This post has been a long time coming. Not for any particular reason, but just because I think it's fun to point out how thuggish some of the teams are in the NBA.
Now this isn't some kind of hate-fest for the NBA and its players. Not by any means. I'm not going to be picking on individual NBA players or anything like that. But I was sitting the other night, watching the NBA, and the thought just came to me how much more thuggish some teams are than other teams. The more and more I thought about it, it's not just individual players that make their team "thug-like". Sometimes it's also how the team plays and acts on the court.
So I decided to compile a top five list of the teams that I think are the most thug-like in the NBA, whether it's because of individual players, how the teams play, or both. I am pretty sure you'll agree with most of these choices. Going from 5th to 1st, here they are:
5. New York Knicks
We admit, the Knicks probably would not have been considered for Top 5 material before June 18, 2007. Why that date, you ask? That is the day that they traded for the non-stop thuggery that is Zach Randolph. Living here in Portland, there is no way to not know of all the thuggery Randolph got up to in his playing days here. Portland was VERY glad to get rid of this guy, despite all his "talent."
Check out what one NBA writer said about the deal on the day Randolph was traded from Portland to New York. "A combination of Randolph and Eddy Curry on NY's front line automatically makes the Knicks a Playoff team." Umm, excuse me? Maybe I didn't read that right? Did he say 'playoff team' and 'automatically' in the same sentence? Actually, did he say 'playoff team' and 'Knicks' in the same sentence is the more pertinent question. I am LOL-ing as I am typing this line. Clearly, that guy is a Knicks homer or has no sense whatsoever of what Zach Randolph really brings to a team...his skills in thuggery. Main thug-like players: Zach Randolph, Stephon Marbury, Eddy Curry, Quentin Richardson.
4. Sacramento Kings
Now I have to admit, the Kings are on here for only two reasons. 1) I've never really heard good things about Sac-town and 2) they have Ron Artest on the roster. It's really as simple as that. They would still probably make the list even if Sacramento was the safest city on Earth. Having Ron Artest will do that to your team.
Besides the obvious highlights from Artest's checkered NBA past, the fact that he has put out a rap album. I'm sorry but attempting to put out an rap album as an NBA player just screamsthat you would rather be in some sort of gang than playing basketball in the NBA. Oh and this is just icing on the cake for the Kings--your big white guy center sports cornrows! When Brad Miller is attempting to pull off the cornrows look, that's got thug written all over it. Main thug-like players: Ron Artest, Kevin Martin, Brad Miller, Spencer Hawes, Mikki Moore, Francisco Garcia.
3. New Orleans Hornets
I'm sorry, but the Hornets brought this one on themselves. Yes they are one of the top teams in the NBA this year, but being good doesn't mean there isn't a hint of thuggery on the team. The Hornets were the last team that made the top five cutoff, actually. I had no idea they had any potential thuggery and then while going through their current roster, it was apparent that they belonged on this list.
There isn't a lot to how thuggish New Orleans is. It's really nothing to do with the way they play on the court. It's just who they have. Every one of these teams seems to have one guy that just stands out and yells "I'm a thug." On this team, it's recently reinstated power forward Chris Anderson. This guy is a piece of work, I'll tell ya. The dude has been sitting out for over two years due to a suspension due to drugs. And just look at all the tats. I'm not saying that having tattoos automatically means you're a thug. But if you're trying that hard to tat yourself up and down, you must be trying to impress someone. Main thug-like players: Bonzi Wells (formerly of Jail Blazers fame), Chris Anderson, Tyson Chandler, Morris Peterson.
2. Denver Nuggets
Well, this pick was pretty easy. Thanks, Carmelo Anthony, for this. It made this pick a whole lot easier. Now in my opinion, the Nuggets are a team that plays like thugs from time to time. If they don't like the way you're playing them, they will kick your a$$. If you don't believe me, ask the Knicks. And this season, I remember a game where playing the Blazers, Marcus Camby threw a hissy fit and just knocked LaMarcus Aldridge upside the back of the head. (I can't find photo evidence, but it happened on November 14, 2007 in the 3rd quarter, right around the 4:11 mark.) Anyway, what I'm saying is that even with all the run ins with the law on this team, they also play like thugs.
JR Smith has been in lots of trouble with the law and with the team, as documented here. Maybe he's trying to live the life as described in one of Allen Iverson's great rap songs? Who knows. But that also brings up another point. Iverson, dude, you are a stud on the court, but trying to be a rapper? That's just pathetic man. Still, he is one of those NBA players that has dabbled with the music business, like we talked about earlier. It just reeks of thuggery when players try to rap. Main thug-like players: Allen Iverson, JR Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, Nene Hilario, Kenyon Martin.
1. Golden State Warriors
By far and away, this is the most thug-like team in probably the last ten to fifteen years in the NBA. I don't even know where to begin. I could just post a bunch of pictures of the entire roster and I think it would be a good representation. Or maybe I should just list their roster and end the post. I don't think I have to list any evidence here of how gangsta the Warriors are and how gangsta-like they play. I think you can ask yourself what comes to mind when you say Golden State Warriors out loud, and whatever you think of should suffice.
The Warriors are the flagship of NBA thugs. I don't know if they've actually tried to acquire more gangstas to add to the team, but it sure looks that way. They even have thug representatives from across the globe. Every time I watch these guys play, I fear a gun fight may break out. And don't you dare foul Steven Jackson like that, or he will cap yo' ass. For reals, he will. Anyway, it's about time to wrap this list up. Your Golden State Warriors, the true definition of what thuggery means in the NBA. Main thug-like players: Stephen Jackson, Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Al Harrington, Andris Biedrins, Marco Belinelli, Kelenna Azubuike, Austin Croshere, Patrick O'Bryant, CJ Watson, Brandan Wright, Kosta Perovic. (Yes, this is their entire roster, people.)
So I think we've learned a valuable lesson. Guns don't necessarily kill people, but Stephen Jackson will.
