Top 10 Worst People Who Played in the NBA
Throughout the long history of basketball, there have been many large characters who draw a lot of attention. Unfortunately, some of these superstars are not the best people off the court. Some are even criminals (e.g., Javaris Crittenton), or those who got away with their crimes (e.g., Karl Malone).Who among these individuals is the worst?
Karl Anthony Malone is an American retired professional basketball player. Nicknamed "The MailMan", Malone played the power forward position and spent his first 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association with the Utah Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate John Stockton. This person impregnated a 12-year-old when he was 20 and never faced any punishment for it. Malone also refused to acknowledge his child's existence and did not pay any child support, even though he was a rich NBA star and the girl was from a poor family. He is easily the worst person to be in the NBA, and it's crazy how the league acts like nothing happened.
Payne was convicted of rape in 1972 and 1983 for three separate incidents that led to him serving 44 years behind bars.
Dennis Keith Rodman is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association. Rodman is definitely one of the craziest NBA players ever. He has struggled with alcohol since his playing days, being arrested multiple times for DUI and Public Intoxication. He has also been charged with sexual assault, regular assault, domestic abuse, hit-and-run, and battery.
Patterson pleaded guilty in 2001 to the attempted rape of his child's nanny and was put on the sex offender list because of this. Patterson was also convicted of assault, was arrested for domestic abuse, was arrested for DUI, and refused to pay over $100,000 in child support.
On August 19, 2011, Crittenton fatally shot 22-year-old mother of four, Jullian Jones, allegedly mistaking her for someone else. He was also a member of the Crips and a cocaine dealer. He would serve 10 years behind bars.
Metta Sandiford-Artest, formerly known as Ron Artest and Metta World Peace, was known as one of the dirtiest players in NBA history, both on and off the court. He is most known for the Malice at the Palace incident, during which he assaulted fans at a Pacers vs Pistons game and was suspended for the remainder of the season. Artest was also arrested for a domestic violence incident and was found guilty of neglecting his Great Dane.
The two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion was arrested for a domestic abuse incident involving his girlfriend, during which he shoved her so hard into a wall that the wall broke while their 3-year-old daughter was present.
Kobe Bryant (1978 - 2020) was an American retired professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Kobe Bryant has won 5 NBA championships with the Lakers and was the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history... read more The NBA legend had a major controversy in 2003, in which he was found to have slept with a 19-year-old hotel worker in Colorado. The woman was under the influence and could not consent, although the charges were dropped. This incident, despite the evidence, would largely be forgotten. He would almost certainly be behind bars if he weren't a famous NBA star.
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American retired professional basketball player who played for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association. Iverson had multiple weapon charges throughout his career, abused drugs, was accused of domestic disturbances, and was kicked out of two casinos for cheating.
Rajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.
Bledsoe was arrested for domestic violence and was released from the Clippers for it.
Benjamin David Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association.
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers.