Just like we have superstars and fan favorites, the NBA also boasts players that the public loves to hate. These are the ones that are always trying to stir the pot, whose personalities go against the image the league is trying to build, or are two passionate about the game that their ways to win matches are often questioned by rivals.
Sometimes it’s odd why some players are so hated by fans, but that’s just how things work in the NBA. Still, when it comes to villains, I think many fans have a list of players they despise no matter what they do, but not every list is the same for every fan.
Recently, Bleacher Report revealed the top 5 NBA villains in the last 10 years, mentioning a couple of surprising names there. From 1 to 5, they ranked: Draymond Green, Patrick Beverley, James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul.
NBA Fans Dislike Bleacher Report’s List Of Villains Of The Last 10 years
As usual, NBA fans had something to say about this, criticizing the list, wondering why certain players that had done nothing wrong made the cut while others were too low in comparison. People focused more on James Harden and Chris Paul while criticizing the addition of Patrick Beverley and asking for Kyrie Irving to be included on the mini-list.
Bleacher Report’s top 5 villains of the last 10 years:
1. Draymond Green
2. Patrick Beverley
3. James Harden
4. Kevin Durant
5. Chris Paul
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 7, 2022
But I love Draymond 🥰😭 pic.twitter.com/I5ZeX0RI9i
— ╰☆☆ ʲẸ𝓷ᑎ𝕚 ☆☆╮ (@JenniFlurry) September 7, 2022
Harden?
— Ethan (@c00kedbywaddle) September 7, 2022
https://twitter.com/bengaltothemoon/status/1567571426944712704
Chris Paul 😂😂😂
— G 💭 (@gakkz_) September 7, 2022
huh?
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) September 7, 2022
Harden for what lmao
— James (@hardenjames2018) September 7, 2022
Kd one wtf
— Optimistic Spurs fan (@spursfanusa) September 7, 2022
https://twitter.com/clappedwrath/status/1567571450608893952https://twitter.com/fujani11/status/1567571459328954370
pat bev vs the world
— yeah (@jamarr2HOF) September 7, 2022
Trae?
— FEARS SZN (@viceMSU) September 7, 2022
Chris Paul over Heat LeBron?
— 𝑱 👑 (@king0fCLE) September 7, 2022
Harden hasn’t done anything wrong
— 🥷🏽 (@wordtoja) September 7, 2022
“Chris Paul” 💀💀💀
— ⚡️ (@Wh0lewrldslatt) September 7, 2022
Harden is 3rd and he didn’t even do anything 😂
— Will. 🏀🦅 (@WiLLns23) September 7, 2022
we need basketball back badly lmao
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) September 7, 2022
Lmao Patrick Beverly being on here is so funny let alone at number 2 💀 No one is scared of this dude 😭😭
— Alex (@0toHerr0) September 7, 2022
James harden don’t be doin nun to be labeled a villain 😭
— Deuce (@DeuceDaKid_) September 7, 2022
Harden and CP3?
— SONICZZZ😪 (@spam_20012) September 7, 2022
https://twitter.com/misterLiko/status/1567571514832076802
Zaza Pachulia?
— John Salsano (@JohnSalsano1) September 7, 2022
https://twitter.com/kaqen_/status/1567571516597968896
Lebron is def #1…he’s the most hated athlete on sports history and it’s not even close💀
— JAY® (@JayLGK) September 7, 2022
— Adrian Wojnawoski (@espnnwoj) September 7, 2022
LeBron?? When he was on the heat was literally 10 years ago…
— Dami (@KingDami5299) September 7, 2022
what is harden and cp3 doing here
— denver 2024 champs (@Stepbackfor3) September 7, 2022
Harden was never a villain, people just hated him for no reason
— Mason (@HTownPoke) September 7, 2022
https://twitter.com/Treymansss/status/1567572025991991303
These lists will always bring a lot of controversy to the table, especially when you take so much time to define who is this or that. 10 years ago, LeBron James was the most dominant and intimidating player in the league, destroying opponents with the Miami Heat. He embraced his villain role in South Beach, and it’s odd to not see him here.
Kyrie Irving has been criticized for his off-court antics, so it’s weird that he didn’t make the cut. Chris Paul has detractors, like any other NBA player, but he’s not done anything to be considered a villain. James Harden forced his way out of two teams, and that’s something people might have considered when doing this list, but other than that, the Beard has done nothing wrong.
It will always be hard to come to an agreement when it comes to these lists, but in this case, it seems like the majority of fans strongly disagree with the top 5.
