The 10 Greatest NBA Bad Boys

While there is a lot to say for players who set a good example, they do not provide quite as much entertainment as a “bad boy.” Throughout NBA history there have been dozens of fantastic “bad boys” who you never knew what they were going to do next. Hard fouls, trash talking, and arguing with the coach are just a few ways that these players entertain, but they also serve an important function for a team. Typically, these players will always have their teammates’ backs and do not shy away from doing the dirty work, which all teams need to do.

10. Isaiah Rider

Isaiah Rider spent the majority of his career bouncing around from team to team, and this was because of a pattern of bad behavior which saw teams look to move him on before he caused any more disruptions. In his rookie year he was convicted of fifth-degree assault after kicking a female manager of a sports bar, and shortly after this he was arrested for marijuana possession and gambling in public. Later in his career, Rider was caught smoking marijuana in a hotel room, and then refused drug counseling despite the NBA demanding it. He continued to get suspended, and after showing up to a match late one day, he demanded his outright release instead of serving the three game suspension. In 2007, Rider was sentenced to seven months in jail for cocaine possession, evading the police and other charges.