Most Technical Fouls in NBA History

These NBA players racked up more technical fouls than any players in league history.

Things can get heated in the NBA. That’s what happens when great athletes square off with something on the line, which happens night after night during the NBA season. And when the temperature gets too hot, referees have a weapon to cool things down — the technical foul.

Some players, including some of the best players to ever play the game, have been drawn to technical fouls like bees to honey. It’s because they played too physical or talked too much or a combination of both.

These are the players who racked up the most technical fouls in NBA history. No. 1 might surprise you.

28. Derek Harper — 121 Technical Fouls (Tie)

David J. Phillip / AP Photo

Born: Oct. 13, 1961 (Elberton, Georgia)

College: Illinois

Position: Point guard

Career: 16 seasons (1983-99)

Teams: Dallas Mavericks (1983-94, 1996-97), New York Knicks (1994-96), Orlando Magic (1997-98), Los Angeles Lakers (1999)

NBA titles: None

Note: Technical foul statistics for current players are through the end of the 2021-22 season.

Bottom Line: Derek Harper

Pat Sullivan / AP Photo

Derek Harper was a tough-as-nails point guard who played in an era when throwing a punch might only get you a one-game suspension. And Harper ended up getting in so many fights there’s a YouTube compilation video of all of them.

The fights all almost had one thing in common. They were started with a hard foul by Harper, who was a two-time selection to the All-NBA Defensive Team.

He’s also considered perhaps the best player in NBA history not to make an All-Star team.

28. Alonzo Mourning — 121 Technical Fouls (Tie)

Alan Diaz / AP Photo

Born: Feb. 8, 1970 (Chesapeake, Virginia)

College: Georgetown

Position: Center

Career: 16 seasons (1992-2008)

Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1992-95), Miami Heat (1995-2002, 2005-08), New Jersey Nets (2003-04)

NBA titles: 1 (2006)

Bottom Line: Alonzo Mourning

Luis M. Alvarez / AP Photo

It’s tough to be too critical of the post players who made this list for several reasons.

First, they’re going to get fouled more frequently and harder than almost anyone else, which might lead to some conflicts. Second, they’re going to dish out more punishment — something few players in NBA history did better than Alonzo Mourning.

Mourning was a two-time NBA Defensive Player who made his mark with a physical style of play and a scowl that was legendary.

28. Bill Laimbeer — 121 Technical Fouls (Tie)

Dave Ekren / AP Photo

Born: May 19, 1957 (Boston, Massachusetts)

College: Notre Dame

Position: Center

Career: 14 seasons (1980-1994)

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1980-82), Detroit Pistons (1982-93)

NBA titles: 2 (1989, 1990)

Bottom Line: Bill Laimbeer

Kathy Willens / AP Photo

Perhaps the most hated player in his era, if not one of the most hated in NBA history, it’s no surprise that Bill Laimbeer made the list of players who committed the most technical fouls.

When it comes to Laimbeer, the argument is always going to come down to whether he was a tough player or was he just a dirty player?

What’s lost in the hate for Laimbeer is any appreciation for his talent. He was a four-time All-Star who led the NBA in rebounds in 1986 and won two NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons.

27. Patrick Ewing — 122 Technical Fouls

Beth A. Keiser / AP Photo

Born: Aug. 5, 1962 (Kingston, Jamaica)

College: Georgetown

Position: Center

Career: 17 seasons (1985-2002)

Teams: New York Knicks (1985-2000), Seattle SuperSonics (2000-01), Orlando Magic (2001-02)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Patrick Ewing

Ron Frehm / AP Photo

Patrick Ewing was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft — one of the most coveted high school and then college prospects in basketball history.

Thought to be a savior for the New York Knicks, Ewing had a target on his back from the moment he began play in the NBA. Say what you will about Ewing, he was tough and he stood his ground when teams tried to get physical with him.

They don’t keep stats for this (we don’t think), but it would be interesting to see how many of Ewing’s 122 career technicals came against the Bulls or Pacers.

26. Stephen Jackson — 124 Technical Fouls

Tony Avelar / AP Photo

Born: April 5, 1978 (Houston, Texas)

College: Butler County Community College

Position: Small forward/shooting guard

Career: 14 seasons (2000-14)

Teams: New Jersey Nets (2000-01), San Antonio Spurs (2001-03, 2012-13), Atlanta Hawks (2003-04), Indiana Pacers (2004-07), Golden State Warriors (2007-09), Milwaukee Bucks (2011-12), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-14)

NBA titles: 1 (2003)

Bottom Line: Stephen Jackson

Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP Photo

“I love Jack to death,” former Indiana Pacers executive Donnie Walsh said of Stephen Jackson. “He’s emotional and he’s going to get technicals. But that’s just part of the package. He’s a great team guy.”

Jackson had a central role in the most infamous game in NBA history in the “Malice at the Palace” in 2004, when members of the Pacers went into the stands and fought Pistons fans.

Jackson was suspended 30 games, lost $1.7 million in salary and was sentenced to one year of probation and 60 hours of community service.

24. Dikembe Mutombo — 125 Technical Fouls (Tie)

H. Rumph Jr. / AP Photo

Born: June 25, 1966 (Leopoldville, Republic of Congo, Africa)

College: Georgetown

Position: Center

Career: 18 seasons (1981-2009)

Teams: Denver Nuggets (1991-96), Atlanta Hawks (1996-2001), Philadelphia 76ers (2001-02), New Jersey Nets (2002-03), New York Knicks (2003-04), Houston Rockets (2004-09)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Dikembe Mutombo

David J. Phillip / AP Photo

Like a lot of post players on this list, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo incurred more technical fouls with his physical play than from mouthing off to referees.

If you’re going for as many blocked shots as Mutombo did, that’s going to result in some pretty vicious fouls, and every time one of those elbows makes contact above the shoulders you can guarantee a technical.

During and after his NBA career, Mutombo has been known for his humanitarian work across the globe, especially in his native Congo.

24. Amar’e Stoudemire — 125 Technical Fouls (Tie)

Darron Cummings / AP Photo

Born: Nov. 16, 1982 (Lake Wales, Florida)

College: None

Position: Power forward/center

Career: 14 seasons (2002-16)

Teams: Phoenix Suns (2002-10), New York Knicks (2010-15), Dallas Mavericks (2015), Miami Heat (2015-16)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Amar’e Stoudemire

Aaron Gash / AP Photo

The NBA took a turn for the worse in the early 2000s when constant whining from star players about calls seemed to become almost omnipresent.

Amar’e Stoudemire was one of those stars. If you watched the NBA during his heyday, you probably have that distinct memory of him pulling his goggles up every time he went to argue a call.

Stoudemire played four more seasons of pro basketball in Israel after his NBA career ended. No word on how many technicals he racked up over there.

23. Tyson Chandler — 126 Technical Fouls

Bill Kostroun / AP Photo

Born: Oct. 2, 1982 (Hanford, California)

College: None

Position: Center

Career: 19 seasons (2001-20)

Teams: Chicago Bulls (2001-06), New OrleansHornets (2006-09), Charlotte Bobcats (2009-10), Dallas Mavericks (2010-11, 2014-15), New York Knicks (2011-14), Phoenix Suns (2015-18), Los Angeles Lakers (2018-19), Houston Rockets (2019-20)

NBA titles: 1 (2011)

Bottom Line: Tyson Chandler

Michael Wyke / AP Photo

Tyson Chandler was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft and was labeled a bust at several different times in his career but proved to be incredibly resilient.

That being said, Chandler is a post player who actually incurred quite a few technicals just from arguing with the refs and not necessarily his physical style of play.

The highlight of his career was winning an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks in their stunning upset of the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.

22. Steve Francis — 126 Technical Fouls

Steve C. Wilson / AP

Born: Feb. 21, 1977 (Takoma Park, Maryland)

College: Maryland

Position: Guard

Career: 9 seasons (1999-2008)

Teams: Houston Rockets (1999-2004, 2007-08), Orlando Magic (2004-06), New York Knicks (2006-07)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Steve Francis

Peter Cosgrove / AP Photo

Steve Francis was a walking technical foul. He could never stop running his mouth to refs or coaches and teammates or executives.

A player with his talent should have played more than nine seasons in the NBA, but there’s not a lot of room for malcontents after a certain point, and it should be pointed out he only played 10 games in his final season.

“Stevie Franchise” always claimed to be misunderstood. NBA officials seemed to understand him perfectly.

21. Allen Iverson — 130 Technical Fouls

Chris Gardner / AP Photo

Born: June 7, 1975 (Hampton, Virginia)

College: Georgetown

Position: Point guard

Career: 14 seasons (1996-2010)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1996-2006, 2009-10), Denver Nuggets (2006-08), Detroit Pistons (2008-09), Memphis Grizzlies (2009)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Allen Iverson

Julie Jacobson / AP Photo

We’ll defend 1996 NBA draft No.1 overall pick and 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player Allen Iverson until our voice turns to dust in our throats — and that includes his proclivity for picking up technical fouls.

Iverson had to speak up (and he did) because there just aren’t a lot of 5-foot-10,160-pound guys averaging almost 30 points per game for their entire career, and he was probably just mad over the beatings he took every game.

“The Answer” led the NBA in scoring four times and steals three times. He probably deserved a few more calls going his way.

20. Draymond Green — 131 Technical Fouls

Gerald Herbert / AP Photo

Born: March 4, 1990 (Saginaw, Michigan)

College: Michigan State

Position: Power forward/small forward

NBA career: 11 seasons (2012-present)

Teams: Golden State Warriors

NBA titles: 4 (2015, 2017, 2022)

Bottom Line: Draymond Green

David Dermer / AP Photo

Draymond Green is a three-time NBA champion, three-time All-Star, five-time NBA All-Defensive Team pick and was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.

Those facts make it hard to argue with Green’s approach. Since his second season in the NBA, he’s been among the league leaders in technical fouls.

Green also is the only person in NBA history to probably cost his team an NBA championship because of a technical. After he hit LeBron James in the groin in Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Green was suspended for Game 5, and the Warriors became the first team to blow a 3-1 series lead in the Finals.

19. DeMarcus Cousins — 137 Technical Fouls

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

Born: Aug. 13, 1990 (Mobile, Alabama)

College: Kentucky

Position: Center

Career: 12 seasons (2010-present)

Teams: Sacramento Kings (2010-17), New Orleans Pelicans (2017-18), Golden State Warriors (2018-19), Los Angeles Lakers (2019-20), Houston Rockets (2020-21), Los Angeles Clippers (2021), Milwaukee Bucks (2021-22), Denver Nuggets (2022)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: DeMarcus Cousins

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP Photo

There are few things professional sports fans hate more than seeing an enormously talented player let their potential go to waste.

Which is the main reason why DeMarcus Cousins has spent his career hated by so many in the league — the inability to turn once-in-a-generation talent into wins.

Cousins spent seven worthless seasons in Sacramento, where he complained and whined and pouted instead of trying to turn the Kings into a contender. As a result of that, he became an easy target for NBA refs.

18. Antoine Walker — 144 Technical Fouls

Aaron Harris / AP Photo

Born: Aug. 12, 1976 (Chicago, Illinois)

College: Kentucky

Position: Power forward

Career: 12 seasons (1996-2008)

Teams: Boston Celtics (1996-2003, 2005), Dallas Mavericks (2003-04), Atlanta Hawks (2004-05), Miami Heat (2005-07), Minnesota Timberwolves (2007-08)

NBA titles: 1 (2006)

Bottom Line: Antoine Walker

Matthew Cavanaugh / AP Photo

Antoine Walker was a genius-level complainer when it came to what he thought were calls that should have gone his way — something NBA refs grew tired of pretty early in his career.

It’s telling that Walker’s only real team success came when he was a role player on the Miami Heat’s 2006 NBA championship team. When given the opportunity to lead, Walker rarely stepped up.

Despite making $108 million in 12 NBA seasons, Walker filed for bankruptcy in 2010, listing debts of $12.7 million and assets of $4.3 million.

17. Jermaine O’Neal — 146 Technical Fouls

Michael Conroy / AP Photo

Born: Oct. 13, 1978 (Columbia, South Carolina)

College: None

Position: Power forward

Career: 18 seasons (1996-2014)

Teams: Portland Trail Blazers (1996-2000), Indiana Pacers (2000-08), Toronto Raptors (2008-09), Miami Heat (2009-10), Boston Celtics (2010-12), Phoenix Suns (2012-13), Golden State Warriors (2013-14)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Jermaine O’Neal

John Gress / AP Photo

Jermaine O’Neal came directly from high school to the NBA, joining the Portland Trail Blazers in 1996. It was here that he got a master class in getting technical fouls from his mentor, Rasheed Wallace.

That O’Neal played the same position as Wallace only helped deepen his understanding of what it took to give the other team two free throws and the ball, although we should also point out that O’Neal eventually became an All-Star in his own right.

In the end, the apprentice could never quite match the master. O’Neal’s tech total isn’t half of what Wallace incurred in his career.

16. Shaquille O’Neal — 150 Technical Fouls

Damian Dovarganes / AP Photo

Born: March 6, 1972 (Newark, New Jersey)

College: LSU

Position: Center

Career: 19 seasons (1992-2011)

Teams: Orlando Magic (1992-96), Los Angeles Lakers (1996-2004), Miami Heat (2004-08), Phoenix Suns (2008-09), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-10), Boston Celtics (2010-11)

NBA titles: 4 (2000-02, 2006)

Bottom Line: Shaquille O’Neal

Alan Diaz / AP Photo

Shaquille O’Neal’s physical style of play and the sheer punishment he incurred from other teams almost guaranteed him a spot on this list the moment he was selected No. 1 overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.

The four-time NBA champion and three-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player didn’t let anyone get the best of him when it came to confrontations. He had epic confrontations with Alvin Robertson, Chris Dudley, Charles Barkley and Brad Miller throughout his career. And he almost decapitated Miller with a single punch.

You can watch all of those fights if you’d like.

15. Carmelo Anthony — 156 Technical Fouls

Kathy Willens / AP Photo

Born: May 29, 1984 (Brooklyn, New York)

College: Syracuse

Position: Small forward

Career: 19 seasons (2003-22

Teams: Denver Nuggets (2003-11), New York Knicks (2011-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-18), Houston Rockets (2018-19), Portland Trail Blazers (2019-21), Los Angeles Lakers (2021-22)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Carmelo Anthony

George Widman / AP Photo

Carmelo Anthony is one of the players we put the blame on for turning the NBA into what it is today — an almost unwatchable series of millionaires complaining about fouls from tipoff until the final buzzer.

It’s no wonder Anthony has racked up as many technical fouls as he has. If you ask him, he probably hasn’t actually committed a foul in almost a decade.

Like a lot of players on this list, Anthony’s career is lacking a key component. He’s never played in the NBA Finals, much less won a championship.

Is that a coincidence? We think not.

14. Reggie Miller — 161 Technical Fouls

Michael Conroy / AP Photo

Born: Aug. 24, 1965 (Riverside, California)

College: UCLA

Position: Shooting guard

Career: 18 seasons (1987-2005)

Teams: Indiana Pacers

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Reggie Miller

Alex Brandon / AP Photo

Reggie Miller was known as much for his mouth as for his insane shooting ability — maybe not one more than the other either.

What’s amazing is Miller didn’t get more technical fouls in his career, and that he didn’t get any when he famously scored eight points in nine seconds to stun the Knicks in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Try giving a choke sign to a courtside fan in today’s NBA and see what happens.

13. Kobe Bryant — 166 Technical Fouls

Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo

Born: Aug. 23, 1978 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Died: Jan. 26, 2020 (age 41, Los Angeles, California)

College: None

Position: Shooting guard

Career: 20 seasons (1996-2016)

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers

NBA titles: 5 (2000-02, 2009, 2010)

Bottom Line: Kobe Bryant

Mark Lennihan / AP Photo

The late Kobe Bryant wanted the star treatment every time he stepped on the floor, and he wasn’t shy about letting refs know he wasn’t happy if calls didn’t go his way.

Bryant’s spot on this list isn’t totally undeserved, but it is a little deceptive since he played more minutes and more seasons than almost any player in NBA history.

Whatever Bryant did on the floor, it worked. He won five NBA championships, made the All-NBA Team 15 times and was a two-time NBA Finals MVP.

12. Charles Oakley — 168 Technical Fouls

Mark Lennihan / AP Photo

Born: Dec. 18, 1963 (Cleveland, Ohio)

College: Virginia Union

Position: Power forward

Career: 19 seasons (1985-2004)

Teams: Chicago Bulls (1985-88, 2001-02), New York Knicks (1988-98), Toronto Raptors (1999-2001), Washington Wizards (2002-03), Houston Rockets (2004)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Charles Oakley

Fred Jewell / AP Photo

Possibly the toughest player in NBA history, Charles Oakley had no choice but to punish habitual line steppers after making it to the league out of NCAA Division II Virginia Union.

It didn’t take long for Oakley to start racking up technical fouls as the de facto “protector” of a young Michael Jordan when he joined the Chicago Bulls in 1985 and with Jordan coming off a severe injury later that season.

Oakley didn’t slow down after he was traded to the Knicks in 1988, where he played another decade and reinforced his reputation as someone not to be trifled with.

11. Kevin Willis — 170 Technical Fouls

Rick Bowmer / AP Photo

Born: Sept. 6, 1962 (Los Angeles, California)

College: Michigan State

Position: Power forward/center

Career: 22 seasons (1984-2005, 2007)

Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1984-94, 2004-05), Miami Heat (1994-96), Golden State Warriors (1996), Houston Rockets (1996-98, 2001-02), Toronto Raptors (1998-2001), Denver Nuggets (2001), San Antonio Spurs (2002-04), Dallas Mavericks (2007)

NBA titles: 1 (2003)

Bottom Line: Kevin Willis

Rick Bowmer / AP Photo

Kevin Willis has a couple of valid reasons for being here — he played in the rock ’em sock ’em era of the NBA in the 1980s and also played more games than any player in NBA history not yet in the Hall of Fame.

We’re actually surprised that Willis isn’t ranked higher, especially considering he went to war every night with the best post players of several eras and ended up playing in three different decades.

Willis took the court for the Dallas Mavericks in 2007 at 44 years old and is still the oldest player in NBA history to suit up more than two games in a single season.

10. Kevin Garnett — 172 Technical Fouls

Mary Schwalm / AP Photo

Born: May 19, 1976 (Greenville, South Carolina)

College: None

Position: Power forward

Career: 21 seasons (1995-2016)

Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-2007, 2015-16), Boston Celtics (2007-13), Brooklyn Nets (2013-15)

NBA titles: 1 (2008)

Bottom Line: Kevin Garnett

Ann Heisenfelt / AP Photo

Kevin Garnett came straight out of high school to the NBA and played a staggering 21 seasons — one of the longest careers in NBA history. He also racked up more technical fouls than almost anyone in NBA history.

The 2004 NBA Most Valuable Player opened his career when the league was still open to players throwing punches every now and then without maximum consequences, and Garnett gained respect by standing his ground.

As his career went on, he was known as much for being a pest as for his skill, notoriously getting under the skin of his opponents.

9. Dwight Howard — 178 Technical Fouls

Reinhold Matay / AP Photo

Born: Dec. 8, 1985 (Atlanta, Georgia)

College: None

Position: Center

Career: 18 seasons (2004-22)

Teams: Orlando Magic (2004-12), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-13, 2019-20, 2021-22), Houston Rockets (2013-16), Atlanta Hawks (2016-17), Charlotte Hornets (2017-18), Washington Wizards (2018-19), Philadelphia 76ers (2020-21)

NBA titles: 1 (2020)

Bottom Line: Dwight Howard

Matt Slocum / AP Photo

We can’t dismiss Dwight Howard’s talent. He’s one of the best post players of his era and is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

He’s also one of the most frustrating players to ever step on a court from a fan’s perspective, with an incessant string of whining and complaining to referees over almost two decades in the NBA. Which led to technical fouls.

Top that off with being a bad teammate, and you understand why Howard is on his seventh team.

8. Russell Westbrook — 183 Technical Fouls

Sue Ogrocki / AP Photo

Born: Nov. 12, 1988 (Long Beach, California)

College: UCLA

Position: Guard

Career: 15 seasons (2008-present)

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder (2008-19), Houston Rockets (2019-20), Washington Wizards (2020-21), Los Angeles Lakers (2021-23), Los Angeles Clippers (2023-present)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Russell Westbrook

Paul Sancya / AP Photo

This is awfully high for a player as young as Russell Westbrook to be on this list, especially considering the 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player has another seven or eight seasons ahead of him if he wants to play that long.

Few players in NBA history have treated refs with as much contempt as Westbrook, who is also just the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season.

Westbrook’s skills have made his games a must-see for over a decade, but the constant complaining over calls is tough to stomach.

7. Anthony Mason — 192 Technical Fouls

Bill Kostroun / AP Photo

Born: Dec. 14, 1966 (Miami, Florida)

Died: Feb. 28, 2015 (age 48, New York City, New York)

College: Tennessee State

Position: Power forward/center

Career: 14 seasons (1989-2003)

Teams: New Jersey Nets (1989-90), Denver Nuggets (1990-91), New York Knicks (1991-96), Charlotte Hornets (1996-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), MIlwaukee Bucks (2001-03)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Anthony Mason

Bill Kostroun / AP Photo

We’re sorry if you never had the pleasure of watching Anthony Mason bang in the low post, bringing absolute misery to guys who were six inches taller than him.

Sure, Mason was only 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, but he guarded taller players for the entirety of his 14-year career with a high rate of success and is widely regarded as one of the toughest players in NBA history.

There’s no doubt he’s also one of the most feared. That’s a neck-and-neck race with Charles Oakley, who was his teammate on the Knicks for five seasons in the early 1990s.

6. Dirk Nowitzki — 199 Technical Fouls

Brandon Wade / AP Photo

Born: June 19, 1978 (Wurzburg, West Germany)

College: None

Position: Power forward

Career: 21 seasons (1998-2019)

Teams: Dallas Mavericks

NBA titles: 1 (2011)

Bottom Line: Dirk Nowitzki

Tony Gutierrez / AP Photo

Dirk Nowitzki gets cut a little slack for being on this list because he played for 21 seasons and was incredibly durable throughout. His 1,522 career regular-season games put him at No. 4 on the NBA’s career list.

The greatest European-born player of all time learned our American ways of arguing with refs early in his career and never slowed down, although we do think part of that was playing for a franchise that was never really considered elite until he showed up.

It’s tough to argue with results. Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to the franchise’s lone NBA championship in 2011 with an upset of the Miami Heat.

5. Dennis Rodman — 212 Technical Fouls

John Zich / AP Photo

Born: May 13, 1961 (Trenton, New Jersey)

College: Southeastern Oklahoma State

Position: Forward

Career: 14 seasons(1986-2000)

Teams: Detroit Pistons (1986-93), San Antonio Spurs (1993-95), Chicago Bulls (1995-98), Los Angeles Lakers (1999), Dallas Mavericks (2000)

NBA titles: 5 (1989, 1990, 1996-98)

Bottom Line: Dennis Rodman

David Zalubowski / AP Photo

Five-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman showing up among the players with the most technical fouls shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

Rodman made it to the NBA out of a tiny NAIA college, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and he did it by being the defensive lynchpin on back-to-back NBA championship teams for the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990. He also won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991.

Rodman was the NBA’s poster child for bad behavior, on and off the court, for the last decade of his career. Technical fouls were just part of the package.

4. Gary Payton — 250 Technical Fouls

Elaine Thompson / AP Photo

Born: July 23, 1968 (Oakland, California)

College: Oregon State

Position: Point guard

Career: 17 seasons (1990-2007)

Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1990-2003), Milwaukee Bucks (2003), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04), Boston Celtics (2004-05), Miami Heat (2005-07)

NBA titles: 1 (2006)

Bottom Line: Gary Payton

Jack Smith / AP Photo

Gary Payton’s nickname was “The Glove,” but it could just as well have been “The Mouth” for how much he talked during games.

Payton earned a reputation for trash talk as an All-American guard at Oregon State in the late 1980s — he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a senior as the National Player of the Year.

The thing about Payton was that even if he talked a lot, he could back it up. He made the All-NBA and NBA All-Defensive Teams nine times, was an All-Star nine times, and won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1996.

3. Rasheed Wallace — 317 Technical Fouls

Jack Smith / AP Photo

Born: Sept. 17, 1974 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

College: North Carolina

Position: Power forward/center

Career: 16 seasons (1995-2010, 2012-13)

Teams: Washington Bullets (1995-96), Portland Trail Blazers (1996-2004), Atlanta Hawks (2004), Detroit Pistons (2004-09), Boston Celtics (2009-10), New York Knicks (2012-13)

NBA titles: 1 (2004)

Bottom Line: Rasheed Wallace

Ken Levine / AP Photo

Rasheed Wallace is the true star of this list — a player known as much for his prodigious talents as his ability to come absolutely unglued at the referees at any point during a game. He was Mozart when it came to getting T’d up.

Wallace set the NBA single-season record with 41 technical fouls in 2001-02 and is the NBA career leader with 29 ejections, which are both records that may never be broken.

Even in the twilight of his career, Wallace couldn’t stop getting techs. He led the league in technicals each of his final four full seasons. We are in awe.

2. Charles Barkley — 329 Technical Fouls

Pat Sullivan / AP Photo

Born: Feb. 20, 1963 (Leeds, Alabama)

College: Auburn

Position: Power forward

Career: 16 seasons (1984-2000)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1984-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-96), Houston Rockets (1996-2000)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Charles Barkley

Peter Morgan / AP Photo

To absolutely no one’s surprise, Charles Barkley racked up an insane amount of technical fouls over his 16 seasons in the NBA.

Barkley got his technicals in a variety of ways. Hard fouls, fighting, arguing with refs, going into the stands, you name it.

The 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player needed every advantage he could throughout his career. Consistently listed at 6-foot-6, it’s widely known Barkley was a 6-foot-4 power forward, and the fact he averaged 11.7 rebounds for his career is amazing.

1. Karl Malone — 332 Technical Fouls

Matt York / AP Photo

Born: July 24, 1963 (Summerfield, Louisiana)

College: Louisiana Tech

Position: Power forward

Career: 19 seasons (1985-2004)

Teams: Utah Jazz (1985-2003), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Karl Malone

Bob Galbraith / AP Photo

Hey, we’re surprised to see Karl Malone on top of this list as well.

What’s amazing about “The Mailman” getting so many technical fouls is that he isn’t anywhere near the top when it comes to career ejections. This means Malone knew when to rein it in.

Another thing to consider about Malone is that his physical style of play led to many technical fouls. You can make a good case that the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player had the sharpest elbows in NBA history, leading to more than his fair share of techs.

Related: NBA’s Greatest Trash-Talkers