The 5 Most Arrogant Players In The NBA

In light of Richard Sherman‘s postgame explosion on Michael Crabtree after beating the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship, I decided to put together a list of the talented yet most arrogant players currently in the NBA.

Much of the media was in an uproar about Sherman’s comments, but trash talk is what makes sports great. The five players that have made my list are not only arrogant and cocky but have a track record of thinking much like Sherman: that they are the best in the league at what they do. All of these players have proved worthy of being on this list, either due to on-the-court behavior, off-the-court antics or comments that had some scratching their head.

In this day in age, arrogance is considered “swag” and these players not only have the swagger that it takes to win but the swag that causes you to tune in every night they play. Sherman has a chance to not only be the number one corner in the NFL, like he already claims he is, he has a chance to join a group similar to the one below… the cockiest players that can say and do whatever they want, whenever they want.

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5. LeBRON JAMES
There is no doubting LeBron James is the best basketball player on the planet, but James also has an arrogant side. It all started three seasons ago when James created so much buzz while deciding what team to sign with as a free agent. James had his own hour SportsCenter special in which he sat down and got interviewed before telling the world he would take his talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.

James’ decision and the way he went about it caused uproar in the sports world and many saw him as a sellout, joining a team with two other superstars because he couldn’t win by himself. What really got James on this list is what he did after that moment. After Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and James all signed with the Heat, they had a party for the fans in which James said the Heat would win more than six NBA championships with the three of them together.

In their first season together, James and the Heat fell short in a series where we saw the King (which is arrogant just for calling himself that) have some of his worst performances as a professional. After the loss to the Dallas Mavericks, James made some postgame comments that will forever fog my outlook on who he is: “At the end of the day all the people who want to see me fail, they gotta wake up tomorrow and have the same life they had when they woke up today. Same personal problems they had today. I am going to continue to live and do the things I want to do and be happy with that.”

To sum it up: the fans are meaningless to James simply because his life is better than yours. Many fans lost respect for James after those comments. However, he responded by winning back-to-back titles in the last two seasons.

After a championship and gold medal, as well as an MVP, all in 12 months, James shot off on Instagram this summer. He posted videos that taunted some NBA players, making sure the world knew he was now a two-time champion. Not that I see the videos as a problem — I personally enjoyed them — but James defiantly showed the cocky side to him and I don’t blame him.

James constantly says he could be putting up better numbers if he wasn’t all about winning and getting his team involved. He said just last week he was jealous of Kevin Durant and that if he had the freedom Durant did, he would be putting up unreal numbers night in and night out.

James is probably the closet player for Sherman to relate to. James is the best in the league; Sherman the best corner in the league. Both players can talk smack and do what they want because they have earned the right to do so. James might not seem arrogant, but deep down he knows he is the best and wants to make sure the world knows it, too.

4. KEVIN GARNETT
Garnett is probably the biggest trash-talker in the league and his reputation proves it. Garnett is a loud mouth and has no censor on his mouth. He says what he wants to say and doesn’t really care about the consequences that may come with it. He can be childish at times but is also a very loyal teammate and someone players love playing with.

Why is Garnett on this list? Why not ask players like Carmelo Anthony and Charlie Villanueva? Or ask Ray Allen and the Miami Heat. Garnett is definitely hated by almost every opponent he faces and why wouldn’t they? How annoying is it that he jumps up and blocks every shot after the whistle so that it can’t go in? I would hate him too.

The real reason most opponents hate Garnett though is because of his mouth. He tries to get in your head on the floor and will say anything to get you off your game. Last year, Garnett and Carmelo Anthony had a scuffle after Garnett supposedly made comments about Anthony’s wife La La. Garnett allegedly said she tasted like Honey Nut Cheerios. Anthony felt Garnett crossed the line and tried to confront Garnett after the game near the Celtics bus.

In 2010 in a game against the Detroit Pistons, Garnett allegedly called Charlie Villanueva a cancer patient. Villanueva has a condition of alopecia universalis, but KG denied saying that. In 1999, KG wished Tim Duncan a Happy Mother’s Day after Duncan’s mom had recently passed away. In 2011, during a game against the Phoenix Suns, KG hit Channing Frye below the waste when he elevated for a jump shot. Garnett was then ejected.

Garnett also loves to make fun of TNT broadcaster Craig Sager for his ridiculous outfits. When Sager interviews Garnett, he refuses to answer his questions but rather embarrasses him on the air.

Garnett has also had some trouble with teammates. In Minnesota, Garnett swung at Wally Szczerbiak in practice for his lack of defense. He also punched teammate Rick Rickert in the face during a pickup game. In a game a few years ago, he made Glen Davis cry after screaming at him and the team for giving up a big lead in the fourth quarter of a game. Last year when Ray Allen joined the Heat, Garnett refused to talk to Allen and said that he’d lost Allen’s phone number. Garnett said him and Allen were no longer friends because he decided to join the enemy.

Garnett’s passion and love for the game has resulted in a very successful career. He has won a league MVP and a NBA Championship while still being the fiery guy that he is. He has had his moments of trash talking and arrogance but has always had an obsession to win. Garnett may be arrogant and crazy but he is loved by his teammates and the fans.

3. J.R. SMITH
J.R. Smith is the definition of self-centered and so far this season he has done a great job of putting that on display. But let’s look at how Smith got to this point in his career because, since day one in the NBA, nothing really has changed with J.R. He has had a successful career so far but could be even more successful if he wasn’t so immature.

Smith was drafted right out of high school by the Hornets and had issues immediately in the league. Smith was used to being the man in high school and getting away with whatever he wanted. However, that would not fly with old-school coach Byron Scott. Scott got on Smith during his rookie season and demanded a lot out of him. Scott had high expectations for the first-rounder but Smith was too busy worrying about his personal success. Smith would practice half-court shots while the rest of the team practiced their free throws. What irked Scott even more was Smith’s jokes and nonchalant attitude after losing games.

Smith was traded to Chicago and then traded to Denver but nothing about his attitude changed. Smith didn’t progress on the floor or as a person. He didn’t play defense and didn’t play within the offensive system. He was concerned about himself and his stats. He wanted to shoot every time down the floor and would sometimes stand next to teammates and wait for them to give him the ball.

All I remember about Smith’s time in Denver were the expressions George Karl would make after Smith chucked up a three-pointer. Smith always wanted to be the star on the team and in result was selfish and arrogant. He wanted to score like Carmelo Anthony and make the dollars ‘Melo was making.

Smith hated coming off the bench and felt he should be a starter. Karl tried to have Smith understand that being the sixth man isn’t a bad thing and that was the best position for him to help the team win. Now years after Smith left Denver, he blames the coaching for why they didn’t win more.

Smith’s selfish acts resulted in trouble off the court in Denver also. He was charged with reckless driving and spent 24 days in jail after killing his friend in a car crash.

Last year after joining the Knicks, it seemed Smith had finally understood his role on an NBA team. He won Sixth Man of the Year but then displayed his usual immaturity during the playoffs. He elbowed Jason Terry in the face and was suspended one game. After the suspension, Smith went in the tank and was horrendous the rest of the playoffs. This season with the Knicks, Smith has struggled and has become a distraction yet again. He has been benched for his on-court antics. Mike Woodson summed up Smith’s career this year in a press conference: “I’m not happy about this, because he was warned, he comes back and he makes the same mistake and it’s not right.”

Smith responded to trade rumors in the most unprofessional way possible, again showing his inability to just do the right thing.

Smith has all the talent in the world but his biggest flaw is himself. His ego is what is getting in the way of Smith becoming a star in the league. He consistently makes the same mistakes on and off the court and the wrong comments that leave people shaking their head. Smith is all about himself and will never win a championship as long as all he wants to do is score.

2. RAJON RONDO
It was only a few weeks ago that the man ranked first on this list (Kobe Bryant) and the man ranked second (Rondo) complimented each other on their arrogant egos.

Bryant was asked about Rondo and how hard it is for him to be the only player left on a roster that consisted of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce last year, and Bryant responded by saying, “From what I understand he’s an ass like me so he’ll manage.” Rondo responded by complimenting Bryant back and appreciated Bryant’s comments.

Rondo has been seen as a big ego, stubborn, immature player since he first joined the Celtics in 2006. Teammates have called him cocky, arrogant and tough to play with. Rondo thought he was better than the rest of the team before Garnett and Ray Allen came along in 2007. Rondo use to throw passes to teammates and if they dropped it or missed the shot, Rondo would give them a staredown. Doc Rivers called Rondo immature and Rondo even sometimes didn’t listen to Rivers advice.

Maybe the addition of Kevin Garnett helped Rondo learn how to be even more edgy. Rondo’s ego led to a feud with star point guard Chris Paul in 2009. During a game against the New Orleans Hornets, Rondo pointed out to Paul that he has a ring and that Paul’s fingers will never have one. Rondo had just come off a championship with the Big 3 and signed a $55 million extension. Rondo legitimately believed at the time that he was better than CP3… which is just crazy.

Rondo has that problem — much like Kobe — where he believes he is the best at everything in the world. He once called himself the fastest player in the NBA and started an argument with Usain Bolt in the locker room when Bolt visited the Celtics. He told reporters he believes he would beat Bolt in a race: “Well I wouldn’t back down. It just depends on distance. He might get me in the 100. I might get him in the 40 though.”

I know Rondo is very arrogant but beating the fastest man in the world in a race? I mean, the man has won six Olympic gold medals. He then said he is much faster than LeBron James.

When the Celtics were having success in their 2007-08 championship season, Rondo felt disrespected and thought they should be called the Big 4 rather than the 3. Rondo also had beef with Ray Allen and some believe that may have been a factor in why Allen left Boston for Miami.

Rondo is definitely selfish and self-centered, much like Bryant, and now with a depleted roster around him, we will see if Rondo goes back to his old ways of humiliating his teammates on the floor.

1. KOBE BRYANT
Who better to take the top spot on this list than the Black Mamba? Kobe Bryant may be arrogant but the man should be. The five-time NBA champion has earned the right to say and do whatever he wants. It was only last year that Bryant reportedly ran coach Mike Brown out of L.A. with his “deathstares” and then did the same with superstar Dwight Howard.

Bryant was a prima donna early in his career. Before the draft, he reportedly told some teams he wouldn’t play for them, and ended up — in a way — forcing his way to Los Angeles. After a remarkable start to his NBA career, Bryant again ran into issues that define why he is such a tough player to play with. Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal won back-to-back-to-back championships, but Bryant was unpleased with sharing the basketball and eventually pushed Shaq out of town.

People criticized Bryant heavily for pushing the most dominant player in the league (Shaq) out of L.A. Bryant also got in feuds publicly with both Karl Malone and Ray Allen. In one of his books, Phil Jackson wrote that Bryant was uncoachable. Bryant was all about himself and felt his stats would have been ridiculous if he didn’t have to sacrifice for the team. He saw the team as a roadblock to his own personal success.

Bryant does have an issue of believing he is invincible. He believes he is not only the best player in the NBA but the most important player in the NBA. He is probably the toughest athlete to play with in sports because of his demeanor. He often gives off that “it’s about time you passed me the ball” look to his teammates. After losses, Bryant rarely takes blame but rather calls out his teammates for not giving enough effort — just ask Pau Gasol about that. Bryant is often credited with creating a toxic environment in L.A. He is more important than everyone else in the organization and has too big of an impact on what players are on the team and who coaches the team.

For example, just last year when asked about the 2005-06 Lakers team, Bryant humiliated his old teammates, saying, “I almost won an MVP with Smush Parker and Kwame Brown on my team. I was shooting 45 times a game. What was I supposed to do? Pass it to Chris Mihm or Kwame Brown?”

This is a perfect example of Bryant’s huge ego. In 2012 at the summer Olympics, he told reporters he was the best post player on the team, period. He stated that he was better in the post than Tyson Chandler. A few years ago when “Linsanity” ran through the Big Apple, Bryant was asked about his thoughts on Lin and the run he was having with the Knicks. Bryant acted as if he had no clue who Jeremy Lin was and responded by basically saying he’d never heard of him before. Just look at the list of players Bryant has actually complimented — names like Rondo, ‘Melo and Grinnell’s 100-point man Jack Taylor — they all share his supreme self-confidence.

What other egotistical moments has the Mamba had? How about landing on top of the Staples Center in a helicopter so he could avoid traffic? He changed his nickname to “Vino” to express that he only gets better with age. When asked why he only has one MVP trophy, he responded that it is because he had to play with Shaq for so many years. He still claims he would beat LeBron James 1-on-1 every time he played him, claiming he is the best one-on-one player ever.

Although Bryant is seen as egotistical, most of Bryant’s antics are only due to his obsession with winning. He gets away with the things he says and does, and is still loved because of his drive and motivation to do everything it takes to win. Fans love Bryant because he is the way he is. Bryant defends his self-centered reputation by saying that he is a good teammate as long as you want to win and come to work every day trying to improve. If you aren’t all about winning, stay far away from Los Angeles because Bryant will chew you up and spit you out and quickly change the fans perception of you. Just ask Dwight Howard.

Which players should make this list?

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