Toughest NBA Players of All Time

Being tough on the basketball court isn't only a physical thing. The mental aspect is just as important.

Toughest NBA Players of All Time

Ben Wallace, right, was an intimidating presence on the court.

Being tough is more than just being physical. It’s not just defined by how much punishment you can sustain. Or how much you can dole out.

There’s a mental aspect to being tough that’s just as important. How do you function when everyone is against you? Can you keep it together when there are tens of thousands of people who want you to fail?

In the NBA, some of the greatest players of all time have also been some of the toughest — as well as some of the most beloved. They didn’t get that way because they could score or rebound. They got there because they were tough, and that’s something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play.

These are the toughest players in NBA history.

60. Bob Pettit, Power Forward/Center

Seasons: 11 (1954-65)

Teams: Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks

NBA titles: 1 (1958)

Bottom line: Bob Pettit was one of the most prolific scorers and rebounders in NBA history, and if you did a double take at his career rebounding average, that’s understandable. Because 16.2 rebounds per game is just insane. It’s also a clear indicator of where his toughness came from — he trails only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell in that category.

Pettit only played 11 seasons in the NBA and was a first-team All-NBA pick 10 times. He made second-team the other season.

Pettit also was the first NBA Most Valuable Player in 1958 and is tied with Kobe Bryant for most NBA All-Star MVP awards with four.

59. Isaiah Thomas, Point Guard

Seasons: 11 (2011-22)

Teams: Sacramento Kings (2011-14), Phoenix Suns (2014-15). Boston Celtics (2015-17), Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18), Los Angeles Lakers (2018), Denver Nuggets (2018-19), Washington Wizards (2019-20), New Orleans Pelicans (2021), Los Angeles Lakers (2021), Dallas Mavericks (2021-22), Charlotte Hornets (2022)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: At just 5-foot-9, Isaiah Thomas is one of the most dominant, under 6-foot players in NBA history.

The moment Thomas’ toughness was no longer in doubt was at the end of his tenure with the Celtics, when he was on the verge of getting close to a max contract in free agency in the offseason.

He continued to play, leading his team to the 2017 Eastern Conference finals before being sidelined with a debilitating hip injury.

58. Larry Foust, Power Forward/Center

Seasons: 12 (1950-62)

Teams: Fort Wayne Pistons (1950-57), Minneapolis Lakers (1957-60), St. Louis Hawks (1960-62)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Larry Foust’s toughness came in the form of brute strength as a "clear out the block" post player. What’s unique about his career was that style of play, at that time, was ahead of its time — feed the ball to one player and let the game hinge on that.

To put it in perspective, Foust scored the winning basket for the Fort Wayne Pistons in the lowest-scoring NBA game of all-time, a 19-18 win over the Minneapolis Lakers, a year in which he averaged 13.5 points.

Foust, an eight-time All-Star, died in 1984 of a heart attack at 59 years old.

57. John Starks, Shooting Guard

Seasons: 14 (1988-2002)

Teams: Golden State Warriors (1988-89, 1999-2000), New York Knicks (1990-98), Chicago Bulls (2000), Utah Jazz (2000-02)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: If you want to know about toughness and making something out of nothing, just look at what John Starks went through just to make it to the NBA. Starks bounced between three different junior colleges in Oklahoma before landing in the checkout lane at a supermarket, bagging groceries.

Starks worked his way up from 10-day contracts with the Warriors to the CBA to finally landing a shot with the Knicks in 1990, where he spent almost a decade as a key foil to Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Starks made an All-Star team in 1994 and was NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1997.

His most iconic play was a baseline, left-handed dunk over Jordan and Horace Grant in the playoffs.

56. Kevin Love, Power Forward

Seasons: 15 (2008-present)

Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-14), Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-23), Miami Heat (2023-present)

NBA titles: 1 (2016)

Bottom line: Kevin Love might not be the first player that comes to mind when we talk about the toughest in NBA history, but he most certainly deserves a spot on this list. A lot of that comes from his upbringing. His father, Stan, was an NBA player, and he had his son study tapes of Hall of Famer Wes Unseld as part of learning to play the game the right way.

Where Love is toughest has been in his approach to the mental aspects of the game, where he’s been open about his struggles with anxiety, rage and depression — bringing widespread awareness to an issue that still is considered taboo in some corners.

That makes him as tough as they come.

55. Michael Cooper, Guard/Forward

Michael Cooper and Michael Jordan — Michael Cooper, left, was a key player on the Lakers in the 1980s.

Seasons: 12 (1978-90)

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1978-90)

NBA titles: 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)

Bottom line: NBA connoisseurs can appreciate what Michael Cooper brought to the Los Angeles Lakers' "Showtime" dynasty of the 1980s. In no small way, he carried the defensive load for some of the greatest teams of all time, and that’s not an offhand remark.

Cooper almost always drew the other team’s toughest defensive assignment, and Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird called him the "toughest defensive player who ever guarded me." Cooper made the All-NBA Defensive Team eight times and was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987.

Cooper won five NBA titles with the Lakers and was just as good as a coach, winning back-to-back WNBA titles with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002.

54. Paul Silas, Power Forward/Center

Seasons: 16 seasons (1964-80)

Teams: St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1964-69), Phoenix Suns (1969-72), Boston Celtics (1972-76), Denver Nuggets (1976-77), Seattle Supersonics (1977-80)

NBA titles: 3 (1974, 1976, 1979)

Bottom line: There wasn’t a better role player to put on your roster in the 1970s than Paul Silas, who won two titles with the Celtics and one with the SuperSonics over the last six years of the decade.

The toughness of the 6-foot-7 Silas came from what he was asked to do for every team he played on in his 16-year career — guard players 4-5 inches taller than him. That Silas did it with aplomb and earned a reputation for never losing his cool speaks to more than just being tough.

You don’t find many players who didn’t average double figures in scoring or rebounding for their career that can say they were a two-time All-Star and five-time pick for the All-NBA Defensive Team.

53. Udonis Haslem, Power Forward

Seasons: 20 (2003-present)

Teams: Miami Heat

NBA titles: 3 (2006, 2012, 2013)

Bottom line: What’s most remarkable about Udonis Haslem has been his staying power. In an era of players jumping teams, he’s managed to stay with the Miami Heat for his entire career.

How Haslem ended up with the Heat in the first place speaks to his toughness. After he went undrafted in 2002 following a standout career at the University of Florida, Haslem found his only pro opportunity was playing in France, and he showed up weighing almost 300 pounds. Over the course of one season, Haslem lost 50 pounds, returned home and aced his tryout with the Heat.

Twenty years and three NBA titles later, he’s a legend in Miami.

52. Buck Williams, Power Forward/Center

Seasons: 17 (1981-1998)

Teams: New Jersey Nets (1981-1989), Portland Trail Blazers (1989-1996), New York Knicks (1996-1998)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Buck Williams was the definition of an NBA player bringing his lunch pail to work. The 1982 NBA Rookie of the Year earned a reputation for toughness and rebounding on the way to three All-Star game selections and four NBA All-Defensive Team nods.

Williams spent his first eight seasons with the Nets but became a household name during his seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. That’s when America got to know his trademark goggles (and beard) on the way to NBA Finals losses to the Bulls and Pistons.

For the 1990s video-game kids, he also was one of three players on the original "NBA Jam" who could consistently rebound.

51. Metta Sandiford-Artest, Power Forward/Small Forward

Ron Artest (in his pre-Metta World Peace days) brought the pain.

Seasons: 18 (1999-2017)

Teams: Chicago Bulls (1999-2002), Indiana Pacers (2002-06), Sacramento Kings (2006-08), Houston Rockets (2008-09), Los Angeles Lakers (2009-13, 2015-17), New York Knicks (2013-14)

NBA titles: 1 (2010)

Bottom line: Ron Artest legally changed his name to Metta World Peace in 2011, but no matter what his name was during his 18-year pro career, opponents were in for a dogfight when he stepped on a court.

What’s interesting about World Peace’s career is that if he’d have been born 10 years earlier, he likely would have been a player with comparable success to Dennis Rodman because his physical, tough style of play was more akin to past generations.

After his career nearly ended with a one-year suspension for his role in "The Malice at the Palace," he redeemed himself and won an NBA title with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2010.

50. Norm Van Lier, Point Guard

Seasons: 10 (1969-79)

Teams: Cincinnati Royals (1969-71), Chicago Bulls (1971-78), Milwaukee Bucks (1978-79)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Norm Van Lier had one of the more modest, accomplished careers in NBA history in almost total anonymity. He never made it past the second round of the playoffs but was an eight-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection and three-time All-Star.

In an alternate universe, Van Lier would’ve been able to pursue his first love of playing quarterback for a big-time college football program, but all of the schools that recruited him wanted him to play defensive back, a throwback to a racist, ignorant era.

Van Lier died unexpectedly in 2009 at 61 years old, the same day as former Bulls coach Johnny "Red" Kerr.

49. Mark Jackson, Point Guard

Seasons: 17 (1987-2004)

Teams: New York Knicks (1987-92, 2001-02), Los Angeles Clippers (1992-94), Indiana Pacers (1994-96, 1997-2000), Denver Nuggets (1996-97), Toronto Raptors (2000-01), Utah Jazz (2002-03), Houston Rockets (2003-04)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: It’s safe to say that most point guards who make it from Brooklyn to the NBA are tough. Mark Jackson can make an argument for being one of the toughest.

It’s a shame that the Knicks decided to trade Jackson to the Clippers in 1992 and split up what was just becoming a playoff contender with a nucleus of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Jackson.

On the flip side of that, fans across the country got a chance to see what made Jackson such a special player as he took starring turns for the Clippers and Pacers over the next decade.

48. Bob Dandridge, Small Forward

Seasons: 12 (1969-81)

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1969-77, 1981), Washington Bullets (1977-81)

NBA titles: 2 (1971, 1978)

Bottom line: There’s a long lineage of forwards rounding out championship trios in the NBA based on their ability to blend with generational talent and still cut their own swath.

Chris Bosh with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James on the Heat in the 2010s. Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on the Bulls in the 1990s. James Worthy with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980s.

In the 1970s, it was Bob Dandridge, who scored more points in the NBA Finals in that decade than any NBA player while winning a title in 1971 alongside Oscar Robertson and Abdul-Jabbar on the Bucks, then alongside Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld on the Bullets in 1978.

47. Vinnie Johnson, Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Seasons: 13 (1979-92)

Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1979-81), Detroit Pistons (1981-91), San Antonio Spurs (1991-92)

NBA titles: 2 (1989, 1990)

Bottom line: Owner of one of the NBA’s all-time greatest nicknames, Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson was known for his instant offense off the bench — former Boston Celtics guard Danny Ainge actually gave Johnson the nickname.

Johnson was 6-foot-2 and built more like an NFL defensive back than an NBA guard, but even on the Bad Boys, he was intimidating. He also always stayed in Detroit’s lineup because of his versatility, as he could sub easily for starting point guard Isiah Thomas or shooting guard Joe Dumars.

Post-career, Johnson has been an even bigger success. His Piston Automotive Group, a global auto parts supplier, does almost $2 billion in business annually and employs 8,300 people.

46. Kendrick Perkins, Center

Seasons: 13 (2003-16)

Teams: Boston Celtics (2003-11), Oklahoma City Thunder (2011-15), Cleveland Cavaliers (2015, 2018), New Orleans Pelicans (2015-16)

NBA titles: 1 (2008)

Bottom line: Kendrick Perkins was basketball’s version of a hockey enforcer on some truly great teams — the Celtics in the late 2000s that included an NBA title in 2008 and several almost-great Oklahoma City Thunder teams with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden in the early 2010s.

Perkins wasn’t just hired muscle, though. You can make a solid argument that his injury in Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers — he tore his PCL and MCL — turned the tide for the Lakers in their Game 7 win with Perkins sitting out.

45. Scott Skiles, Point Guard

Seasons: 10 (1986-96)

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1986-87), Indiana Pacers (1987-89), Orlando Magic (1989-94), Washington Bullets (1994-95), Philadelphia 76ers (1995-96)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: For the entirety of his career, Scott Skiles was listed at 6-foot-1. If you ever happened to catch a game that Skiles played in, you know that’s spotting him at least 2-3 inches. In order to play a decade in the NBA like Skiles did, and be that size, it takes some innate toughness.

Skiles languished on the bench, somewhat unfairly, for his first three seasons before going to the expansion Orlando Magic, where he set the NBA record with 30 assists in one game and was named NBA Most Improved Player in 1991.

Skiles also, famously, took a swing at Shaquille O'Neal in the locker room.

44. James Johnson, Power Forward

Seasons: 14 (2009-present)

Teams: Chicago Bulls (2009-11), Toronto Raptors (2011-12, 2014-16), Sacramento Kings (2012-13), Memphis Grizzlies (2013-14), Miami Heat (2016-20), Minnesota Timberwolves (2020), Dallas Mavericks (2020-21), New Orleans Pelicans (2021), Brooklyn Nets (2021-22), Indiana Pacers (2022-present)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: There aren’t a lot of NBA players that come out of Wyoming, but James Johnson is one of them. From humble beginnings in Cheyenne, he's been a journeyman NBA forward that's on his 10th team in 14 seasons and his toughness is one of the reasons he's remained in the league.

Johnson’s nickname — "Gladiator" — is one of the most appropriate in league history. That’s because Johnson, a second-degree black belt in karate, has been a professional MMA fighter and kickboxer since he was 18 years old and has a 7-0 record in MMA matches and 20-0 record in kickboxing. Translation: You don't want that smoke.

43. Steven Adams, Center

Seasons: 10 (2013-present)

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder (2013-20), New Orleans Pelicans (2020-21), Memphis Grizzlies (2021-present)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: One of 18 children, Steven Adams had a rough childhood in New Zealand after his father died in 2006, but basketball took him off the streets of his hometown and put him in a gym.

Adams found a home on a basketball court, where he developed his game based on physicality and tenacity and quickly established himself as one of the toughest players in the NBA, first with the Oklahoma City Thunder and now with the Memphis Grizzlies.

How tough is Adams? For three seasons in a row, NBA players voting in an anonymous poll have listed Adams as one of the three players they would least like to fight in the entire league.

42. Dave DeBusschere, Power Forward/Small Forward

Seasons: 12 (1962-1974)

Teams: Detroit Pistons (1962-1968), New York Knicks (1968-1974)

NBA titles: 2 (1970, 1973)

Bottom line: Dave DeBusschere was one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, making the All-NBA Defensive Team six times in his career.

His biggest claim to fame came on the New York Knicks teams that won NBA titles in 1970 and 1973, where he cemented his reputation as one of the most physical players of all time.

In an interesting, amazing aside, Debusschere pitched two seasons for the Chicago White Sox in 1962 and 1963 before deciding to turn his focus to his basketball career after the Detroit Pistons agreed to make him the youngest player-coach in NBA history at just 24 years old.

41. Draymond Green, Power Forward/Small Forward

Seasons: 11 (2012-present)

Teams: Golden State Warriors (2012-present)

NBA titles: 4 (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022)

Bottom line: Say what you will about Draymond Green, if his career ended tomorrow, you would have to put him in the discussion as the best defensive player of his era, if not of all time. What's the evidence? Green has been a mainstay on the NBA's All-Defensive Team almost his entire career, won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and has four NBA titles to his name.

It will be interesting to see how the second half of his career plays out. Green is one of the more outspoken players in the game today, and it’s tough to see his legacy as not having his Game 6 suspension from the 2016 NBA Finals front and center alongside his titles.

Will the Warriors be able to reboot and make another run at a title?

40. Alvin Roberton, Shooting Guard

Alvin Robertson, left, was one of the game's great defenders.

Seasons: 12 (1984-1996)

Teams: San Antonio Spurs (1984-1989), Milwaukee Bucks (1989-1993), Detroit Pistons (1993), Toronto Raptors (1995-1996)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: There is one statistic that underlines Alvin Robertson’s toughness better than all others — he is still the NBA’s career leader with 2.7 steals per game.

Robertson’s specialty was defense, making the All-NBA Defensive Team six times in his career and was NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1986. If you want another example of Robertson’s toughness, please remember he took a full-on punch from Shaquille O’Neal during a game and lived to tell about it.

Robertson was found not guilty of human trafficking in 2015, five years after he was arrested and after authorities discovered the accuser made up the whole story.

39. John Havlicek, Small Forward/Shooting Guard

Seasons: 16 (1962-1978)

Teams: Boston Celtics (1962-1978)

NBA titles: 8 (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)

Bottom line: John Havlicek is one of just four players in NBA history to win eight NBA titles. Havlicek simply wore opponents out with his conditioning, and if you want to teach a young player how to move without the ball in their hands, all you need is to cue up old Havlicek highlights on YouTube.

One little-known fact about Havlicek, an 11-time All-NBA pick and eight-time All-NBA Defensive pick, is that he was also drafted as a wide receiver by the Cleveland Browns and briefly contemplated a career in the NFL.

Havlicek died in April 2019 at 79 years old.

38. Bob Lanier, Center

Seasons: 14 (1970-1984)

Teams: Detroit Pistons (1970-1980), Milwaukee Bucks (1980-1984)

NBA titles: None

Bottom Line: Bob Lanier is one of the most well-respected NBA players of all time and has his iconic No. 16 retired by both of the teams he played for — the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks.

Although he never won an NBA title in 14 seasons. Lanier, at 6-foot-11, was one of the best all-around big men in NBA history and averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for his career. What makes these numbers even more amazing is that he underwent an astonishing eight knee surgeries over his career and was known to choke back several cigarettes in the locker room at halftime.

Later in his career, this was a definite disadvantage.

37. Zach Randolph, Power Forward

Seasons: 18 seasons (2001-19)

Teams: Portland Trail Blazers (2001-07), New York Knicks (2007-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-09), Memphis Grizzlies (2009-17), Sacramento Kings (2017-19)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Zach Randolph is perhaps the most durable, underrated and, to be honest, the most intimidating player of his generation. The stories of Z-Bo’s toughness are legendary in NBA circles and the fact that he played at least 70 games in 12 of 18 seasons cannot be overlooked.

Randolph toiled away for a lot of his career in obscurity. He ruined his own best chance at playoff success when he punched Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams in the jaw in Game 6 of a 2014 NBA playoff series and was suspended for Game 7, which the Grizzlies lost.

His consolation? Approximately $200 million in career earnings.

36. Chauncey Billups, Point Guard

Seasons: 14 seasons (1997-2014)

Teams: Boston Celtics (1997-98), Toronto Raptors (1998-99), Denver Nuggets (1999-2000, 2008-11), Minnesota Timberwolves (2000-02), Detroit Pistons (2002-08, 2013-14), New York Knicks (2011), Los Angeles Clippers (2011-13)

NBA titles: 1 (2004)

Bottom line: The mystery behind Chauncey Billups’ career lies within the mulitude of inexplicable trades that let him play on seven different teams over his 14-year career.

What’s not a mystery is the impact Billups made on almost every team he played on. He brought immediate toughness and stability to the roster. Perhaps that’s why he was such a valuable commodity.

Thankfully, we know what Billups was capable of when a team was truly put in his hands thanks to his stint with the Detroit Pistons, when he led the team to the 2004 NBA title and was named Finals Most Valuable Player in a sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers — one of the greatest upsets of all time.

35. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Center

Seasons: 20 (1969-89)

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1969-75), Los Angeles Lakers (1975-89)

NBA titles: 6 (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)

Bottom line: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA titles and six NBA Most Valuable Player awards and is in the conversation when it comes to the greatest basketball players of all time, which probably automatically puts him in the conversation for toughest players ever, as well.

He will always be tougher than we give him credit for. He played in an age where African-American players were fighting for equal rights on and off the floor and was one of the leaders of that movement.

One stat stands out more than any other. Over two decades after his retirement, Abdul-Jabbar’s 1,797 career games (including the playoffs) is more than anyone in NBA history.

34. Dan Roundfield, Forward/Center

Seasons: 12 (1975-87)

Teams: Indiana Pacers (1975-78), Atlanta Hawks (1978-84), Detroit Pistons (1984-85), Washington Bullets (1985-87)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Dan Roundfield — "Dr. Rounds" — could be the next name you drop in a conversation with fellow NBA heads when you’re talking about the most underrated, underappreciated players of all time.

Roundfield toiled in relative anonymity for his entire career but still managed to make the All-NBA Defensive Team five times and made three consecutive All-Star teams, almost stealing MVP honors in 1980 with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Roundfield earned a reputation for being a physical, tough player, but he had a kind nature that opponents and teammates alike were drawn to.

Roundfield died tragically in Aruba in 2012 while swimming with his wife. The two were unexpectedly caught in rough waters, and he was swept away by the current after getting her to safety.

33. Sidney Moncrief, Shooting Guard

Seasons: 12 (1979-91)

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1979-89), Atlanta Hawks (1989-91)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Sidney Moncrief was the first NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1986, then won it again in 1987.

Moncrief had a hard-luck career with the Milwaukee Bucks as far as making it to the NBA Finals. He played on some great teams, but they were during the heyday of both the 76ers with Dr. J and the Celtics with Larry Bird running the Eastern Conference.

In Moncrief’s 10 seasons with the Bucks, his teams lost in the conference finals or conference semifinals eight times. Along with Detroit’s Joe Dumars, NBA legend Michael Jordan said Moncrief was one of the two toughest defensive players he ever faced.

32. Jerry Sloan, Guard/Forward

Seasons: 11 (1965-1976)

Teams: Baltimore Bullets (1965-66), Chicago Bulls (1966-76)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: How tough was Jerry Sloan? He averaged 7.4 rebounds per game over 11 NBA seasons, and he’s only 6-foot-5.

He had his number retired by two of the three places he played in his college and pro career, the University of Evansville and Chicago Bulls. And he only played one season, his rookie year, with the Baltimore Bullets.

Sloan’s toughness came from his hardscrabble background. His father died when he was 4 years old, and he was the youngest of 10 children raised by a single mother in rural Illinois. In high school, he awoke at 4:30 a.m. to do farm chores and walk two miles to school, where he had basketball practice at 7 a.m.

31. Kevin Garnett, Power Forward

Seasons: 21 (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 is the highest-paid player in NBA history, with $326 million in career earnings. He’s also one of just four players to win both Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year.

He did all of this by just not being good, but by playing with a unique brand of intensity and skill — a combination that was light years ahead of where the NBA was at when he broke in as a 19-year-old in 1995.

Speaking of which, Garnett played at an elite level for a decade after coming straight to the NBA from high school, which might require a little intestinal fortitude.

30. Kenyon Martin, Power Forward

Seasons: 15 (2000-15)

Teams: New Jersey Nets (2000-04), Denver Nuggets (2004-11), Los Angeles Clippers (2012), New York Knicks (2013-14), Milwaukee Bucks (2015)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Kenyon Martin was the last college senior to be picked No. 1 overall and started off his career as a player who made his name by living above the rim.

But as his skills declined, he extended his career by turning into a tough-minded enforcer for the teams he played on. He was at his best on the Nuggets when he partnered with a young Carmelo Anthony, whom he also played with on the Knicks.

Martin’s innate toughness came from a pretty awful place. He was teased and bullied mercilessly as a child and through high school because he stuttered, and it got so bad he had to leave several schools.

29. Steve Nash, Point Guard

Seasons: 19 (1996-2015)

Teams: Phoenix Suns (1996-98, 2004-12), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-15)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Steve Nash seemed like he was made of pure scrap iron for most of his NBA career, bouncing around the court and off of other players like he was inside of a pinball machine.

There might not be anyone in NBA history with a sports background quite like Nash, which helps explain why he always seemed to have blood on his jersey. Before turning his focus to basketball, the two-time Most Valuable Player grew up in Canada playing hockey, and his family lived in the same neighborhood as future NHL stars Russ and Geoff Courtnall.

Nash was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2018.

28. Alonzo Mourning, Center

Seasons: 16 (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 crafted a career as one of the greatest defensive players in basketball history, putting the world on notice by leading the nation in blocked shots as a freshman at Georgetown University.

Mourning, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014, averaged 2.8 blocks per game over a 16-year career and was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Mourning’s play was the bottom line when it came to his toughness, but he also had a world-class scowl that went with it, and his glare became synonymous with the rough-and-tumble play of the 1990s.

27. Kevin McHale, Power Forward

Seasons: 13 (1980-93)

Teams: Boston Celtics

NBA titles: 3 (1981, 1984, 1986)

Bottom line: Kevin McHale gave opponents nightmares because of his arsenal of low-post offensive moves, which he called "the torture chamber," and for being a rugged, punishing defender.

It’s kind of incredible to think of now, but McHale didn’t even become a full-time starter until five years into his career, winning NBA Sixth Man of the Year twice in that stretch.

McHale was always thought of as a uniquely gifted offensive player, but his reputation as being tough or intimidating was centered around just one famous play. When McHale clotheslined Lakers forward Kurt Rambis during Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals, it shocked teammates and opponents alike and arguably turned the tide of the series.

The Celtics won the title in seven games.

26. Allen Iverson, Point Guard

Seasons: 13 (1997-2010)

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

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: It’s unfortunate that Allen Iverson’s career became known for him being an enigma — and an unfortunate soundbite ("Practice?") instead of being the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player and an 11-time All-Star.

Ironically, Iverson’s rise to fame and the public consciousness was defined by his toughness. Over and over, we saw the 6-foot, 165-pound guard take it to opponents who towered over him, and the sight of Iverson dunking over NBA power forwards was unlike almost anything we’d ever seen.

The toughness wasn’t just an act. Iverson grew up in abject poverty and was sentenced to five years in prison as a senior in high school for a bowling alley assault, serving four months before he was granted clemency by the governor of Virginia.

25. Larry Johnson, Power Forward

Seasons: 10 (1991-2001)

Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1991-96), New York Knicks (1996-2001)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: At one point in NBA history, no player was tougher or more intimidating than Larry Johnson, the No. 1 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1991 out of UNLV.

He became tough growing up in Dallas and playing basketball on the playgrounds. "You'd have a fight a week," Johnson told Sports Illustrated in 1992. "If you played Monday through Saturday and didn't have a fight, you knew you had to be ready for Sunday because you'd surely have a fight. Myself, I liked to get my fight over on Monday or Tuesday and not worry about it the rest of the week."

Johnson, a two-time All-Star, signed the richest contract in NBA history in 1993 when the Hornets got him for 12 years and $84 million. His size, 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, was more NFL defensive end than power forward but also may have been the cause of back problems that ended his career.

24. Joe Dumars, Shooting Guard

Seasons: 14 (1985-99)

Teams: Detroit Pistons

NBA titles: 2 (1989, 1990)

Bottom line: At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Joe Dumars was built more like the NFL safeties of his era than a shooting guard. That was fitting because he grew up playing defensive back in Louisiana, and younger brother David played in the USFL.

The most important thing to remember about Dumars as far as gauging his toughness is that Michael Jordan called him the best defender he ever faced and the "Jordan Rules" established by Pistons coach Chuck Daly in the 1990s centered around Dumars’ unique defensive ability.

It’s ironic that Dumars, who has the NBA Sportsmanship Award named after him, was such a key part of Detroit’s "Bad Boys" teams that won NBA titles in 1989 and 1990.

23. Nate Thurmond, Power Forward/Center

Seasons: 14 (1963-77)

Teams: San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1963-74), Chicago Bulls (1974-76), Cleveland Cavaliers (1976-77)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Nate Thurmond was as ferocious of a rebounder as anyone in NBA history, and just as good at blocking shots and defense.

He was once singled out by NBA career leading-scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the toughest defender he ever faced and is regarded as the only post player of that era who could stand toe-to-toe with both Wilt Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar.

Thurmond set the NBA record with 18 rebounds in one quarter, was the first NBA player to record a quadruple-double but only played in the NBA Finals once, losing to Chamberlain and the 76ers in 1967.

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and died of leukemia in 2016.

22. Dennis Rodman, Small Forward/Power Forward

Seasons: 14 (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, 1997, 1998)

Bottom line: NBA fans who got to know Dennis Rodman in the 1980s, when he first joined the league, were able to appreciate his innate toughness before his life off the court overshadowed his game.

Rodman always was willing to do that little extra to get a rebound or make a defensive play, which usually meant sacrificing his body by diving for a loose ball. The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.1 rebounds per game, which stands among the NBA’s best career marks.

From 1989 to 1998, he won five NBA titles with two different teams, the Pistons and Bulls, and averaged at least 15 rebounds per game for seven seasons in that stretch. That included a career-high 18.7 rebounds in 1991-92.

Rodman was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

21. John Stockton, Point Guard

Seasons: 18 (1985-2003)

Teams: Utah Jazz

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Opponents underestimated John Stockton’s toughness at their own peril throughout his 18 seasons, including 11 in which he was selected first-, second- or third-team All-NBA.

Stockton, the NBA career leader in assists and steals, was as durable as any player in NBA history. In his first 13 seasons, he missed just four games and only missed 22 in his career, with 17 of those coming at the start of the 1997-98 season as he recovered from an injured MCL.

Stockton’s style of play was physical and attacking. He also was routinely voted among the NBA’s dirtiest players during his career.

Toughness ran in Stockton’s family. Grandfather Hust Stockton won an NFL championship with the Frankfort Yellow Jackets in 1926.

20. Charles Barkley, Power Forward

Seasons: 16 (1984-2000)

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

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: There’s always going to be some dispute about what Charles Barkley’s actual height and weight were during his playing days, but it’s safe to say it was an inch or two below the 6-foot-6 he was listed at.

Despite being too short and overweight most of the time (by NBA standards), Barkley dominated almost the entirety of his career and is the shortest player in history to lead the league in rebounds.

While Barkley’s attitude and off-the-court antics had their detractors, one thing no one ever questioned was his toughness. His fight with future TNT co-host Shaquille O’Neal during their playing days will be watched by generations of basketball fans to come.

We’ve already watched it a half-dozen times today, in fact.

19. Xavier McDaniel, Small Forward/Power Forward

Seasons: 13 (1985-98)

Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1985-90), Phoenix Suns (1990-91), New York Knicks (1991-92), Boston Celtics (1992-95), New Jersey Nets (1996-98)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Xavier McDaniel set a baseline for what it meant to be tough when he was still playing for Wichita State University and became the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in points and rebounds in 1984-85.

McDaniel combined toughness with intimidation to a maximum degree. He shaved his head and eyebrows because he knew what a disconcerting effect the look would have on opponents.

You know who else thought McDaniel was tough? Newspaper headline writers in the 1990s. Searches on headlines surrounding McDaniel joining the Suns, Knicks, Celtics and Nets all said the teams were "adding toughness."

Old-school NBA fans might remember McDaniel’s signature move on opponents who tried him — his gigantic hands around their throats.

18. Dennis Johnson, Shooting Guard/Point Guard

Seasons: 14 (1976-90)

Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1976-80), Phoenix Suns (198-83), Boston Celtics (1983-90)

NBA titles: 3 (1979, 1984, 1986)

Bottom Line: Dennis Johnson was only 5-foot-9 when he graduated from Dominguez Hills High School in Compton, California, where he said he only played "one or two minutes," each game.

Johnson went to work as a forklift driver after he graduated, while he grew to 6-foot-3 over the next year, and was spotted during a pickup game by a junior college coach because of the intense way he played defense. That was just the break he needed.

Johnson won three NBA titles in his career, which is almost entirely associated with his time with the Boston Celtics, but that was his third team after he was run off in Seattle and Phoenix because of clashes with coaches.

Johnson died of a massive heart attack in 2007 at the age of 52 and was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

17. Anthony Mason, Small Forward/Power Forward

Seasons: 13 (1990-2003)

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: When you make it into a Beastie Boys song — "I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason" — it’s safe to say you’ve made it into some sort of rare air of sports celebrity.

Mason was known for the wild designs he would have shaved into his head, sure, but he was more known for a bruising, physical style of play that used every square inch of his 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame.

After being banished to the bench and playing just 24 games in his first two seasons, Mason proved to be incredibly durable. He played at least 80 of 82 regular-season games seven times, and only missed a handful of games in three other seasons.

Mason suffered a massive heart attack and died in 2015 at age 48.

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16. Patrick Beverley, Guard

Seasons: 10 (2013-present)

Teams: Houston Rockets (2013-17), Los Angeles Clippers (2017-21), Minnesota Timberwolves (2021-22), Los Angeles Lakers (2022-23), Chicago Bulls (2023-present)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: Patrick Beverley is truly a case study in determination. The 6-foot-1 guard played his last college season for Arkansas in 2007-08, then bounced around foreign pro leagues until 2013, when he made his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets.

How did he do it? By playing ferocious defense, first of all, and also by having what could only be described as a throwback attitude to decades past when it comes to the competition.

Beverley was a two-time NBA All-Defensive Team pick two times in his first six seasons and has become a staple of highlight-reel clips for his ability to get under the skin of opponents — none more so than 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook, although they eventually became teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022.

15. Dave Cowens, Center/Power Forward

Seasons: 12 (1970-80, 1982-83)

Teams: Boston Celtics (1970-80), Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83)

NBA titles: 2 (1974, 1976)

Bottom line: Anyone who saw Dave Cowens play back in the day can tell you this was a guy who played with reckless abandon — to the point of putting himself in danger.

Even in the 1970s, at 6-foot-9, Cowens was thought to be too small to play center in the NBA. Which threw even more fuel on his fire. Cowens won two NBA titles with the Celtics and was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1973.

He’s also one of just five players, along with LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Scottie Pippen and Giannis Antetoukompo, to lead an NBA team in all five top statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks) in the same season.

Cowens was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.

14. LeBron James, Guard/Forward

Seasons: 20 (2003-present)

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18), Miami Heat (2010-14), Los Angeles Lakers (2018-present)

NBA titles: 4 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)

Bottom line: LeBron James could be in the Top 30 NBA career games played at the end of the 2019-20 season and likely will break Robert Parrish’s career record of 1,611 games if he plays four more seasons, which he’s openly said he wants to do.

He’s also on track to break the NBA career minutes played record in that same span. Consider also that James has played in three Summer Olympics, two FIBA World Championships and, in 17 years of professional basketball, has never had a major injury.

That makes the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 15-time All-NBA pick one of the toughest and most durable players of all time.

13. Kermit Washington, Power Forward

Seasons: 10 (1973-82, 1987)

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1973-77), Boston Celtics (1977-78), San Diego Clippers (1978-79), Portland Trail Blazers (1979-82), Golden State Warriors (1987)

NBA titles: None

Bottom line: There are few tales as tragic as Kermit Washington’s in the history of the NBA. And even 40 years after one of the most infamous incidents in pro sports, his name still invokes a certain feeling of uneasiness. And that’s fair, because he almost killed Houston’s Rudy Tomjanovich with one punch during a game in December 1977.

But Washington was also tough as nails and came from one of the worst backgrounds imaginable, pulling himself up and out of a nightmare home situation to become a college star and then an NBA first-round pick.

He never got in another fight after what happened with Tomjanovich, but he’s currently doing six years in federal prison for embezzling money meant for children in Africa.

12. Rick Mahorn, Power Forward/Center

Seasons: 19 (1980-99)

Teams: Washington Bullets (1980-85), Detroit Pistons (1985-89, 1996-98), Philadelphia 76ers (1989-91, 1999), New Jersey Nets (1992-96)

NBA titles: 1 (1989)

Bottom line: What’s amazing about Rick Mahorn’s career is that, on paper, it appears to have been pretty average. But no one who ever watched the man play would classify it as such.

Mahorn’s toughness seemed to flow directly from his inability to jump very well and what he had to do to make up for that. His Pistons' teams of the late 1980s were made up of some of the toughest players in NBA history, and Mahorn was the undisputed "baddest" of the "Bad Boys."

He also was unselfish as a mentor and widely credited as having been the man who taught Dennis Rodman the ins and outs of the NBA game — and helped make him good enough that the Pistons left Mahorn unprotected in the 1989 expansion draft.

11. Kobe Bryant, Shooting Guard

Seasons: 20 (1996-2016)

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers

NBA titles: 5 (2000, 2001. 2002, 2009, 2010)

Bottom line: Aside from putting together one of the greatest careers in NBA history, the late Kobe Bryant also had perhaps the most legendary pain tolerance in the history of the game.

If you want a firsthand look at what that meant, feel free to cue up his 2015 documentary, "Muse," which chronicles his comeback from tearing his Achilles tendon. You can also point directly to Bryant’s introduction to the league, when he got the sort of welcome outside of Los Angeles that you might expect for a 13th-century leper, as other teams' stars tried to "put him in his place."

The NBA had little luck doing anything close to that over the next 20 years.

10. Wes Unseld, Center

Seasons: 13 (1968-81)

Teams: Baltimore/Washington Bullets (1968-81)

Key stats: 984 G, 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 50.9 FG%

NBA titles: 1 (1978)

Bottom line: Wes Unseld was only 6-foot-7 but dominated on the boards like few players in NBA history, thanks to being 250 pounds.

Unseld wasted little time putting the league on notice, and joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to win Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season. They’re still the only players to pull off the feat.

Unseld, known for bone-rattling picks, played for a decade before helping lead the Bullets to the NBA title in 1978, when he was named Finals MVP.

Unseld was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.

9. Maurice Lucas, Power Forward

Seasons: 12 (1976-88)

Teams: Portland TrailBlazers (1976-80, 1987-88), New Jersey Nets (1980-81), New York Knicks (1981-82), Phoenix Suns (1982-85), Los Angeles Lakers (1985-86), Seattle SuperSonics (1986-87)

NBA titles: 1 (1977)

Bottom line: When you go down the list of the greatest enforcers in NBA history, make sure you put some respect on Maurice Lucas’ name.

He helped lead the Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA title and set the tone in the NBA Finals by squaring off with Darryl Dawkins (!) in Game 2, swinging an elbow at Dawkins’ head and changing the tone of the series as the Blazers rallied for the championship.

More importantly, with the Blazers, he acted as the "touch him I’ll touch you" guy for star Bill Walton, a fellow vegetarian.

Lucas also could ball. He played the first two seasons of his career in the ABA and was a four-time All-Star in both leagues.

8. Bill Laimbeer, Center

Seasons: 14 (1980-94)

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

NBA titles: 2 (1989, 1990)

Bottom line: When it comes to Bill Laimbeer, the argument is always going to come down to whether he was a tough player or just dirty. It seems hard to be one without people thinking you’re not also the other.

Let’s quickly point out that what gets lost in all of this debate is how talented he was — a four-time All-Star who averaged almost 10 rebounds per game for his career and led the NBA in rebounding in 1986.

Laimbeer also was durable. He never played less than 79 games in his first 13 NBA seasons before abruptly retiring early in the 1993-94 season after a fight with teammate Isiah Thomas.

7. Bobby Jones, Power Forward

Seasons: 12 (1974-86)

Teams: Denver Nuggets (1974-78), Philadelphia 76ers (1978-86)

NBA titles: 1 (1983)

Bottom line: In 12 NBA seasons, Bobby Jones earned a reputation as one of the classiest players of all time. He made the All-NBA Defensive Team nine times, including eight first-team picks, and was known as a player who would never resort to "dirty" tactics.

Former 76ers general manager Pat Williams probably described Jones the best: "He gives you two hours of his blood, showers and goes home."

Jones’ toughness meant playing through a variety of debilitating health problems, including asthma, a chronic heart condition and epileptic seizures that once caused a serious injury when he fell in his kitchen.

Jones can place his name among the most admired NBA players of al -time for his class and demeanor, and he was finally elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

6. Gary Payton, Point Guard

Seasons: 17 (1990-2007)

Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1990-03), Milwaukee Bucks (2003), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04), Boston Celtics (2004-05), Miami Heat (2005-07)

NBA titles: 1 (2006)

Bottom line: Most of America’s introduction to Gary Payton came via one of the most iconic Sports Illustrated covers of all time, when he was a senior at Oregon State University in 1990.

Payton’s reputation was made by his skill as much as by his fearlessness, talking trash and backing it up to everyone. The nine-time All-Star and 1996 NBA Defensive Player of the Year credited learning the game on the streets of Oakland for creating his toughness.

A big part of that came from Payton’s father, Al, who famously had "Mr. Mean" on his customized license plates when Gary was growing up. "I am mean," said Payton's father, who died in 2015. "I taught the kid the look, the intimidation, yeah, the meanness. When I played, I liked to hurt people."

Later in his career, Payton managed to shake off his reputation for being brash and became a steady presence in the locker room.

5. Ben Wallace, Power Forward

Seasons: 16 (1996-2012)

Teams: Washington Bullets/Wizards (1996-99), Orlando Magic (1999-2000), Detroit Pistons (2000-06, 2009-12), Chicago Bulls (2006-08), Cleveland Cavaliers (2008-09)

Key stats: 1,088 G, 5.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 47.4 FG%

NBA titles: 1 (2004)

Bottom line: It’s not a coincidence that NCAA Division II Virginia Union put two players on this list because one of them, Charles Oakley, recommended the other one, Ben Wallace, to the school after seeing him at a basketball camp.

Despite going undrafted, Wallace won an NBA-record four Defensive Player of the Year awards (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and helped lead the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title and back into the finals in 2005. He’s also the only undrafted player in NBA history to be voted a starter for the All-Star game.

Wallace was named a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 but somehow wasn’t voted in, furthering the notion that the Basketball Hall of Fame is a joke and needs a complete overhaul if it wants to stay relevant.

4. Bill Russell, Center

Seasons: 13 (1956-69)

Teams: Boston Celtics

NBA titles: 11 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)

Bottom line: Bill Russell was the centerpiece of the greatest dynasty in NBA history, winning 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons.

The five-time NBA Most Valuable Player needed to define toughness to succeed in his era, with his direct counterpart none other than Wilt Chamberlain, the only other player besides Russell to grab 50 rebounds in a single game.

Russell’s mental toughness was on another level. As the first black superstar in NBA history, he had to endure racism at almost every turn but handled it with grace and aplomb.

In 2009, the NBA named its Finals MVP award after Russell. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work as a pioneer for civil rights.

3. Michael Jordan, Shooting Guard

Seasons: 14 (1984-93, 1995-98, 2001-03)

Teams: Chicago Bulls (1984-93, 1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03)

NBA titles: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)

Bottom line: Michael Jordan’s toughness was the stuff of legend, and the five-time NBA Most Valuable Player was legendarily hard on teammates. But that was nothing compared to how he treated opponents.

Jordan played in an NBA era where you had to essentially fight your way out of games, with every opponent he faced trying to physically break him. Instead, he broke them. First with his play and then with his legendary trash talk.

For the prime example of Jordan’s mentality, look to the 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 — "The Flu Game." Jordan scored 38 points despite playing with a fever and recovering from a stomach virus.

The iconic image of teammate Scottie Pippen helping him off the floor is burned into the memories of basketball fans the world over.

2. Willis Reed, Forward/Center

Seasons: 10 (1964-74)

Teams: New York Knicks

NBA titles: 2 (1970, 1973)

Bottom line: Willis Reed isn’t just one of the toughest players in NBA history. He’s also the author of one of the single greatest moments in NBA history — which revolved around his toughness.

After missing Game 6 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers with a torn thigh muscle, Reed was almost certainly a scratch for Game 7. His heroic, limping walk out of the tunnel for warm-ups, followed by scoring the first two baskets of the game (his only points) sparked the Knicks to the win and NBA title.

Famed broadcaster Howard Cosell summed up America’s feelings toward Reed in the winning locker room after the game. "You exemplify the very best that the human spirit has to offer," Cosell told Reed.

1. Charles Oakley, Power Forward/Center

Seasons: 19 (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: Possibly the greatest enforcer in NBA history, Charles Oakley was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1985 out of NCAA Division II Virginia Union.

He quickly earned a reputation for being the "protector" of young Bulls star Michael Jordan and was a ferocious rebounder and defender. He also was durable, ranking in the Top 25 in games played.

Oakley’s best seasons were with the Knicks, including two NBA All-Defensive Team selections and his lone All-Star appearance, in 1994.

Why is Oakley so beloved? Mainly because he wasn’t a bully. Oakley squared up with a who’s who of NBA tough guys and had an epic series of throwdowns with Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.

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