NBA Power Rankings: Dennis Rodman, Most Colorful Persona in Each Team's History
Throughout the years of the NBA, there have been some pretty crazy and eccentric players to play with the best.
Dennis Rodman is undoubtedly one of those. Whether he was punching Shaq or kicking Minnesota cameramen, Rodman was always an entertainer.
This list presents the NBA's most colorful persona on each team, and it only adds to the slide what they did while with the team.
With that in mind, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!
(Also: feel free to make any suggestions to the list as this was a difficult topic to research.)
Atlanta Hawks: Dominique Wilkins
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Dominique Wilkins was the man when he played with the Hawks.
In 12 seasons he averaged better than 26 points per game, but that wasn't the most intriguing part about Wilkins—he had a colorful side.
He was routinely the NBA's best dunker during his tenure, and had an epic dunk contest showdown with Michael Jordan.
Even today, he remains relevant in the contest.
Boston Celtics: Ricky Davis
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Ricky Davis' reputation as an insane dunker as well as a crowd pleaser earn him a spot on the list.
He also had a knack for missing dunks.
His "Get Buckets Brigade" gave 15 season tickets to his favorite 15 fans, something only one of the NBA's most colorful personalities would do.
Charlotte Bobcats: Stephen Jackson
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I know he hasn't technically harmed anyone (yet) as a Charlotte Bobcat, but Stephen Jackson still "deserves" the center spot based on prior experience with the Ron Artest brawl at the Palace.
On the flip side, is it just me or does he always look like he's ready to hurt someone?
Chicago Bulls: Dennis Rodman
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I could go on and on about the type of player Dennis Rodman was as a professional, but when it came to anything outside his game it seemed as though everyone was all ears.
Except in this video, where they were all, er, feet.
Nonetheless, whether you liked the Worm or not, he was clearly the NBA's most eccentric player ever, and this might not be his last showing on the slideshow.
Cleveland Cavaliers: World B. Free
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Lloyd Bernard Free was born in 1953, but during the '60s a new man was born: World B. Free. He was called this because of his very flamboyant play, as well as his "around the world" dunks.
It was the funky Free who had other nicknames like "All-World" and the "Prince of Midair."
This guy better had know his stuff on current global issues, otherwise that's an awfully misleading name.
Dallas Mavericks: Mark Cuban
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You didn't think "persona" only meant players, did you?
Mark Cuban gets the nod with the Dallas Mavericks' selection because he is clearly the most talked about owner in perhaps all of professional sports.
There are no doubters claiming Cuban doesn't love his team, and for that reason his inclusion is discretely merited.
Denver Nuggets: Keon Clark
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Keon Clark spent the first three seasons of his interesting and drunken career with the Denver Nuggets.
He later stated that during his time in the Rockies he never played a game sober, and crazily enough some of his teammates had noticed it.
His career ended in 2004 due to his alcohol addiction.
Detroit Pistons: Dennis Rodman
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Dennis Rodman no doubt is an NBA great, but he is examined by pundits more for what he did off the floor as a Piston rather than on.
As an original "Bad Boy," Rodman was as eccentric and free-spirited as they come, and Detroit was the stop he earned championships number one and two.
Of course, this was also the only club he played for when his hair was its original black color.
Golden State Warriors: Wilt Chamberlain
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You cannot claimed to have slept with 20,000 women and not deserve a spot on this list, so why not put him where he started out in this league, with the Warriors?
Regardless the number, Wilt Chamberlain never backed down from an interview and was known as a funny guy around the league, effectively making him one of the NBA's most colorful personalities.
Houston Rockets: Vernon Maxwell
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Vernon Maxwell, or "Mad Max," as he was nicknamed, was a fan favorite in the late '80s with the Houston Rockets.
He was so into games that he got furious with a fan calling him names, so in turn he charged the stands and punched him, earning himself a 10-game suspension.
He was one of the NBA's most temper-filled and clutch players.
Indiana Pacers: Ron Artest
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For a number of years as an Indiana Pacer, all Ron Artest knew was how to tick people off.
First, he got into the now infamous brawl at the Palace, prompting the NBA to suspend him for the remainder (73 games) of that season.
Second, his eccentric and outspoken behavior have made him a mainstay among the NBA's "baddest," and he was undoubtedly at the peak of his game while in Indiana.
Los Angeles Clippers: Bill Walton
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After a stint in Portland that proved Bill Walton to be a colorful personality, he took his talents to play as a member of the Clippers, where he continued to switch off between playing on the hardwood and sitting on the disable list.
At the same time, however, he did many ads like this one above, maintaining that personality during his tenure. He was basketball's center of controversy.
Los Angeles Lakers: Shaquille O'Neal
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Cussing at reporters, feuding with teammates, and winning championships was perhaps all Shaquille O'Neal knew during his tenure as a Laker.
He often scowled and lost his mind, but nobody can deny that Shaq was perhaps the last of a dying breed of centers in the association.
He was the man when he played in the city of angels, and was twice as popular as Kobe Bryant in his prime.
Memphis Grizzlies: Jason Williams
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Jason Williams' inclusion has to deal with his game and appearance more than anything.
He played almost like a person you'd find on NBA Street, minus the 10-foot verticals. His unorthodox style of play and his infinite amount of tattoos made him the bad guy on the Grizzlies during his time.
Miami Heat: Shaquille O'Neal
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Not only did Shaquille O'Neal add a fourth ring to his resume while in Miami, he did it while dissing Kobe for failing to win a championship without him (Kobe has since won two).
His personality was, as usual, colorful and eccentric during his time with Dwyane Wade and the Heat.
Milwaukee Bucks: Vin Baker
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Vin Baker was a solid player while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, but sometimes it seemed that partying and alcohol were more important than basketball.
In four brilliant seasons with Milwaukee, Baker was beloved and known as one of the NBA's bright young stars but ultimately didn't do much better outside Wisconsin, where he was routinely a fan favorite.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Latrell Sprewell
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Latrell Sprewell is undoubtedly the Timberwolves' selection here.
Sprewell, Sam Cassell, and league MVP Kevin Garnett led the Wolves to their best season as a franchise, where it ultimately ended with a crushing defeat at the hands of the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
The following season, after T'Wolves' owner Glen Taylor offered Spree a reported three-year, $21 million dollar deal, the 34-year old responded by saying, "I have a family to feed. If Taylor wants to see my family fed, he better cough up some money."
Sprewell retired after the 2004-05 season, the last campaign that saw the franchise win more than half their contests.
New Jersey Nets: Darryl Dawkins
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Throughout his NBA career, Darryl Dawkins was a guy who liked to have a lot of fun.
"Chocolate Thunder" entertained the fans for years in Philly and New Jersey, breaking two backboards in the process.
He was one of the NBA's hilarious acts, as shown even 20 years later in the picture above.
New Orleans Hornets: Chris Andersen
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Chris Andersen might have gotten all his fame due to his play as a Nugget, but without a doubt he became one of the NBA's most colorful (literally) personalities during his era in New Orleans.
It was there that he received a two-year ban for failing drug tests repeatedly, and in time somehow became a fan favorite afterward.
"The Birdman" is without a doubt one of the NBA's craziest even now.
New York Knicks: Stephon Marbury
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Stephon Marbury was a believer that he was the best in the game during his tenure with the Knicks. He publicly feuded with coaches Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas, both of which ended up getting the boot during his time in the Big Apple.
A New York Daily News writer declared Marbury as the "most reviled athlete in New York."
Apparently playing 35 minutes per game wasn't good enough, according to Marbury.
Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson
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If you've been living under a rock for the last decade, you must check out this video.
After watching it repeatedly, I'm still not entirely sure what the Answer is talking about.
Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard
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The picture above defines Dwight Howard as a basketballer.
He's most likely holding in that smile he routinely beams, only before he would go and scoop up whatever player he made mad and give them a big 'ol bear hug.
Okay, so that's probably not what happened, but would it surprise you?
Oklahoma City Thunder: Xavier McDaniel
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Xavier McDaniel was one of the NBA's funny guys throughout the '80s and '90s, sure, but if you so much crossed his teammate he would mess you up on the basketball court.
McDaniel made a hilarious cameo in the movie Singles of 1992, and effectively established himself as one of the NBA's most colorful personalities.
Phoenix Suns: Charles Barkley
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Charles Barkley was never, and I mean never, afraid to speak (or spit) his mind when he played in the NBA.
He did nothing but speak every thought that crossed his mind, from proclaiming that the Suns would upset Jordan and the Bulls in the Finals to talking about how much shoes impact a childhood.
Now we have Sir Charles as the NBA broadcaster with an infinite amount of hilarious YouTube clips.
Portland Trail Blazers: Rasheed Wallace
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Throughout his career, Rasheed Wallace's greatest intention was to throw temper tantrums any time something didn't go his way during a game.
As a member of the Jail Blazers, he was earning technicals like crazy, and game-by-game he quickly collected technical after technical, "earning" over 400 throughout his career.
Sacramento Kings: Scot Pollard
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Scot Pollard was a guy who changed his hair style like Dennis Rodman alternated colors.
He was one of the NBA's most eccentric characters who once looked at a camera and said, "Hey kids. Do drugs."
Even though that incident came elsewhere, Pollard still easily tops the Kings' list.
San Antonio Spurs: Dennis Rodman
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Dennis Rodman, believe it or not, averaged 17 rebounds per game during his two seasons as a Spur.
However, that's not what made the Worm their most eccentric persona—the picture is an example of what does.
Rodman is the only player in NBA history crazy enough to earn three selections on this list.
Toronto Raptors: Vince Carter
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Vince Carter was extremely unhappy in the latter portion of his tenure in Toronto, and make no mistake: he wanted everyone to hear about it.
The Raps went as far as cutting his playing time almost in half in his final season of the Canadian era, and he was soon dealt to the Nets afterward.
Utah Jazz: Deron Williams
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The Utah Jazz haven't had any necessarily "flamboyant" personalities, but Deron Williams, one of the NBA's most tattooed players, takes the spot on this list.
Williams was never afraid to let his voice be heard by the media, and he even (possibly) led to the now famous and sudden resignation of legendary (and titleless) coach Jerry Sloan.
Williams might not ever be forgiven by Utah fans, and he was dealt just weeks later.
Washington Wizards: Gilbert Arenas
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Gilbert Arenas is without a doubt the craziest player to ever suit up for the Washington Wizards.
Throughout his tenure, he had made known what he thinks and possessed quite the "deal with it" attitude.
Unfortunately for him, that philosophy eventually led to proclaimed violence, and Arenas' craziness has still not recovered.
