There are many kinds of players in the NBA. All of them have a different set of skills that validates their belonging in the best basketball league in the world. You have the players with crazy handles like Rafer Alston and Jason Williams, passers who have eyes behind their head like Jason Kidd, and pure shooters like Peja and Ray Allen. There are other players who get in because they were born with the tall genes, such as Shawn Bradley (I know many people with better basketball skills than Bradley). The pinnacle echelon of basketball players have a vast set of skills that every basketball fan can admire (examples being Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Baron Davis, etc.). These top tier players make the NBA fun and exciting to watch.
However, I am here to talk about punks. These are the guys who have moments where I wish someone would clothesline them and put them in their place. Off the court they may be total gentleman I don't know, but what I do know is that when they show up on court one word comes to mind: "punk." One note I will make is that I have not included "danger" players like Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson; I just don't think of them as punks. I've spoken enough, so lets get on to my top 5 punks of the NBA list.
5. Richard Hamilton
In some ways I feel terrible about putting him on this list. I watched him ball at UConn, and I loved watching him play. But then I watch him play, and I always seem him crying to the officials that he was fouled. Stop whining and complaining, just play the game! On a side note, whereas the other players on this list I may have wanted to sucker punch at some point, a simple backhanded slap to Hamilton's face would suffice. Plus he has the face mask on, it won't hurt at all!
4. Matt Harpring
Matt Harpring is one of those hard-nosed players that coaches like to have on their team. Something just rubs me the wrong way about him on the basketball court though. I think it might be because he plays dirty and fouls hard. Karl Malone and John Stockton might be able to get away with it, but c'mon, who is Matt Harpring? Uggg, disgusting.
3. Danny Fortson
I don't know if he is still playing or warming the bench somewhere in the league, but whenever I see him play he always seems to be getting flagrant fouls. I know its good to play physical defense, but this is basketball not wrestling! Like Matt Harpring, the fact that he is a below average NBA player makes him even more of a punk when he acts all tough.
2. Joakim Noah
A few may perceive his attitude as simply confidence, but I see arrogance. I have good evidence for this claim, as recently Noah's Chicago Bulls teammates unanimously voted to ask for him to be suspended an extra game after Noah's confrontation with an assistant coach. The guy's a mediocre rookie who thinks he is justified in confronting his superior in such a manner? Its time he grows up, he's not a little kid anymore. Sure, people don't like losing but be a bit mature Joakim. Plus all his energetic hand motions, chest thumping, whatever he is doing, its a bit over the top. I don't mind if some players do it occasionally, and I love it when players do it after an amazing highlight (such as Baron Davis' lifting up of his jersey after dunking on Kirilenko), but please don't do it when you don't really have to.
1. Robert Horry
This was tough, I was debating whether to put Horry or Noah at the number 1 spot. However, I gave Noah some grace since its only his first year in the league. Let me get one thing straightened out...I did not put Horry here because he drilled the dagger all Kings fans will remember. For all his clutch shot-making in the playoffs, Robert Horry has let frustration get the best of him at certain times that has resulted in bone-headed actions. First, in recent playoff memory he flagrantly fouled Steve Nash near the end of a game. Sure, the Spurs may have needed to foul, but Horry straight up assaulted Steve Nash. Secondly, the man punched David Robinson in the balls. Once again, it was near the end of a game. The Lakers (Horry was on LA at the time) needed to foul to stop the time. So the Spurs inbound the ball to David Robinson, and Horry takes several swipes at the ball. Eventually Horry hit Robinson in the balls. I'm really don't think it was inadvertant. Horry made spot-on contact to Robinson's sensitive area. It was no graze, as evidenced by Robinson immediately going down. For both Nash and Robinson, Horry may have been thinking, "We already lost the game, might as well vent out some frustration." Not cool man, not cool. Horry assaulted 2 upstanding citizens of the NBA. You have to show class to classy individuals.
Well, the NBA is fun to watch, and it becomes even more delightful when the arrogant and classless are humbled.
