17 NBA Stars You Love to Hate
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1. Joakim Noah
Noah might have some of the best hair in the NBA, but his gritty style of play and disdain for Cleveland and the Heat make it easy for fans to dislike the Bulls' big man.
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2. Tyler Hansbrough
The former North Carolina star now plays with our northern neighbors, but that's not the reason for all the hate for Hansbrough. The ACC's all-time leading scorer's game rubs players the wrong way with his tenacious low-post play.
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3. Kobe Bryant
Arguably one of the greatest guards of all time, the Black Mamba isn't shy about speaking his mind. Whether it was his role in Shaq leaving town, asking for a trade over the radio or his leadership style. Kobe's not exactly the easiest guy to play with, but that's greatness, right?
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4. Matt Barnes
An irritant on the court, Barnes is a baller you just hate to play against. Barnes had a noticeable rivalry with another player on this list, Kobe Bryant. Bryant hated playing against him so much, he recruited him to play for the Lakers.
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5. J.J. Redick
Much like Hansbrough, the heat Redick takes is mostly from his college years. The Duke Blue Devil product was easily the most hated man on campuses around the nation when he was nailing big-time shots against rivals.
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6. Steven Adams
Given the lovable moniker of "The white Kendrick Perkins" by Dirk Nowitzki, the New Zealand native loves to mix it up in the paint and play mind games that often lead to technical fouls.
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7. Luis Scola
The Argentinian has drifted around the league lately, but that doesn't mean Scola isn't good at agitating his foe. Scola's got into it with the likes of Serge Ibaka, Derek Fisher and Kevin Love, who might need to change his last name after such a scuffle.
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8. Kevin Garnett
Before players like Steven Adams, Luis Scola and Tyler Hansbrough, there was the Big Ticket. Garnett loves to get into other players' heads, he reached the pinnacle of the NBA winning the NBA title in '08 against the Celtics' most heated rivals: the Lakers.
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9. Kris Humphries
The former Mr. Kardashian initially drew the ire of Kardashian fans after his divorce from Kim. Relegated to being a rebounding fiend, at least Humphries started getting some kind of reaction from fans after the failed nuptials.
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10. Blake Griffin
Griffin might be the biggest highlight reel on the court since the days of Michael Jordan and the human highlight reel himself, Dominique Wilkins. The only problem is when you posterize every player in the league, that makes them angry. And when basketball players get angry, they start fouling. Hard.
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11. Draymond Green
Green came into the league with a chip on his shoulder as a second-round pick having to earn his way onto the Warriors roster. Now one of the most valuable players on Golden State, it's evident the former Spartan's role as a pest is a prominent one.
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12. Dwight Howard
Howard's turning into the whipping boy of the NBA. The uber-athletic center's spurned two franchises (Magic, Lakers) leaving a bitter taste in their mouth, while he dominates the paint for the Rockets.
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13. Paul Pierce
One word: wheelchair. Pierce's illustrious career will undoubtedly circle back to the 2008 NBA Finals when Pierce miraculously returned from what looked to be a devastating knee injury. One play does not make a career, however, as Pierce's constant clutch shooting has frustrated fans throughout his career.
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14. Ray Allen
Obviously it's hard to hate the Jesus Shuttlesworth, but after he hits dagger 3's on your favorite team (sorry, Spurs fans) your love for him quickly dissipates.
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15. Lance Stephenson
LeBron's "BFF" on the court, Lance Stephenson famously blew in LeBron's ear in a playoff battle last season. Somehow Stephenson's tactics did not work against LBJ.
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16. LeBron James
Since entering the NBA in 2003, LeBron has had a huge target on his back from fans and opponents. Whether it was jokes about James being ringless or "The Decision" that soured your opinion on the King, there's no denying he's basketball royalty.
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17. J.R. Smith
From LeBron's BFF to LeBron's new teammate, J.R. Smith also infamously tried playing mind games by untying Shawn Marion's shoes. Not once, not twice, but three times! Clearly Smith subscribes to the notion that if at first you don't succeed, try try again. Just look at his shooting percentage.
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