There's plenty of love and feel-good vibes to go around in a league that brings us fans so much joy on any given night, but with that love definitely turns into some hate. While several players have actually made somewhat of a living from being the notorious protagonist that takes to the hardwood, others have simply been unfortunately thrown into that spotlight given their style of play or unfortunate circumstances.
That same hate draws in a decent crowd of ignited fans on the edge of their seats, waiting for that villain to fail miserably at whatever accomplishment their set on at the moment. Even so, the league and its fans, without saying so, hate to love watching it unfold every season.
Some players in particular have built up quite the hated resume over the years, and that'll likely continue until their golden days after the NBA. Here are the 10 most hated current players in the NBA.
10. Lonzo Ball
To be fair, Ball was looked down on before he even played his first NBA game. What's never favored by most of the league and its fans is a quiet player that's overruled by an egotistical father, which is exactly what transpired with Ball during his father's blunt campaigning prior to Ball being drafted by the Lakers.
LaVar Ball, father of Lonzo, really made things complicated for a 20-year-old Ball coming into the league on a historic team such as the Lakers. All of LaVar's bold, absurd statement rubbed most of the league the wrong way for an unproven guard that didn't necessarily speak on his own legacy until he got a few games under his wing. By then, it was already too late.
9. James Harden
Harden isn't hated for his demeanor per se, though it can draw in a few eye rolls. If anything, it's the former MVP's style of play that lands him on this list. Over the years, Harden has been deemed selfish at times due to his unwillingness to allow any other personnel on the floor to control the offense outside of himself. That same mentality led to a blowup with former teammate Chris Paul.
Along with that, Harden has quite the accomplishment on his side, coming close to averaging a triple-double each game during the 2016-17 season. That same achievement has left many pundits to label him as a stat padder more nights than none, even though those exact stats haven't translated to postseason success, where Harden often leaves much to be desired.
8. Rudy Gobert
On record, Gobert was the first player in the NBA to contract the coronavirus. What didn't make fans and his teammates offer the amount of support that should've been given was due to his childlike behavior with the virus. Gobert made somewhat of a mockery of COVID-19 during a press conference, proceeding to touch mics after his session was done and hugging on fellow teammates after several protocols were issued to players after the learning of the virus.
Fast forward, and even a simple tweet from Gobert welcomes a thousand hate tweets about an incident that happened earlier this year.
7. DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins' attitude has been a problem since he was drafted back in 2010. With it being practically sewn into his personality, the Sacramento Kings saw no choice but to ship off their prized star. That same attitude has made a multitude of teams hesitant in testing the waters with the four-time All-Star despite his talents.
With the Mobile, Alabama native starting to get up in age, the question comes often as to when his maturity will cross paths with his talents, allowing him the option of truly becoming a fan favorite for a team in desperate need of a solidified center.
6. Paul George
George is a recent addition to this list, as he hadn't made himself a villain necessarily until the latter part of the 2019-20 season with the Los Angeles Clippers. It was already known that the ironic nickname of “Playoff P” had long lost its sizzle with George's recent production in the past few postseason, but it took on a different meaning as the Clippers were ousted by the Denver Nuggets during the 2020 playoffs.
What made George the villain more so of the NBA, however, was his slight taunting to Damian Lillard during a matchup in the Disney bubble. Lillard was quick to point out how George was one to switch teams when the going gets tough, and George was quick to plead all of his many cases to his social media after just previously making fun of Lillard. Many fans even went so far as to wonder if George's time in L.A. was already over given his poor performances.
5. Patrick Beverley
Beverley finds himself right in front of his teammate in George. Back in his Houston days, Beverley was actually a fan favorite. He took the floor with the same defensive prowess that he carried to the Clippers, boasting an “all bark, all bite” type of mentality that spearheaded the team's energy. Unfortunately, that same bite has lost its sharpness lately, with Beverley now being known mostly just for barking.
The 32-year-old guard was in a corresponding tune with George in the downplaying of Lillard's efforts in the bubble, though his own production was possibly the lowest it's been in recent years. He immediately received backlash from fans around the world who criticized his lack of talent aside from his defense, which led to him becoming a mockery in the offseason.
4. Draymond Green
Doc Rivers once stated that despite all the backlash that Kevin Garnett received for being a bully with the Boston Celtics, there wasn't one team that wouldn't welcome him in a trade. That same sentiment runs true for Green. While he's certainly no Garnett, Green has made sure to display his value to a contending team in need of a glue guy. Even so, that doesn't stop opposing teams from wishing on his demise whenever he comes to town.
Green has made some debatably dirty plays during his time in the league, one being infamously hitting LeBron James in the crotch area during the 2016 NBA Finals. Ever since, his play has been heavily scrutinized. It doesn't help that referees are viewed as being more lenient to his choice of words as opposed to other players. He's arguably the No.1 trash talker in the league currently, even if it comes as friendly fire to teammates such as Kevin Durant during the 2018-19 season.
3. Kyrie Irving
As much as Irving would wish to mean well in the public's eyes, it just hasn't panned out that way for the latter part of his career. After desiring to be from under James in Cleveland, Irving was arguably the most popular player at the time. He became the face of a new franchise and was finishing up the touches on “Uncle Drew.” For once in his career, he actually had his own voice it felt like.
That time quickly passed over during his stint in Boston, as he quickly became a villain during his final season in Beantown. His subliminal shots at younger teammates, along with his recanting on promising to re-sign with the Celtics the following offseason became some of the most talked about gossip in the league. His sessions with the media didn't make matters any better, seeing as how he didn't favor a camera in his face despite the many cryptic quotes he posed to form those big headlines.
His time with the Nets hasn't held much of an improvement either.
2. LeBron James
James is arguably the most beloved athlete in all of sports, but he does have a “King James hate club” that'll surely celebrate upon his retirement. James embodied a struggling child rising to promise during his time with Cleveland, but his decision to move to South Beach, along with the theatrics that enveloped it, certainly rubbed fans the wrong way.
From that point on, a lot of fans awaited his demise with the Miami Heat, and most didn't jump for joy during his return to Cleveland. Throw in his sometimes cocky quotes, such as congratulating himself on social media after achieving certain accomplishments, and James sometimes can rub people as arrogant. Some state that his never self-proclaimed GOAT status isn't legit due to his NBA finals record, but that hasn't stopped James from adding on to his legacy.
1. Kevin Durant
Durant will arguably go down as the most hated athlete in history. Unlike most candidates on this list, he's willing to go back-and-forth in heated online debates with fans, old teammates, or anyone that's up to the challenge. All of his accomplishments, plus the ones that he could possibly garnish during his remaining time in the NBA, wouldn't overcome the snake mantra he's absorbed.
After leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join up with the Warriors, Durant's legacy was cemented as a traitor, given how the Warriors had recently ousted the Thunder in the playoffs. His immaturity when asked about the move has led many to side against him despite his all-around talent as a lengthy forward.
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