Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins is one of the toughest ballers out there during his heyday. In a recent interview, Perkins shared his list of the top five toughest players in NBA history — names that inspired his gritty playstyle.

In no particular order, the toughest NBA players in Perkins list are Charles Oakley, Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen.

While Perkins wasn't able to explain further what made the players the toughest in NBA history, the list already speaks for itself. Charles Oakley is most known for his stint with the New York Knicks in the 90s. He was a critical part of why the Knicks became perennial playoff contenders during that decade.

Rodman, meanwhile, maybe the definition tough. Standing just 6-foot-7, Rodman led the NBA in rebounds for seven straight seasons as a member of the Chicago Bulls. Rodman may have gotten his training from his early days with the so-called Bad Boys of Detroit.

In a way, Ben Wallace is just like Rodman. Both of them are undersized big men who, given their ruthlessness, was able to make the most out of this seeming liability. Despite being undrafted, Wallace was crowned Defensive Player of the Year four times (an NBA record tied with Dikembe Mutumbo).

While Perkins never really got a chance to play with those mentioned above, he had many battles with Zach Randolph. He has tons of stories to offer on how Randolph loved to get physical down in the paint. And finally, there's Tony Allen — Perkins' former teammate with the Boston Celtics. For Pekins, he has never seen a guard feistier than Allen.