All Time NBA Tough Guy List

ThatBoyNick · Post #21 » by **ThatBoyNick** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 5:16 am

Are we talking about crazy people who try to fight all the time or just physically tough players?

If the later, as a Rocket fan I would add Nene, Chuck Hayes and PJ Tucker. Those guys are so ridiculously strong, all tough-nosed players.

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Garnett looked like he was trying to back down a brick wall.

Stromile12 · Post #22 » by **Stromile12** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 5:30 am

Jakob poetl, kevin huerter

wojoaderge · Post #23 » by **wojoaderge** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 5:46 am

Larry "Mr. Mean" Smith
Ricky Sobers

HurricaneKid · Post #24 » by **HurricaneKid** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 6:03 am

DrCoach wrote:I’m talking tough as in, “ Can fight”

Kendall Gill retired and started fighting MMA professionally.

James Johnson is a blackbelt.

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Catchall · Post #25 » by **Catchall** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 6:14 am

Karl Malone once cold cocked David Robinson on a jump shot, putting Robinson in the hospital. David Robinson was called for the foul.

Karl Malone once made a clean strip of the ball on Antoine Carr, and it dislocated Carr's shoulder.

The only thing tougher than Karl Malone is Chuck Norris.

Post #26 » by **Capn'O** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 6:29 am

Rodman and Laimbeer anyone?

Danny Ainge was a scrappy punkass too.

Post #27 » by **Capn'O** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 6:32 am

Nominate:

Air Apparent · Post #28 » by **Air Apparent** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 6:34 am

jermaine o'neal and ben wallace gotta be in the conversation

Ritzo · Post #29 » by **Ritzo** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 6:35 am

Steve Nash is one tough MF.
He played with one eye, played with broken nose twice, chipped tooth and received a Karl Malone elbow to his face.

thierry · Post #30 » by **thierry** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 6:52 am

thierry · Post #31 » by **thierry** » Sat Jan 4, 2020 7:00 am

Pat Beverly
Jordan
Tony Allen
Oak
Shaq

DrCoach · Post #32 » by **DrCoach** » Sun Jan 5, 2020 12:36 am

kane0801 wrote:NO karl Malone?

Good one

DrCoach · Post #33 » by **DrCoach** » Sun Jan 5, 2020 12:39 am

Capn'O wrote:Rodman and Laimbeer anyone?

Danny Ainge was a scrappy punkass too.

Rodman was crazy but didn’t intimidate anyone

Laimbeer and Ainge were more dirty than tough IMO

Curmudgeon · Post #34 » by **Curmudgeon** » Sun Jan 5, 2020 12:54 am

Paul Silas
Charles Oakley
Jerry Sloan
Karl Malone
Wes Unseld
Rick Mahorn
Maurice Lucas

Today's young fans have no idea what "tough guy" means. Guys like Laimbeer and Ainge were phony tough, although you have to give Ainge a gold star for going after Tree Rollins.

Nowadays we have multi million-dollar entertainment properties, not tough guys.

hoosierdaddy34 · Post #35 » by **hoosierdaddy34** » Sun Jan 5, 2020 1:12 am

So if the tough guy label gets donned on those who “can fight”...doesn’t a dude who is a high level black belt, trained by Bruce Lee, and can drop a 230 pound guy with one punch...how does he not make the list?

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Norm2953 · Post #36 » by **Norm2953** » Sun Jan 5, 2020 1:16 am

Blazer fans remember Maurice Lucas but guys like Andre Miller belong on some tough guy lists.

PBinLostAngeles · Post #37 » by **PBinLostAngeles** » Wed Mar 2, 2022 6:06 pm

The protocol for making this particular list wasn't clear, or perhaps - and more likely - I didn't see it.
However, depending upon one's opinion as to what constitutes "rough" Wilt must be at or near the "toughest" based upon minutes played alone. In his 16 year NBA career, Elvin Hayes missed 9 - NINE - games, including playoffs and several 7 game championship series.
Even Rick Mahorn "played nice" when going against Buck Williams. Bill Bridges was another not-to-be-messed with guy as was John Q. Trapp.
Fun considerations, all of em....

druggas · Post #38 » by **druggas** » Wed Mar 2, 2022 6:12 pm

hoosierdaddy34 wrote:So if the tough guy label gets donned on those who “can fight”...doesn’t a dude who is a high level black belt, trained by Bruce Lee, and can drop a 230 pound guy with one punch...how does he not make the list?

Watch on YouTube

Except when Kareem sucker punched Happy Hairston and Wilt came to his rescue. Kareem wanted no part of Wilt.

Quattro · Post #39 » by **Quattro** » Wed Mar 2, 2022 6:25 pm

No Charles Barkley mentions? Guess everyone sees him as the resident comedian on TNT these days and forgets about his prime playing days.

longtallbrad · Post #40 » by **longtallbrad** » Wed Mar 2, 2022 6:27 pm

Gant wrote:others, not mentioned:

Al Attles
Bob Kauffman
Paul Silas
Lonnie Shelton
Wes Unseld
Maurice Lucas
Jim Loscotoff
Wilt

There's a lot more.

Nice. Attles would fight anyone, and was a legit hard dude. Players in the '70s were routinely and actually afraid to face Mo Lucas. And Wilt didn't mix it up much but Russell once talked about the big man laying out Clyde Lovellette with a single pop.

If we're considering ABA players then I feel obligated to mention John Brisker and Wendell Ladner.