NBA Power Rankings: Ron Artest and 28 Most Unstable Players in League History
The NBA is loaded with a plethora of talent, but also with a mixed bag of personalities.
Not every professional athlete takes to the public spotlight with a seamless transition, and these 28 players illustrate that point perfectly.
We've seen some very entertaining stuff in the league throughout the years, and this list emphasizes the idea that no two players are exactly the same.
These guys sought to leave a mark—and they did.
28. World B. Free
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Known as "All-World" and the "Prince of Midair," Lloyd Bernard Free did his best Chad Johnson before the wide receiver was even considering an NFL career.
Free legally changed his name to "World B. Free" in 1981 and was seen as one of the game's more charismatic athletes in a time where athlete personalities were not what they are today.
27. Kermit Washington
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Washington's career will be defined by the knockout punch he delivered on Rudy Tomjanovich.
He didn't do anything too crazy compared to some of the athletes that join him on this list, but assaulting a fellow player in the middle of a game means there might've been a few screws loose somewhere.
26. Bill Laimbeer
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Laimbeer was one of the leading faces of the Pistons team that was labeled the "bad boys" of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
After earning a reputation as a chippy player, Laimbeer wholeheartedly embraced the reputation and even endorsed a "combat basketball" style of video game.
25. Kevin Garnett
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Kevin Garnett is one of the greatest power forwards to ever grace the NBA, but let's be honest: This guy talks to the basketball hoop before the game starts.
Some might define his intensity as a high motor and a passion for the game, but have you ever seen that look in K.G.'s eye when something important doesn't go his way? It's downright scary.
24. Stephen Jackson
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Stephen Jackson has been a fairly prolific player regardless of what team he's playing for in his career, but there's a reason he's been so well traveled.
He's been charged with several accusations over the years, including a count of felony criminal recklessness, so it's not exactly a shocker that he hasn't been able to stick in one spot for all that long.
23. Scot Pollard
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Pollard might not be a name that someone thinks of right off the bat, but he was the retro version of Chris Andersen before the Birdman became prominent in the national spotlight.
He challenged Dennis Rodman for Mr. Hair in the NBA, took a hard-line stance against superstars even though he was a scrub and wasn't afraid to speak his mind—no matter what was on it.
22. Keon Clark
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The NBA might not have a steroid problem, but it's not quite as squeaky clean as some might lead you to believe.
Clark was arrested on multiple weapons charges and possession of marijuana after his career ended, and he later admitted that he was an alcoholic for the majority of his career and that he never played a game sober.
21. Bonzi Wells
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Wells had somewhat of a temper issue before he fell off of the face of the NBA earth.
Bonzi was suspended for getting into a heated argument with his coach, was suspended again for hitting an official during a game and was noted for making obscene gestures to the crowd when things didn't go as he expected.
In other words, Wells was among the classiest ambassadors for the league.
20. Allen Iverson
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Allen Iverson looked like he was headed for a career as one of the most remembered point guards in the history of the league.
After being traded to the Pistons and quitting on the team, Iverson endured an unsuccessful tenure in Denver before trying his luck back in Philly, where he again quit on the team, only to sign a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies in an attempt to revitalize his image before he quit on the team once again.
Notice a pattern here?
19. Vernon Maxwell
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Isn't it great when a player lives up to his nickname in all aspects?
"Mad Max" was a beast on the court in those great Houston retro jerseys, but he was also charged with failing to pay child support and reportedly had to pay a woman for herpes treatment, which came courtesy of Maxwell.
Oh, and this guy was also Ron Artest before Artest's career started: He ran into the stands and punched a fan during a game, an action for which he received a 10-game suspension.
18. Rasheed Wallace
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Sheed will be remembered for a lot of things, but his ability to rack up technical fouls at historic rates is going to stick out most in the memories.
He managed to get a lengthy seven-game suspension for threatening ex-referee Tim Donaghy, but maybe he was just unhappy with one of Donaghy's crooked calls.
17. Bill Walton
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Bill Walton is a legend.
Not only did "The Big Redhead" enjoy success throughout the tenure of his career, but he was also one of the biggest hippies that the National Basketball Association has ever seen.
His 23-year-long acid trip is a story that no fan of the game should miss reading.
16. Pete Maravich
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Injuries forced Maravich to the sidelines in 1980, and after being unable to cope with a retirement that came too soon, the Pistol searched for alternate routes of life to take.
He said that he was searching "for life" and tried yoga, Hinduism and took a strong interest in the study of ufology. He eventually embraced evangelical Christianity and sought to be remembered as a religious man and not a basketball player.
The Pistol also believed that UFOs were sent by God down to Earth. Cue the Twilight Zone music.
15. Chris Andersen
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Chris Andersen received a two-year ban from the league in 2006 for violating the league's drug policy, but since then he has returned with a vengeance and a whole new slew of tattoos.
If Birdman ever moves on from Denver and signs with a new team, I hope it's one that has baby blue in its team colors since that seems to be the most prominent color in his body collage.
14. Eddie L. Johnson
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**Correction** An early version of this slideshow showed a photo of Eddie A. Johnson. The slide, however, describes Eddie L. Johnson.
Our editors wish to highlight that the player who was incorrectly pictured — Eddie A. Johnson — had a distinguished NBA career, and he has earned recognition as an outstanding contributor to several media outlets. Eddie is widely recognized as a leader and motivator, and you can learn more about him at http://www.jumpshotclub.com.
A new image has been added and we sincerely apologize to Eddie A. Johnson and his fans for the mistake.
Another athlete who was expelled from the NBA because of drug use, Johnson's legal drama didn't stop at just that.
Fast Eddie was accused of molesting a child and was sentenced to life imprisonment in a very sad situation.
13. Spencer Haywood
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Although he's not exactly talked about as a pioneer of the league, Spencer Haywood forever changed the landscape of the league with his landmark 1971 case.
Despite the eligibility rules that existed, Haywood teamed up with the Seattle SuperSonics and carried the case all the way to the Supreme Court until they ruled him eligible to play.
But what ranks him so highly here is that he tried to put out a hit on one of his head coaches.
Now that's crazy.
12. Stephon Marbury
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Stephon Marbury was the face of a public feud in New York in a one-on-one battle against then-general manager Isiah Thomas, but things didn't start to get weird until after that started.
He caused more problems for his team than any athlete has in recent memory and was actually banned by the Knicks from attending their games while he was still under contract.
11. Jason Williams
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"White Chocolate" has one of the best nicknames in the history of the league, but unfortunately his production has been a little stagnant since he first broke into the league.
He was permanently suspended from the University of Florida, has had some issues with drugs and has "white boy" tattooed across his knuckles, fully embracing the ideology that stems from behind his street nomenclature.
10. Gilbert Arenas
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Gilbert Arenas was supposed to be a franchise player who the Wizards would build their potential dynasty around.
But after bringing guns into the locker room and then attempting to turn it into a satire by mocking himself the next night in the huddle, it's clear that this guy just doesn't get it.
Oh, and did I mention that he blamed his poor play in Orlando this season on it being cold? Yeah.
9. Ricky Davis
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Davis is one of the most selfish players that the NBA has ever seen, and his hotdogging and ball-hogging ways ended his career long before it should have been complete.
The antithesis of a team player, there may not be an "I" in team, but there's certainly one in Ricky.
8. John Brisker
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The resident village idiot of the ABA, Brisker provoked fights between players as a regular activity.
After being invited to Uganda in 1978, Brisker was never seen again and was declared legally dead in 1985.
It's unclear whether he went on the trip as a mercenary or as an invitee of Idi Amin.
7. Marvin Barnes
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Barnes was arrested after his career for drug possession and burglary and reportedly loved to smoke marijuana throughout the tenure of his career.
There's no doubt that "Bad News" marched to the beat of his own drum, and that's exactly the mentality that lands him toward the front of the list.
6. Calvin Murphy
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Calvin Murphy played in an era where salaries weren't what they are today, so I hope he saved his pennies for all of his children.
A confirmed father of 14 from nine different women, Murphy is going to have to pay up if he hopes to avoid future legal troubles as his personal life moves forward.
Murphy was also an instigator on the court and started multiple fights on the hardwood during his tenure in the professional ranks.
5. Jayson Williams
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This list wouldn't be complete without the other Jayson Williams making an appearance.
In addition to being charged with DWI in 2010, Williams' real trouble stems from a 2002 case where he was charged with manslaughter in the death of his limousine driver.
4. Ron Artest
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Ron Artest won the NBA's Citizenship Award this season, so it's easy to see that he's come a long way.
On top of his infamous Detroit brawl, Artest is also a self-proclaimed rap icon, has several different alter egos on Twitter and is the first athlete in recent memory to announce his signing with a team on ESPN's SportsCenter.
3. Dennis Rodman
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This should be rather obvious.
Rodman changed his hair color more often than most people change their outfits, regularly dressed like a woman and even wore a wedding dress on several occasions.
The NBA will never see a player quite like this guy ever again.
2. Delonte West
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Delonte West has a different method of coping with things than most people.
Whether it's reportedly getting close to Gloria James (LeBron's mom), riding around on a motorcycle with loaded firearms or fighting his teammates in the locker room, it seems that West just can't stay out of trouble.
1. Latrell Sprewell
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Every time I hear Latrell Sprewell's name mentioned, I laugh uncontrollably and think about the ocean.
Why? Because Sprewell rejected a lucrative extension from the T-Wolves because he had a "family to feed."
The contract would have paid him $21 million over three seasons, enough to feed his family a lobster dinner every single night of the year and have plenty left over.
