Crash (photo. Mike Carroll)Unless you’re squad is the Sweat Mob or the DC Shooters, in which it doesn’t really matter what anyone not named Kevin Durant or Gerald Brown does, it’s crucial to have a guy busting his rear to grab loose balls, box out, lock up on D, and take care of all the intangibles. For years in the League, a handful of these hustle players separated themselves from the rest of the pack, entering their names into an elite category of NBA players even if their skill set - handle, jumper, etc. - wasn’t close to their peers.
But are there any Dennis Rodman’s, Charles Oakley’s, or Kurt Rambis’s in the League right now? Knicks fans are rabid about David Lee, partly because he looks like Dave DeBusschere in comparison to the rest of their team. But he’s not on the order of those aforementioned legends yet - the Knicks brass was willing to ship him away simply to get rid of some of the bum juice on their roster.
But aside from Lee, who are the top hustlers in the League right now? Even before the headband incident, Ben Wallace had clearly fallen off. Eduardo Najera definitely fits the bill, but he’s neither athletic enough, nor mean enough. At 28 years old, Reggie Evans seems a bit too old to really develop into an elite hustler - even if he has the perfect look for that role. On the flip side, Luis Scola definitely doesn’t look the part with that flowing soccer-style hair, but he does have the heart.
Maybe if the Bobcats had some guys who could help out with the scoring load, Gerald Wallace could be the next great guy in this category. Dude’s nickname is Crash for his reckless style of play, but he only posted 6 boards per night last year.
If you could have any “hustle” player on your squad who would it be?
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August 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
NL says:
I don’t think anyone hustles more than Manu does.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
BDOT says:
First
August 6th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
shake&bake says:
I’ll take Rodman just cause I hope he’d bring Carmen Electra around the locker room. Plus partying with that guy would be awesome.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Amar says:
all-time: oaktree
right now: paul millsap — best bang for the buck hustle guy there is (he makes less than $800k)
August 6th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Amar says:
this is a good millsap mix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE6gDVmXTF0
August 6th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Scottee says:
Andres Nocioni has to be in consideration. The man hustles. He also gets under the skin of the other team often. One of those, hate playing against, but love playing with types of guys. Unlike Rodman, Oakley and Rambis, Noc can stroke and take it hard to the rim.
Side note: It seems like the Bulls are looking to trade him. If a team like the Blazers or Hawks pick him up, it might put them not only in the playoffs, but a serious threat to other teams.
Out like David Lee in New York…
August 6th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Scottee says:
Jason Maxiell is a beast…
August 6th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Meica says:
I have got to agree with Scotee, Nocioni is a great candidate. The man was diving into the stands after loose balls and taking charges even while he had planar fasciaitis or whatever in his foot. The guy plays with heart.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Chuck says:
Ginobili / Battier / Mario West / Ryan Bowen
August 6th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Prof. TX says:
Shane Battier.
The league is full of shooters and scorers, but defenders are getting alot more scarce. Try to name ten guys known for their great D. Then try to name twenty great scorers. See which list fills up faster.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Blue says:
I agree with prof. TX. i think i would put posey on that list too. not only does he have stifling D, and a dead on three, but I’ve seen him scrap for loose balls quite a bit. he’s a board crasher because he’s camped out on the 3 point line, but he’s definitely a player that adds that extra hustle and spark off the bench.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Kobeef says:
1. KG
Is there anyone else in the league who works as hard as KG does on a regular basis? The guy pumps his fists and yells in pre-season. Not to mention he is an All-time great.
Apparently he is also an intimidator - yelling at opposing players and throwing in some tough fouls when needed.
2. Ron Ron
Sure he is a nut but he’s also 6-8 260. The guy is a monster and he does everything well. Houston needed him.
3. Cp3
It seems to me that when it comes to crunch time there are few players in the NBA that “make things happen” like CP3.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
imung lolo upaw says:
what is it with argentines and playing with hustle? Nocioni, Scola and Ginobili have already been mentioned here.. Herrmann and Oberto also fit the bill..
August 6th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Blue says:
to correct my previous post…i meant to say ‘he’s NOT a board crasher’
August 6th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Celts Fan says:
sounds like this is just bigs, so:
1. Paul Millsap (how a guy who led the NCAA in boards for 3 straight years and is taller than 6′6″ drops to the 2nd round I’ll never undstand…)
2. Jason Maxiell
3. Leon Powe (he got very inconsistent minutes, but he was ALWAYS ready and almost always making an impact. If he gets consistent minutes, he’s a happier Reggie Evans.)
4. David Lee
5. Reggie Evans
KG would be the guy if this wasn’t essentially just role players (though when your superstar is diving on the floor, it’s contagious.)
August 6th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Celts Fan says:
honorable mentions:
Scola, Varejao, Joakim Noah, Tufiaf, Najara, Joey Dorsey (I know he hasn’t played yet, but is there anyone that thinks he won’t be on this list?)
August 6th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Celts Fan says:
I know you guys said Reggie Evans may not be the dive-on-the-floor type hustle guy, but the work he put in down low gave Philly their toughness in the paint. He put in some serious work last year, hustling his @$$ off on the glass.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Luigi says:
i think hustle guys are fan favs. so like Millsap n Powe n Max. i think are up there
D-Lee is one also
August 6th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Jim says:
No, there isn’t anybody like Rodman or Oakley or Rambis, where they are a major part of a really successful team. Celts’ list is good, but I don’t think those guys are on the level of their floor burn ancestors.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
the mamba says:
Scola, maxiel, turiaf, lee, ryan bowen, battier, ron ron
Damn the rockets are gonna be tough this yr. They have three of those guys in the top 6 of the rotation. Good luck breaking 90pts against them
August 6th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Jim says:
*I would say Malik Rose when he was with the Spurs was the closest, where he D’d up bigger guys, got on the floor, got a lot of boards, and was a pretty consistent contributor on offense, and the fans loved him.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
NYCBalla says:
1. Paul Millsap
2. Shane Battier
3. Matt Harpring
4. Andres Nocioni
August 6th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
dukesman2000 says:
Once I thought of Rodman I can’t see anyone else in his category. Sorry, Rodman it is.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Scott says:
Jerome William aka the Junk Yard Dog used to fit nicely in this category.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
GarethChantler says:
JYD used to hustle mad money
August 6th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Jim, the closest we’ve seen to those guys was Ben Wallace in his Detroit days.
The list for non-bigs:
1. James Posey (what can I say? we may not have even beaten Atlanta without him, definitely would be ringless without him. It may be a homer pick, but he takes charges, dives on the ground, and locks guys up. CP3 got a great new teammate.)
2. Shane Battier
3. Tayshaun
4. Nocioni
5. Deshawn Stevenson (before he decided to open his mouth about LeBron, we all knew him as a hell of a defender and the clown that put his name and number on his back and filled in the number with dollar signs and smoking bullet holes. one of the worst tattoos/funniest things I’ve ever seen.)
honorable mentions: Raja Bell, Rajon Rondo, Devin Harris, Ime Udoka (when he actually gets PT anyway,) Ryan Gomes, Trevor Ariza (people forget this, but before he broke his wrist, he was almost as effective for LA as Posey was for us. He could start next year and should be very good. Had he started instead of Radmanovic, the Finals may’ve been different…)
Bruce Bowen is DQ’d from this list btw, I have no time for dirty players (though if he was on my team, I guess I’d know our ankles were safe.)
also, guys that’d make this list if I didn’t restrict it to role players to keep it from essentially being an all-star team: JSmooth, Matrix, Artest, AK47, CP3
August 6th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Brown says:
Ryan Gomes
Jason Maxiell
Leon Powe
Paul Millsap
I see Joey Dorsey as this type of player too, but good luck getting PT on a team with 3 guys who play the same style as he does.
August 6th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
doc says:
KG
August 6th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Mark says:
I haven’t really seen any Knicks games due to territory, but I’m with any of you who mention David Lee. He always seemed to be one of those players who plays like they never get any PT. Plus, look at his stat line: it’s pretty amazingly underrated.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Joe says:
As a blazers fan I would like to nominate the vanilla gorilla, Joel Pryzbilla
August 6th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
doc says:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xz69y_1er-match-de-drobinson-au-csp-33-sport
August 6th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Brandon Hoffman says:
I’ll take Rodman. Who else defended everyone from Magic to Shaq?
August 6th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
karizmatic says:
All time Rodman
August 6th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
it aint easy being green says:
why isnt leon powe on this list. just cuz bitch-ass phil jackson cant pronounce his name right doesnt mean he doesnt belong.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
nick says:
leon powe is on the celts
August 6th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
J says:
sky pilot ruben patterson
August 6th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
GEE...when we conspire to conceive says:
I don’t know if anyone said C. Landry. Dude lost a tooth or something in the playoffs and wasn’t he still gettin after it.
Most def. Landry.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
the mamba says:
The rockets have…
Scola, battier, ron ron, landry, and dorsey.
Wonder if rockets could swing a trade for a good pg? Would have been good to see tj ford iback in houston.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:01 am
kdog says:
All time:
1. Rodman
2. Oakley
3. AC Green
Current:
1. Maxiell
2. Millsap
3. Lee
All of these guys don’t/didn’t need the ball to have an influence on the game.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:18 am
mighty says:
what about RONY TURIAF guyz? he’s got as much energy & hustle as a guy coming back from a life-threating surgery can have…
August 7th, 2008 at 9:31 am
luke says:
seems like the position of backup power forward contains the most true hustlers
guys like millsap, turiaf, evans etc, althoug htheres a few little dudes like lindsey hunter who could make a case for themselves
August 7th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Martin says:
Nocioni, Manu, Scola. Ups, that’s 1-2-3 for Argentina!