Top 10 Dirtiest NBA Players

This list of Dirtiest NBA Players is also a tribute to the players mentioned who have kept the toughness, both mental and physical alive in the game. With the new rulings featuring no hand checks, the game has of gone relatively easy in terms of scoring. And the fans do miss the "OLD - SCHOOL" fashion of playing the game. Though some of these Dirtiest NBA Players went out of the way to make their path but have always been fun and interesting to watch and cheer for with their cheap tricks and low blows and trash talks and hard fouls and even throwing punches around.These are the guys best known for cheap shots, elbows to the face and tripping intentionally when no one is looking.

#10 Kobe Bryant

Some may argue differently while others may agree vibrantly, Kobe Bryant has been the toughest on floor presence ever, the league has seen. He is known to play both physically and mentally down the strech and does not shy away from contacts during offense.

He is a classic sneaky kind of player. Elbowing his matchup in the throat to create space for his shot, slapping them on the follow through after his jump shot, Bryant constantly abuses his opponents physically.

#9 Kevin Garnett

One of the most relentless and aggresive players to enter this list. Garnett is famous for his illegal screens, giving a few shots to the player going up for jump shots, shoving players while rebounding.

He is one of the dirtiest trash talkers who has the ability to provoke the best of them out there.

#8 John Stockton

Karl Malone was not the only JAZZ dishing out the dirt. He had a side-kick who loved to get as dirty as he possibly can. That is the reason why Stockton is the all time steals leader. He mastered the art of flopping along with fouling, while giving hard, cheap blows to his opponents as take away gifts. Cheap elbows, grabbing jerseys, shoving opponents, you name it.

He has been the most annoying, most bothersome pest in the game. With a little athleticism, he was all about toughness. He is the leader of the sneaky, clawing, hip-checking dirty point guards, till date. CP3, Raja Bell and Rajon Rondo are just imitations when compared to him.

#7 Reggie Evans

All Evans know is rebounding. Hard, tenecious, tough, some over the back, little shoving and sometimes scary rebounding. His defensive reputation consists of holding, grabbing, shoving and slapping. After squeezing Chris Kaman in the sensitive area, he has also been reffered to as Nut Cracker for some time.

#6 Karl Malone

Here is the better half of the JAZZ bandit pair. Famous for the elbow blow on the eye of Isiah Thomas, that required 40 stitches, Malone is known the be the owner of the most devastating elbow in the history of the game. His elbows were always cocked and ready and eager for some contact whenever he went up or came down.

Playing in Uttah became a nightmare when Malone and Stockton were at their best. Everyone knew they were gonna be treating some cuts and blows the next day after facing the Jazz. And the best part was, most of the blows were not even called for fouls.

#5 Charles Oakley

There was no foul that he did not commit, no foul that was hard for him. Oakley was one of the biggest brutes the game ever saw. To say the most in the least, Charles Oakley was famously called the - "DARK ALLEY GUY". Period.

#4 Metta World Peace

Formerly Ron Artest, Metta World Peace does not need any explaination whatsoever as to why he made this list and is positioned as high as he is. In-game brawls with the audience, deliberate elbow blow to the head of James Harden, punching, trash talking, taking off Pierce's pants mid-game and the list doesn’t end there.

World Peace is not dirty. He is not even cheap. He is not intense. The most devastating part is, he is the combination of all the three and he adds the glitter of meanness on top of it.

#3 Bruce Bowen

Bowen had all the qualities of Metta World Peace and some extra as well. Popularly known for slipping his foot beneath the jump shooters, Bowen has caused the most devastating injuries in the game, including the injury to Vince Carter. He was tough, mean and worst. He was malicious. Bowen was a great defender if his cheap tricks are set aside. He always got into the head of the opponents.

#2 Dennis Rodman

Known as the WORM, Rodman had a habit of getting under the skin of opponents and officials. From kicking the cameraman to head-butting the official, Rodman did it all. He was a very tough rebounder and a hard defender inside the paint. His most affective area was close to the basket, where all his tricks went without a foul call. One of the best bad boys. He was the reason for calling the PISTONS team the home of bad boys.

Rodman was all about energy. A career 13 rebounds per game player who was not afraid of impacting contact. Rodman was an expert banger. There has been no dirty play which is off limits to Dennis the real menace.

#1 Bill Laimbeer

The only white starter in the Detroit Piston's ‘BAD BOYS’ squad, Bill was Bill. You cannot measure the toughness and the hardness of the guy. He used the combination of dirty aggresive elbows, low blows, cheap plays and award winning flops to become the most hated player in the 80s.

The most physical player in the most physical era of the basketball, he just did what all he had to in order to win. And he got two rings as a result. And he is proud of his methods and his approach in defense.

Nintendo created a video game entitled - "BILL LAIMBEER's COMBAT BASKETBALL". A game in which violence was encouraged. In this game, there are no refs, no fouls and the use of weapons is completely legal.