Most Hated 00s Villains
Malice at the Palace. Rasheed's techs. Kobe's villain arc. The decade that gave us the loudest haters in NBA history.
10 villains from the 2000s, ranked by community Villain Score.
Ron Artest
The man who started the biggest brawl in NBA history. His aggressive defense and volatile temper led to countless incidents. From attacking fans to elbowing Harden, Artest was unpredictable chaos.
Small Forward • Indiana Pacers
LeBron James
LeBron didn't just break hearts - he orchestrated the most dramatic exits and arrivals in NBA history. 'The Decision' in 2010 wasn't just a TV special; it was a public execution of Cleveland's championship dreams. Then he formed a super team in Miami, promising 'not one, not two, not three...' championships while leaving his hometown hanging. Even his return to Cleveland felt calculated, perfectly timed for maximum redemption narrative. He's mastered the art of controlling his legacy while crushing the hopes of entire franchises.
SF • Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant
KD committed the ultimate betrayal in sports history. After building something special in Oklahoma City and coming within one game of the Finals, he joined the 73-win Warriors team that just beat him. It wasn't just joining the enemy - it was joining the best regular season team ever, making the league predictable and boring. Then he had the audacity to call it 'the hardest road' and get into Twitter wars with teenagers who questioned his decision.
SF • Phoenix Suns
Stephen Jackson
Ron Artest's partner in the Malice at the Palace. Captain Jack was always ready to fight - literally. His confrontational attitude made him one of the league's most volatile players.
Small Forward • Indiana Pacers
Kobe Bryant
Kobe was Sacramento's nightmare and the Western Conference's tormentor for two decades. His arrogance was legendary - he took impossible shots and somehow made them, then stared down entire arenas. The Colorado incident, the Shaq feud, and his general disdain for teammates who weren't as obsessed as him made him easy to dislike. He was brilliant but exhausting to watch if you weren't a Lakers fan.
SG • Los Angeles Lakers (Retired)
Chris Paul
Chris Paul is the NBA's biggest flopper and master of dirty plays disguised as "veteran moves." His resume includes groin punches, eye pokes, tripping opponents, and flopping to draw fouls. He whines to refs constantly despite getting favorable calls his entire career. The "Point God" has never won a championship and shrinks in crucial playoff moments. His smugness, dirty tactics, and ref manipulation have made him one of the most hated players of his generation despite elite talent.
PG • Golden State Warriors
Kenyon Martin
One of the most intense and confrontational players of the 2000s. K-Mart brought energy and aggression, but crossed the line into recklessness. His intensity often boiled over into dirty plays.
Power Forward • Denver Nuggets
Paul Pierce
'The Truth' was the most arrogant player who never quite lived up to his own hype. His wheelchair incident in the 2008 Finals was pure theater, and his constant proclamations about being better than he was became exhausting. He called game against Toronto, but couldn't back up half his trash talk. His Brooklyn and Washington years were embarrassing attempts to chase rings while talking like he was still elite.
SF • Boston Celtics (Retired)
Rasheed Wallace
All-time leader in technical fouls. "Ball don't lie" became his catchphrase because he argued literally every call. A walking technical foul.
PF/C • Retired
Bruce Bowen
The dirtiest defender in NBA history. Stuck his foot under jump shooters to injure them. His "defense" was just assault with plausible deniability.
SF • Retired