50 Biggest Badasses in NBA History

Rasheed Wallace, Charles Barkley and Ron Artest are a feared group of players on the basketball court.

With some past players and some present, all of the candidates on this list were not afraid to play exactly their style of basketball without repercussion.

The biggest badasses in league history are a group of players that demonstrated a carefree style about how their attitude was perceived, and that's part of what made each successful in his own right.

50. Jermaine O'Neal

O’Neal is a pretty interesting player because the perception has changed about him over the years, but let’s flash back to his days with the Pacers.

When he was at the peak of his game, there weren’t many on offense that were anxious to challenge him on the defensive end.

49. Rony Seikaly

Seikaly was a player that really didn’t get his props, but there’s no doubt he was an enforcer that nobody wanted to mess with frequently.

He was a feared defender during the best years of his career, as any Miami Heat fan would attest to, but his health ultimately proved to be the most formidable opponent.

48. Mark Jackson

Jax may not have been dishing out the attitude on the court, but that’s simply because he did it with his fearless game.

He had one of the most potent teardrop runners that a point guard could possibly possess, and he perfected it to a definite craft.

47. John Starks

Players don’t often come in the mold of John Starks, who was tough as nails and rarely feared any player that he ever went up against.

He was determined to always play to the best of his abilities, and rather than shy away from a challenge, he always sought to overcome it.

46. Zach Randolph

As a player that repetitively gets categorized as undersized and overweight, Randolph had to develop some sort of personality to avoid constant criticism.

He punched Louis Amundson square in the face in an effort to prove that point, but it’s unclear whether it actually had any adverse impact on him.

45. Tree Rollins

To call Rollins a force down low would be an understatement, as at the time of his retirement Rollins ranked in the top five in career blocks.

“The Intimidator” did exactly that throughout his career, and not a lot of people were very anxious to go up against him as a result.

44. Moses Malone

Malone doesn't often get mentioned when people dissect the grittiest and most prolific big men to ever play the game, but his name certainly belongs in the conversation.

In addition to having the most excellent goggles that ever have ever graced the hardwood, Malone played with an aggressive style that was often illustrated when the opposition tried to get the best of him.

43. Tyson Chandler

Chandler seems to be one of the nicest guys off the court that one could find, but on the hardwood is a different story.

Some have a skewed perception of his skills because of his battles with the injury bug, but this guy is a legitimate difference-maker down low, as evidenced by his impact in Dallas last season.

42. Rod Strickland

Strickland was a pretty solid point guard in his own right, but one thing that made him particularly successful was his ability to hold his own on the perimeter defensively.

Having said that, Strickland played in an era where hand checks were still legal, and he certainly made the most of it.

41. John Stockton

Stockton doesn’t really get the proper consideration that he deserves to be on this list, as he knew how to get away with a few things with the best of them.

He was cited as one of the league’s dirtiest players a couple of times during his playing days, and there’s no doubt that he got away with a few hand checks here and there while racking up all of his steals.

40. Jerry Sloan

Sloan really knew how to toe a fine line between being tough and being dirty, but that’s what a great defender typically does.

A consistent force on that end of the floor, Sloan really forced the opposition out of their element and made sure that nobody was in their comfort zone against him.

39. Kendrick Perkins

Perkins may look like he’s always got a sour look on his face, but that’s just because he’s a flat-out competitor who never seeks to back down.

Despite being undersized at his position, Perkins has asserted himself as a tough guy in the key with a defense-first mentality.

38. Kermit Washington

Anyone that delivers a resounding blow in the form of a punch to another player’s face is one that nobody is going to want to go up against.

While the incident is often blown completely out of proportion, Washington remains a very viable candidate to belong in this compilation.

37. Stephen Jackson

Jackson has been somewhat of a magnet for negative attention throughout his career, but that’s a direct result of speaking exactly what’s on his mind.

Additionally, Jackson has played with a fearless style and isn’t afraid to body up against someone bigger, making him a sound qualifier.

36. Dikembe Mutombo

When Mutombo would do his famous finger wag after blocking a shot, it was as if he had slapped the offensive attacker directly across the face.

The best part about his approach was that he never forgot to remind the opposition that the rim belonged to only him, even in the latter stages of his playing days.

35. Bruce Bowen

We all knew that Bowen was an excellent defender, but it took a flying kick to Wally Szczerbiak's face to realize he was also a master of martial arts.

Bowen wouldn’t back down from anyone he faced, and that’s a pretty remarkable feat considering he was typically matched up against the opposition’s best offensive player.

34. Larry Smith

Any guy who had a nickname of “Mr. Mean” was definitely meant to be included here.

In fact, Smith was even hired by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008 to bring tenacity to the club, as that style of play on the glass is exactly what garnered him his nickname.

33. Rick Mahorn

Mahorn was a staple of the Detroit “Bad Boys,” and he’s pretty underrated in terms of toughness.

Like many of his teammates, the man refused to back down against anyone, and he was undoubtedly more successful as a result.

32. J.R. Rider

When Rider was drafted, he was asked how he was going to obtain his No. 34.

His response? Rider said that the number is what got him to where he was, and if he had to hypothetically go head-to-head with Barkley over the number, he wouldn’t be sure how it ended because they both have an attitude.

31. Olden Polynice

Polynice filled the role of the tough guy on his team regardless of where he was playing, as he really wasn’t afraid of anyone.

He may not have had the natural skill set of some more talented players on this list, but he didn’t lack anything in the physicality department.

30. Anthony Mason

The league really misses players like Anthony Mason, because his style of aggression isn’t often found in today’s league.

He likely wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the same success that he did because of the change in rules regarding fouls, but there’s no doubt that he always played with an extreme intensity.

29. Alonzo Mourning

Mourning’s reputation went far beyond his defense, as he definitely backed it up with some pretty serious aggression.

His legacy isn’t what it should be among some of the younger fans of the game, but at his best, players weren’t made much more solid than Mourning in the middle.

28. Marvin Barnes

Barnes had a hard time staying focused on basketball during his playing career, but it’s often because his second job was on his mind.

I don’t blame him entirely, because I’d have a tough time focusing on playing basketball too if I were making 40 to 50 grand weekly as a drug dealer.

27. Calvin Murphy

Known for his defensive abilities at just 5’9”, Murphy had to be tough as nails in order to survive in the NBA.

He had impressive speed on the perimeter to pair with his defensive grit, and that was essential in crafting his overall attack.

26. Reggie Evans

Evans and his infamous nut plunge of Chris Kaman will never be forgotten, as he really grew into his reputation of being tough since that time.

A fierce rebounder and an even more fearsome competitor, Evans is not someone that anyone would want to mess with underneath the rim.

25. Allen Iverson

This list would simply be incomplete if Iverson wasn’t a part of it, as his carefree attitude didn’t always rub off on the media in the right way.

When he was at the top of his game, Iverson was not a guy you wanted to mess with on the court or through a battle of words.

24. Reggie Miller

Knicks fans know all too well about Miller’s abilities on the court, as he repeatedly crushed some hopes with his standout style of play.

He got into some pretty heated battles of his own, but it’s hard to ever forget when he portrayed the infamous choke to Spike Lee.

23. Kenyon Martin

It’s not every day that an NBA player curses out the opposing team’s owner on his way to the locker room, but that’s exactly what K-Mart did to Mark Cuban.

To say that he’s got a unique flair would be an understatement, as Martin has illustrated that he’s not going to back down from anyone at any point on the court.

22. Larry Johnson

Although he’s best known for his role as “Grandmama” in the infamous commercials, Johnson certainly did nothing to reinforce the notion that he was an old lady on the court.

He regularly challenged his opponents with standout play and a verbal tongue-lashing that typically followed.

21. Shawn Kemp

This is one player that I really wouldn’t want to meet in a back alley, as the Reign Man really brought the house down.

He was one of the most entertaining players to watch in the Sonics’ heyday, and there’s no doubt that he was a complete and utter force on the court.

20. Kevin McHale

McHale was a beast in the low post, and he made sure that the opposition knew that the area belonged to him.

The infamous Celtic brought the heat in more ways than one, as he clearly wasn’t afraid to go after anyone that sought to challenge him.

19. Dale Davis

When Davis played for the Pacers, he was one feared opponent beneath the rim that nobody wanted to run into.

With a genuine ferocity about his approach and a “mean factor” that many players don’t possess, Davis served in his role flawlessly.

18. Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain's dominance on the court was so overpowering that his opponents literally couldn't figure out a way to stop his attack.

The big man became the first big man in NBA history to lead the league in total points, rebounds and assists at various points throughout his career and showed no hesitance in broaching any area of the game.

17. Raja Bell

As a stout perimeter defender, Bell really knew how to get the best of his opposition by doing what annoyed them most.

He has a serious affinity for playing an old-school style of basketball, and that’s the type of game that has devolved out of the league far too quickly.

16. Kevin Garnett

Although there’s clearly more bark than bite in his attack, Garnett certainly makes the cut as one of the scariest cats on the court.

Any guy that can sweat compulsively before tipoff and has lines to deliver to the opposition from the get-go is one that is definitely feared by others.

15. Bill Russell

Russell certainly never showed any intent of backing down from his opponents during his playing days, as evidenced by the tireless work ethic he displayed.

Capturing 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons of pro ball, Russell really knew how to bring the heat on his opponents and let everyone know that the rim belonged to him.

14. Latrell Sprewell

Sprewell simply wouldn’t let anyone talk down to him, even rejecting a $21 million contract offer because he had a "family to feed."

In addition, he choked former head coach P.J. Carlesimo, was thought of as a tough teammate to get along with and was never a fan of Charles Barkley.

13. Isiah Thomas

Thomas was the leader of the Bad Boys during his days in Detroit, and he really earned his spot on this list with his play.

He knew how to really agitate the opposition, as evidenced by the included video that has him trying to provoke the opponent.

12. Karl Malone

Malone might not come to mind immediately, but this was a guy to be reckoned with on the court.

He never backed down from anyone, ever. He even delivered the mail on Sundays when the USPS refuses to do so.

11. Shaquille O'Neal

He might have a bubbly personality off the court, but there’s no doubt that nobody was messing with Shaq when he was at his best.

O’Neal never shied away from a confrontation between two parties, and he represents a pretty big boy for anyone to handle.

10. Kobe Bryant

Bryant doesn’t get a lot of attention for his on-court attitude, but make no mistake about it—he definitely knows how to assert himself.

In addition to getting into a few scraps of his own, Bryant backs up his tough talk with an uncanny ability to seemingly come through when it matters most for his club.

9. Vernon Maxwell

Maxwell was the resident tough guy and charismatic personality long before Mr. Metta World Peace / Ron-Ron Artest was ever even a thought.

He filled his role admirably by not allowing anyone to talk poorly about his team and defended their honor on the hardwood.

8. Xavier McDaniel

A player who really defined his success by his readiness to play, McDaniel never backed down from any challenge that faced him.

He got into one of the most comical slap fights of all time with Charles Oakley, which is especially ironic considering that the two are thought to be made of a harder shell.

7. Ben Wallace

Wallace’s name doesn’t often get associated with the infamous brawl, but he was at the epicenter of the battle.

Additionally, Wallace was an elite shot-blocker that didn’t get challenged in the lane because nobody wanted to encroach on his territory.

6. Charles Barkley

Barkley definitely made his presence felt on the basketball court in more ways than with just his standout style of play.

He wasn’t afraid to go toe to toe with anyone, and if a player got in Barkley’s face and wanted to engage with the power forward, he certainly wasn’t going to say no.

5. Ron Artest

Artest is really in a class by himself, because the things he does both on and off the court cannot be paralleled to anyone before him.

Long before he ever contemplated changing his name to “Metta World Peace,” Artest was clearly marching to the beat of his own drum.

4. Bill Laimbeer

Laimbeer was one of the faces of the “Bad Boys” Pistons team that played as if they weren’t afraid of any challenge that faced them.

He garnered a reputation for being a very hard-nosed player, but he embraced it and played up to it admirably.

3. Rasheed Wallace

Sheed’s 41 technicals in a single season is a mark that may never be broken, and his attitude is certainly one that won’t ever be replicated.

The infamous stare-down that led to an ejection remains one of the funniest ways to get thrown out of a game that I’ve ever seen.

2. Charles Oakley

The NBA sorely misses players like Oakley who weren’t afraid to get underneath the skin of their opposition.

He truly made the game a more fun one to watch, and it was directly a result of his willingness to compete along any lines.

1. Dennis Rodman

Rodman’s inclusion on this list is rather obvious, as there has truly never been a player quite like him in the NBA.

Someone that backed up his aggressive style of play with impressive performances throughout his career, The Worm is truly one of a kind.