The NBA’s Biggest Whiners
Josh Smith (photo. adidas)
Every time I try to get to the bottom of why people hate on (or just hate) the Spurs, it always goes back to one thing: “They’re whiners.”
And every time, I have the same response: “EVERYBODY in the NBA is a whiner,” especially the stars. Whoever your favorite player is — Iverson, Kobe, Dwight, Amar’e — he probably whines and complains just as much, if not more, than Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. And in playoff games and big moments, it’s even worse. It’s just part of the job, and given the way NBA refs can be swayed, it’s what any smart player would do.
During Hawks/Heat last night, Josh Smith was whining about a call when TNT’s Dick Stockton asked, “Have you ever seen Josh Smith not complain when he gets called for a foul?” Mike Fratello saracastically added, “His next foul will be the first he’s ever committed.”
Smith is one of the NBA’s biggest whiners. I’m not saying he’s wrong for it, and I’m not saying it makes him less than tough, but it’s the truth. Whether it’s a call against him or no-call when he has the ball, Josh is always good for that look on his face where he’s seems somewhere between cussing and crying.
Who else cracks the list?
* Kobe Bryant
* Josh Smith
* Kendrick Perkins
* Carmelo Anthony
* Allen Iverson
* Stephen Jackson
* Baron Davis
* Rasheed Wallace
* Tim Duncan
* Manu Ginobili
April 28th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Scott says:
I’ve never understood this. I miss the 90’s era…
April 28th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Jay says:
Andre Iguodala
April 28th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
SJ says:
…and how often does a call get reversed when someone complains? I can’t think of a single example.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
rick 773 says:
Rip Hamilton has got to be up there
April 28th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
SJ says:
Well, maybe I should say ‘because’ someone complains.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
dapro says:
Yeah the 90’s was the sh*t but them catz whined just as much if not more
The league was less sensitive then
April 28th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Chicagorilla says:
“SJ says:
…and how often does a call get reversed when someone complains? I can’t think of a single example.”
What a great point. someone needs to explain that to these idiots in the L.
Biggest Whiners how did my man DWAYNE WADE not make the list!!!!!! He’s a beast but he complains about every call.
and b4 someone tries to say that MJ was doing the same thing… look at the list again, and tell me which of those guys has 6 finals mvps, 6 rings, and avg 30ppg and carried the L on his back during the 90’s. Exactly. Mike earned the right to talk to the refs, and he never did that until he EARNED the RIGHT! Back in the 80’s you never saw MJ talking to refs, that was later after he won his first Chip and got past the Pistons (which he could have “whined” to the refs about on every play)
April 28th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
SVCat says:
Josh Smith is the winner for the 2009 Whiner of The Year award.
You know you whine too much when your own teammate, Bibby, is telling you to , “Shutup and just play.”
April 28th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
slice850 says:
in all fairness, Kendrick Perkins NEVER, EVER has a call go his way. I’ve watched millions of celtics games and it seems like in every single game he is the recipient of (at least one) terrible call and he never gets fouled. He gets clobbered in the paint.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
jryu says:
he’s not a player, but if he was, can you imagine??
he’d def be top 5..
mike d’antoni
April 28th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
jay26th says:
They figure if they whine enough that they will catch a break next time down the court. They often times do…
April 28th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
dapro says:
Calls will never get reversed, that’s not the aguement
How many times have you seen a star complain about a call and then get a call immediately following the whinning?
That’s the point, your calling attention to the defender
Sone of the whinning is over the top, but MJ, Bird, Magic, Isiah, didn’t just whine they shot the refs killer looks, shouted and cursed out the refs just like todays players
Nostalgia is one thing but at least keep it 100 and be real
April 28th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Dirtball Rotten says:
Jeff Van Gundy!!!
he whines in the Booth!!!! he has a problem with everything that goes on in any game he calls!!!
April 28th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Stephen says:
Timeline of Shaquille O’Neal’s lawsuit against PRISM and Perry Rogers
Oct. 16: Perry Rogers and Andre Agassi, friends since childhood, announce the termination of their business relationship. Rogers had been Agassi’s longtime agent.
Dec. 5: Rogers and his company, PRISM, sue Agassi’s wife, fellow tennis icon Steffi Graf, for $50,000 in a Nevada court, alleging unpaid fees.
Dec. 17: Rogers steps down unannounced from PRISM, the firm he started. According to Rogers, as part of an arrangement with Agassi, the tennis player and others received the firm.
Dec. 29: Rogers registers his new agency, PR Partners, with the state of Nevada.
Jan. 13: Rogers drops the Graf lawsuit without prejudice, meaning he retains the right to refile it. Agassi Graf Holdings later said there was no settlement that led to the action.
Jan. 23: Shaquille O’Neal terminates his agent relationship with Rogers and PRISM, according to the player’s lawsuit.
Jan. 30: Rogers sends a letter to the National Basketball Players Association seeking arbitration to settle a dispute between PRISM and Rogers over who is entitled to representation fees for O’Neal.
Feb. 10: O’Neal sues PRISM and Rogers in Florida, saying they no longer represent him and that the two entities were fighting over which side was entitled to fees.
March 12: Rogers asks the Florida court to dismiss the O’Neal case, arguing that the dispute’s proper venue is before an NBPA arbitrator.
April 21: Rogers says the lawsuit will be dismissed within a matter of weeks and that O’Neal is still his client. PRISM does not respond to a request for comment.
Sources: Court filings, Perry Rogers, Nevada Secretary of State Web site
April 28th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Michorizo says:
Eddie Curry says his limo driver whines…
April 28th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
SayItAintSo says:
I agree with the D’Antoni selection and Phil Jackson would be the antithesis to Mike D
April 28th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Dave says:
Please, Phil Jackson is the biggest whiner out there, he just does it when the camera’s aren’t on his ugly mug. He whines to the media before and after nearly every game, he’s just subtle about it.
Kobe usually whines, but didn’t do much in the Utah series, maybe because the weak ass Jazz never touched him or played any real defense on him. DWill complained a ton this series so he should at least be on the list.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Banga says:
how the hell isn’t Lebron on that list???
he fouls someone he complains… he believes he doesn’t get a call he complains… dude has a free pass from stern to get away with murder…
Lebron is the biggest whiner of them all.. no contest
April 28th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Lonman says:
Calls never get turned, but look at the amounts of no calls and calls in favor of AFTER the cheese & whine session. 90’s my ass, where do you think these players learned it from?
April 28th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
J.Tobias says:
Banga I concur, how is Lebron not on this list?
April 28th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Dukesman2000 says:
Nate Robinson
April 28th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
confused says:
Wade never complains because he gets every call
April 28th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
flyp says:
Vince Carter wrote the book on the whiny/about-to-cry face.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Raj S says:
This post sucks.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
mole says:
superstars always get the calls so when they dont they complain.
yea kobes screaming and flailing of the arms on every shot is annoying
April 28th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
sparkyjay23 says:
Another vote for LeBron here
April 28th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
knicks0rBust says:
NATE ROBINSON
April 28th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
ianodelaleza says:
tayshaun prince
and if he thinks his shot has been goaltended…lol!
he reminds me of what a skinny lil bitch he is and how much he looks like a chick!
April 28th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
brrd says:
almost everyone whines in the league. a more interesting question is which stars whine the LEAST.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
rd$ says:
KENDRICK PERKINS is a little whiny bitch, just watch the game tonight. Someone not on the list who cries about every single call, seriously, NOCIONI.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Sho-Nuff says:
Perk commits the dumbest fouls. You watch tonight he’ll just hack someone for no reason.
http://www.perkisabeast.com
April 28th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Rafa23 says:
lol austin, you answered your own question about why people hate the spurs. of course there are others as bad as the spurs. but you put 2 members of the spurs on the list, meaning they whine too much as a TEAM…
April 28th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Lebron needs to be on the list. As a loyal Dime reader I’m offended that Dime either doesn’t believe that Lebron is a whiner or are too scared of pissing the NBA’s so called “chosen one” to say anything. I’ve been a fan but his expectation of a foul after every time he shoots the ball is getting tiring, although I still think he’s a joy to watch play.
In game four against the Pistons he drove down the middle of the lane and barely visibly got tapped in the face. He missed the shot and no foul was called. He jumped up and down like a toddler throwing a tantrum in the checkout line of the super market. Any other player in the League does that and it’s likely a technical.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
parinaz suns says:
Duncan is the most annoying of all that jackass baby look he makes
April 28th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
IG says:
Juan Carlos Navarro led in whines per minute last year.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Ian says:
chocagorilla
well ok if you can earn the right to whine then lets take the 3 spurs of the list and kobe the others should shut the fuck up???
the one thing i miss about your jordan defense is that you mentioned his accomplishments and that earned him the right? but when did he whine during his retirement?? because he couldnt have earned that when he whined back in 92. get my point?
the biggest whiner to everyone will always be the player you dont like that you saw complain ONCE to a ref.
the 1 number spot goes to dantoni dude is annoying. the kobe scream and stare he gives the ref is also annoyin EVERY time he misses a shot.
to the guys that always complain about the nba these days and like to talk about the 90s and 80s why the hell dont you guys stop watchin bball is the game is such a joke today?? there are alot of other sports you can be talking bs about.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Ian says:
oh shit forgot phil jackson lol
April 28th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Post #29 brrd brings up a good question. Who whines the least?
Here are a few I can think of:
Brandon Roy- Rarely do you see B Roy whine and complain about anything. He’s an abberation in the NBA.
Shaq- I know his act is getting old but think about it. He never really whines.
Derrick Rose- He just doesn’t seem to have the personality to whine. Plus he’s too damn polite which is rare.
Kevin Durant- What other top 5 scorer and shot taker in the League whines less?
Chauncey Billups- Poise and leadership. That’s how you earn respect.
Caron Butler- He just plays.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Notorious says:
There is a difference between talking to the refs and putting on a full out drama act showing up the refs.
Back when MJ was doing his thing, he would get close the refs and then act like he was wiping away sweat and cover his mouth with the jersey. He would talk to them without flailing his arms, eyes wide open, chin hitting the floor bull-ish we see today. Sure MJ had some bad moments of blowing up, but they were few and far between.
Now some of these new cats put on a freakin’ show and call all kinds of attention to themselves. Its like they are playing up the crowd, get them on their side and have the whole place boooing. Not to mention TV coverage has blown up, so we are seeing way more then we used to see. So many cameras with so many diff angles, of course you are gonna pick up more things then before.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@ Notorious
Agreed. I don’t have a problem with players talking to the refs either. My problem is when they throw tantrums. Jordan rarely ever did that. He would speak to refs casually as to not garnish any attention. That’s why he was so respected by referees.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Marian says:
even being a heat fan. D wade. everytime he looses his dribble he wants a foul even when nobody is near him
April 28th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
@ Notorious:
Great great point about MJ. He was demonstrative SOMETIMES, but usually he’d be subtle, like the covering his mouth thing you mentioned. Every once in a while he’d get fired up and throw fists in their direction, but only when they deserved it.
You also reminded me of something I was thinking about yesterday…The SuperHyperSlowMotion and 300-camera angle thing is getting to be a bit much. I think now we really see when a guy flops, or steps on the line, or releases his shot .001 seconds too late, and we get all upset like “OHHH!!! I can’t believe they let that GO!!” When before, we wouldn’t have even NOTICED. Doesn’t that kind of take away from the enjoyment of the game? I think we should go back to just “Oh crap, he stepped out”, instead of “Let’s zoom in to microscopic levels to see if he TRUUULY stepped out”.
Latest blog post: Is Ruben Studdard Washed Up Already?
April 28th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Luigi says:
hook me up with some Pau Gasol…
April 28th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
quest??? says:
Tim Duncan is the King, followed by all of the spurs, and dwade and kobe
April 28th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
robmo35 says:
Remember the crybaby t-shirts Washington made up for the playoffs last year, and how much Lebron cried after that? He threatened to boycott Papa Johns. Also David West huge whiner starting in college.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
KWAME says:
lebron and all nba top scorers wine
April 28th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
karizmatic says:
Kobe
Lebron
Wade
Tim Duncan
Paul Pierce
Rasheed Wallace
Sasha Vujacic
Derek Fisher
Dirk Nowitski
are among the biggest whiners in te league.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
danny boooy! says:
lmao at how they name a whole buncha top nba players BESIDES the one whos balls they are on the most. LEBRON!! such bias all the time. everytime i watch a cavs game lebron is bitchin that he dint get called for a foul. SHIT HIS COACH WAS CALLING FOR MORE FOULS TO BE CALLED. dime get off his nuts forreal.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
hiimeric says:
Lebron is by far the biggest whiner/over actor, especially considering all the calls that get handed to him too. If there’s any1 in the L who should be able to take a hard foul and come out of it looking like a man it should be him. Throw his dumb coach in there for the whining contest as well.
April 28th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Jim says:
I think Josh Smith gets a special nod as the winner of the Allen Iverson Memorial Trophy as the player most likely to whine all the way down the court to the point that you blow your D assignment resulting in a lay-up or a foul on your bigs.
April 28th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Ace says:
how is lebron not on this list? have you seen him play? he truly believes that you can’t even look in his direction and not be called for a foul. lebron and kobe deserve the top spot
April 28th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Big Sia says:
Duncan, Pau, Wade
April 28th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Ross says:
EVERYBODY whines. Make a list of people that don’t.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
AY says:
ray allen, mike redd and peja almost never whines, because they stand and shoot, and don’t play much defense. Whether they’re effective or not is completely independent from the refs. Defensive players, slashers and post players will whine all the time because their effectiveness depends completely on the refs seeing things their way. Guys like varejao and bowen, if they didn’t whine they wouldn’t even have a job.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Diego says:
Yeah, whining (like FLOPPING!!) has gotten ridiculous in the NBA.
Josh Smith isn’t just about whining though, its’s that bitter whiney face that he puts on!! That gets him instant admission to the NBA whiney hall of fame.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
doug says:
aah Austin Burton here you go again, you don’t say…no D-Wade no Bron…please everytime I see any of those cats there face is scrunched up over a call that they didn’t like. Yall are ridiculous. I was actually interested in getting a job with you guys when I thought you to be reputable an unbias but you guys have disappointed and are now just like your competitors. Stop taking money from Bron & D-Wades marketer’s to pump him up and call things the way they are, you guys are like Source Magazine for the basketball community now. Yall suck.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Marian says:
just to support his point, i repost
aah Austin Burton here you go again, you don’t say…no D-Wade no Bron…please everytime I see any of those cats there face is scrunched up over a call that they didn’t like. Yall are ridiculous. I was actually interested in getting a job with you guys when I thought you to be reputable an unbias but you guys have disappointed and are now just like your competitors. Stop taking money from Bron & D-Wades marketer’s to pump him up and call things the way they are, you guys are like Source Magazine for the basketball community now. Yall suck.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
money says:
everybody on that list, except for kendrick perkins, is/was all-star caliber. le bron’s gotta be up there too.
April 28th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Gasol looks like he’s got menstrual cramps, i guess that’s why he plays like a bitch
April 28th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
heavy d says:
Wade needs to be on the list because he whines whenever he gets called for a foul and whenever he loses the ball or misses a shot.
Carlos Boozer might deserve a mention as well. Although with him it doesn’t look like childish as much as it looks like he’s practicing for the debate team. He has the longest post-foul dead ball discussions with the refs of any player in the league.
But as a Hawks fan, Josh deserves to win the overall award for the number of blown defensive assignments and his petulant child histrionics. I am amazed he doesn’t get technicals more often because he seems to be showing up the refs with his antics. He’s also the player most likely to allow lack of calls to totally mess with his head and game. It’s embarrassing.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
jp2506 says:
UGG Ultra Tall
April 28th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
jeremy says:
HOW IS LEBRON NOT ON THIS LIST?
April 29th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Taj says:
The entire SPURS Roster!!!
April 29th, 2009 at 12:35 am
weng santos says:
NBA players are whiners. NBA referees are incompetent.
Makes for good mind-numbing TV hahaha.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:00 am
bomb says:
lebrons not on this list cuz hes “the chosen one”
April 29th, 2009 at 1:25 am
Addo says:
PAULINA PIERCE is the biggest whiner out there.. Josh Smith is nothing compared to Paulina…
April 29th, 2009 at 2:39 am
pak-yaw says:
WTF!!!!!!!! WHY THE HELL ISNT LEbRON ON THIS LIST?????
April 29th, 2009 at 2:54 am
Big Aaron says:
There’s a reason the phrase “Duncan-face” exists.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:55 am
UncheckedAggression says:
Ok everybody, we’ve had a great time discussing the NBA’s biggest whiners. Now let’s just focus on the “whiniest” bitches of all–YOU FUCKING PEOPLE. Get over it.
For most of you assholes, whoever you don’t like just happens to be on your whiney list.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:02 am
tp says:
lets throw the celtics on this list.. whats there to whine about when rondo doesnt get called for that blatant flagrant?
April 29th, 2009 at 3:25 am
DPGC says:
The list of non-whiners is much shorter of the list of the whiners…probably the only players who don’t whine are rookies, and some of the whine too
April 29th, 2009 at 8:46 am
QQ says:
@ 69:
Irony at it’s finest.
Then what the fuck are you doing? Not whining? sheesh.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Kenta says:
PAUL PIERCE is the biggest flopper/whiner I could think of and I can’t see how he’s not mentioned unless this author is biased.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:48 am
semperfimamba says:
One that gets beat on every game for the last 17 years and doesnt complain like these other pima donnas is SHAQ, Kendrick is a whinny (_!_) compared to SHAQ.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Daniel Bui says:
Well Derrick Rose is not a big whiner, but I lost a lot of respect for him yesterday when I saw him whine after every play. Even when he turned the ball over, he complained.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
StukinaCubicle says:
Anybody remember the Antoine Walker cry face? When he’d get called for a foul, it looked like he was 4 and someone stole his candy and smacked his face. Always a classic
April 29th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
T.J. says:
No D-Wade? I like his game but he flops and whines all the time.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
SagJism says:
MJ was the biggest whiner in history, they even talk about it in a song:
Gotta get mines – tupac.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
SagJism says:
Oh Yeah, Now Lebron is the biggest whiner in history, sorry MJ, Your only second and I know that will piss you off because you have to be the best at everything. LOL
April 29th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
SagJism says:
Oh Yeah, Now Lebron is the biggest whiner in history, sorry MJ, Your only second and I know that will piss you off because you have to be the 1 at everything. LOL
April 29th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
james p says:
sam cassell was good for whining all the time when he was on the bucks and getting a good technical.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
where high ankle sprains happen says:
if kobe is on this list, so is MJ. He started the whole taking to the ref after a call. He pulled his jersey over his mouth so you could never tell what he was saying but he was probably saying sometihng along the lines of “do you know who i am? you only have a job because the david stern wanted to protect my ass!”
April 29th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
MissChick says:
How can you not mention Sasha Vuyasuck?
he’s the biggest whining b!tch EVER. I’m a laker fan and I hate his A$$!
Sasha looks like he’s about to cry on every call against him. Looks like he shawt in his pants
April 29th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
jdig says:
lebron, pau, pierce..
April 29th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
matthew says:
I’m a Portland fan, but I have to say these days whenever Roy doesn’t get a call he huffs and puffs a bit. I wouldn’t care except sometimes giving the refs a look and rolling his eyes makes him late getting back on defense.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
doc says:
All them motherfuckers complain,B-Roy too.Only way u dont is if its your first year in the league and u aint shit yet.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
How is Chris Paul not mentioned? Biggest whiner in the league!
April 29th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
buffaloballa says:
you totally forgot flopazz Steve Nash they should name a whining award after him…
April 30th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Stan Van Gundy says:
I whine… like a FAT BITCH!!!
BIAAAAAA!!! *does the running man*
April 30th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Doc says:
Whenever I hear someone Kobe-rave, ie: Jordan air-apparent, I think NO. As in “NO-class”. A great player, but the poster child whiner.
May 1st, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Dave says:
83 – you’re dead on, nobody makes me want to slap him more than Sasha, it’s like he pulled his uterus every other time down the floor.