The 20 Biggest Jerks in the NBA Right Now

By Frank Ewere

20 Biggest Jerks in the NBA Right Now

Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett — The NBA is full of people who are charitable citizens to their communities and their league. But there are also those people who have a darker side. Those players are the jerks everyone loves to hate or just flat out hates. Here are 20 of the biggest jerks in the NBA right now.

20. Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard Rockets

20. Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard Rockets — Howard might have the nice guy smile, but behind that smile is a large jerk. Most who are affiliated with the NBA are infuriated by Howard’s lack of seriousness when he should be serious. And even when serious, Howard still makes mistakes. During last season, Howard nearly elbowed several opponents and could have been suspended for multiple games.

19. LeBron James

LeBron James Cavaliers

19. LeBron James

LeBron James Cavaliers — James gives back to his community and he doesn’t get in trouble with the law, but he isn’t perfect. James taunts opponents even though he knows he can get a technical, he tries to manipulate the referees and last year he wouldn’t give definitive support to his coach.

18. Dahntay Jones

Dahntay Jones Clippers

18. Dahntay Jones

Dahntay Jones Clippers — Jones is a fringe rotation player who has managed to stay in the league because he can occasionally give a team good defense. But that defense is built on Jones’ nature. Jones is an irritant who once even tripped Kobe Bryant in a game on purpose.

17. George Karl

George Karl Kings

17. George Karl

George Karl Kings — Karl hasn’t had the best offseason. He has been at odds with management and his own players. Several of Karl’s former players have even called Karl a “snake in the grass.” With this opportunity with the Sacramento Kings possibly being Karl’s last coaching opportunity, Karl needs to work on his relationship with his players.

16. Dan Gilbert

Dan Gilbert Cavaliers

16. Dan Gilbert

Dan Gilbert Cavaliers — Gilbert said many things about LeBron James in a letter after James left the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gilbert even emailed former commissioner David Stern when news broke that Chris Paul would be headed to the Los Angeles Lakers in a potential trade. Although emotion is good, Gilbert’s emotions aren’t in the right place and needs to learn how act like an owner instead of someone who can’t seem to let go.

15. Draymond Green

Draymond Green Warriors

15. Draymond Green

Draymond Green Warriors — Green is known as a talented role player who can sometimes annoy opponents with his off-the-court talking. In an interview during the Golden State Warriors' championship parade, Green made disrespectful remarks towards the Cleveland Cavaliers. Green might be a champion, but his humility and actions don't show it.

14. Steven Adams

Steven Adams Thunder

14. Steven Adams

Steven Adams Thunder — Adams' role on the Oklahoma City Thunder is to simply defend and rebound. In order to do this job well, Adams sometimes goes out of his way to do things to his opponent that a referee may not see. This gets into his opponent’s head and causes them to want to fight him. In the 2014 postseason, Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph was ejected for punching Adams. Adams may be a jerk, but he does his job well.

13. DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins Kings

13. DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins Kings — Cousins is a jerk, but most of it is because of his surroundings. Since the Sacramento Kings don’t have stability or enough veterans on the team, Cousins is constantly in a dysfunctional atmosphere. His maturity issues will get better as he gets older and continues to grow as a leader on his team.

12. Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah Bulls

12. Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah Bulls — Noah just doesn’t like anyone who isn’t on his team. Noah always goes hard with his play (and his off-the-court comments), but so far his team has been unable to reach his lofty expectations.

11. Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook Thunder

11. Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook Thunder — Westbrook is a jerk, but NBA fans should have to love him for it. His attitude towards the game is on a Michael Jordan level. He may be a jerk to everyone, but at least he is a talented jerk who doesn’t cheat the game.

10. Andrew Bogut

Andrew Bogut Warriors

10. Andrew Bogut

Andrew Bogut Warriors — During the NBA Finals, Bogut gave LeBron James a hard foul when he was heading towards the basket. James was bleeding from the head after colliding with a sideline cameraman and his play afterwards was noticeably worse. After the game, Bogut implicated that James went into the cameraman on his own and that he didn’t hit him that hard. Bogut’s unapologetic attitude towards the situation can only make him an NBA jerk.

9. Chris Paul

Chris Paul Clippers

9. Chris Paul

Chris Paul Clippers — Paul might seem like a nice guy, but he is not (at least not completely). On several occasions, Paul has given an opponent a low blow towards the groin area. Anyone who consistently pushes the envelope like that can only be a jerk.

8. Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce Clippers

8. Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce Clippers — Pierce is a clutch player who will one day be in the Hall of Fame. His greatness comes from the fact that he isn’t scared of anybody or any moment. He will say whatever he wants because he can back it up. Over the last couple of seasons, Pierce has called out several players and teams. When the time came, Pierce backed it up and the rest didn’t.

7. Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins Cavaliers

7. Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins Cavaliers — Perkins used to be a center who could defend other big men at a high level. Now, he's just a player who can give six fouls and occasionally a flagrant foul. A guy like Perkins is no longer needed in today’s fast-paced, guard-oriented league, because that type of play is no longer acceptable.

6. Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo Mavericks

6. Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo Mavericks — Rondo had a chance to win with the Dallas Mavericks, but he chose to be uncooperative and showed everyone his true self. Rondo is a player who can’t shoot and is too stubborn to listen to anyone but himself. Maybe the Kings can straighten him out.

5. DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan Clippers

5. DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan Clippers — Jordan is a good guy who probably wouldn’t be on this list if it wasn’t for his actions this summer. Jordan agreed to play for the Mavericks but wavered before it became official. He went back on his word and decided to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers which showed he has maturity issues.

4. Matt Barnes

Matt Barnes Grizzlies

4. Matt Barnes

Matt Barnes Grizzlies — Barnes is almost always in NBA headlines for his words or actions. Almost every game it looks like Barnes is about to fight another player. Some of his aggressive attitude is good, but most of the time it is misguided and can sometimes cost his team.

3. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Lakers

3. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Lakers — Bryant is a jerk, but over the last couple of years he has become a nicer person on and off the court. But this offseason, three new players for the Los Angeles Lakers proved that Bryant still has a long way to go. When asked if Bryant had spoken to them after they were signed on, none of the players were able to say anything which speaks to his nature.

2. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett Timberwolves

2. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett Timberwolves — Garnett is nearing the end of his career. He is becoming a mentor to his younger teammates, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t an unpleasant guy. He still talks to himself and his opponents. Garnett also occasionally sets an illegal screen just to instigate something.

1. Joey Crawford

Joey Crawford NBA referee

1. Joey Crawford

Joey Crawford NBA referee — Crawford is here because there are times when it appears that he wants to be more than a referee. There are times when it seems like he wants to make his presence felt as a celebrity, but referees shouldn’t be noticed to that extent. Several years ago, Crawford ejected Tim Duncan merely for sitting on the bench and laughing. To this day, NBA players are always wary around him.

Frank Ewere is a Beat Writer for the New Orleans Pelicans on www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheFrankEwere, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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