Hated Players in the League
Carmelo Anthony is grabbing headlines everywhere, and for what? Just so a team can sign him for a year or two or three?
He isn't even going full speed for the Nuggets right now, so what makes everyone think he will everywhere else?
While there are so many beloved players in this league, there are also many that make me want to vomit with some of the stuff they have done.
With all that in mind, I hope you enjoy and thanks for reading!
Honorable Mentions:
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Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics: From faking injuries to his cocky swagger, this Celtic has got it all, and we non-Boston fans hate him because of that.
Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers: Possibly the NBA's biggest drama queen, this Cleveland big annoys everyone with his ridiculous hair and his flop style of play.
Gilbert Arenas, Orlando Magic: I would put him on this list, but I'm afraid he'd pull a gun on me on a team plane.
Kwame Brown, Charlotte Bobcats: It's so easy to hate on this former number one overall draft pick that I sort of feel bad doing it.
O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies: From taking illegal over-the-counter drugs to being involved in yet another USC scandal, it's easy to see why Mayo is on this list.
10. Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers
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I feel for Greg Oden, I really do.
The reason he is on this list has hardly anything to do with his play, or lack thereof.
In his fourth season in Portland, Oden has played in just 90 games, averaging 9.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
Everyone expected the seven-foot Oden to be the next big thing in basketball, and he has really never gotten the chance to prove his worth.
I'm left here wondering how bad the Trail Blazers feel for selecting him over Kevin Durant, who has become a mega superstar in the same division Oden was supposed to be. That fact alone makes Oden hated, even if the uncontrollable injuries didn't come at all.
9. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
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Every fan of the NBA can undoubtedly tell you that Rajon Rondo is one of the most hated players in the league.
He has that cocky attitude and ignorant swagger about him, which led to him declaring that fellow point guard Chris Paul will never win a championship.
Maybe we hate him because he plays with four future Hall of Famers, three of which can still play, and two of which are seemingly flawless shooters.
Or maybe we despise that he's such a darn good passer and lockdown defender.
8. Yi Jianlian, Washington Wizards
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The Ricky Rubio of the 2007 NBA Draft, Yi Jianlian might be the least well-known on this list.
Yi thought he was some sort of superstar when he joined this league, and his camp warned small market teams that he would refuse to play for them.
Who did he think he was doing such a thing?
Yi wanted to play in a town like New York or Los Angeles, but instead was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks, and ever since he has flopped hardcore in the NBA.
Throw in the fact that nobody knows his real age, and you have yourself a true hated player.
Rubio should perhaps take a page out of Yi's book and suck it up and play for the MinnesotaTimberwolves.
7. Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
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Joakim Noah is just another example of a guy everyone from Cleveland hates.
He famously stated these words during last year's playoffs about the city: "You think Cleveland's cool? I never heard anybody say I'm going to Cleveland on vacation. What's so good about Cleveland?"
When asked whether or not the boos bothered him the following night due to the previous statement, he responded by randomly saying: "What? That Cleveland sucks?"
Who outside of Chicago is a fan of Noah?
I have no idea why he said these remarks, but ultimately it helps make him one of the NBA's most hated.
Plus he looks like an absolute girl.
6. DeShawn Stevenson, Dallas Mavericks
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A few years back, DeShawn Stevenson declared himself the most hated player in the league to SLAM Magazine. A defensive specialist, Stevenson also said once that LeBron James was extremely overrated.
He also had a fued awhile back with rapper Jay-Z.
When he was 20 and a second-year player for the Jazz he was accused of having sex with a 14-year old, but charges were eventually dropped.
The scary part is that Stevenson sounds like he wants the title for the NBA's most hated player.
Do I need to give you more reasons why he's on this list?
5. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets...or Knicks? Or Nets? Or Lakers? Or Rockets?
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I don't know about everyone else, but I am sick to death of reading headlines that have to do with Carmelo Anthony, and where he is going to end up.
Quite frankly, all I know is that wherever he ends up that team will be improved, and nothing more.
Unless he is taking his talents to the Land of 10,000 Lakes I could care less at this point (okay, that was sarcastic obviously).
The thing that bothers me the most is that he isn't even trying to care for Denver's progress right now. If you watch him on the court he is lagging and clearly doesn't show any emotion on the court. This is most evident when he hits a game-winner earlier in the year and shakes it off like it is something that happens everyday.
Some of the hate on Anthony cannot be attributed directly to him, but he is almost always indirectly involved with it.
4. Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers
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When searching for a photo to use for this slide, I had hoped to come upon a picture from the brawl back in 2004. Instead, I settled for a picture of Artest sporting the Pacers blue and yellow uniform.
I'm not going to even get into the brawl since everyone already knows what happened: the punch to the innocent fan, the 73-game suspension, and the aftermath in the NBA.
Other than that, the very outspoken Artest has admitted to drinking Henessey at halftime during his Chicago days, malnourished his dog, and once asked coach Rick Carlisle for a month off to record some songs for his upcoming rap album.
All these factors make him one of the NBA's most hated, even if he has tamed in recent years.
3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
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Kobe Bryant has undoubtedly been the best player over the last decade, but that doesn't exclude him from this list.
From dropped rape charges to trash talk, "The Black Mamba" has seen it all.
The most common reason is hate Kobe is the jealousy factor. After all, he has five rings and is in a decent position to snag a sixth, a number that would tie the Greatest of All Time in that department. The truth is that everyone wants to play like Kobe, and at the same time nobody wants to be Kobe.
Does that make sense?
2. LeBron James, Miami Heat
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Okay, where should I start on why LeBron is on this list?
Oh, I know! How about for having a special on ESPN dedicated to you selecting your team?
How about not even telling your general manager your selection until he sees it on TV?
How about for not even saying the team name at first, but rather that you're "taking your talents to South Beach"?
I personally like King James, but Dan Gilbert and the city of Cleveland want you to burn. It's as simple as that.
Look at where Cleveland has gone since, losing 25 consecutive games at the moment. LeBron, on the other hand, is a prime MVP candidate in his first season with the Heat.
1. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
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Back in the days when he donned a Minnesota Timberwolves uniform, Kevin Garnett was one of the most beloved players in all of basketball.
Everyone rooted for the underdog and hoped he would win a championship.
Then he was traded to the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2007, and completely turned the switch to jerk mode.
He has since become a punk type, and many have called him the dirtiest player in the league, and it stems from his mouth.
Earlier this season he was accused of calling Charlie Villanueva a "cancer patient". Garnett then gave the lamest excuse ever, stating that he thinks Villanueva is a cancer to the league. Anyone want to explain to me as to why he is? It makes no sense.
He has also reportedly hit many players in practice.
It's sad to see my favorite team's most historic figure at the summit of the NBA's most hated.
