Basketball, for all of its finesse, is a contact sport. While guards tend to rely on speed and fancy moves, big men need to be tough in order to rebound, fight for position, and bang around down low. That’s where aggression comes in.
Though all athletes need to manage their temper, being able to channel aggression is an extremely useful tool for many players. Not only does it raise their competitiveness and hustle, but it increases tenacity as well.
There have been quite a few athletes throughout NBA history who used raw aggression to their advantage. Such players had a rough reputation, and they more than earned it through trash talk, strong rebounding, and physical play.
1. Ron Artest (Metta World Peace)
Ron Artest is a power forward who was known for his physical defense and short temper. He locked up opposing players, grabbed plenty of rebounds, and asserted his physicality down low with hard fouls and strong moves.
Though his anger got the best of him during the “Malice at the Palace” where he went into the stands and attacked a fan, Artest usually used his anger to play better basketball. In fact, it was a big reason he won a ring with the Lakers in 2010.
2. Charles Oakley
Another strong player who used aggression to their advantage, Charles Oakley played extremely hard at all facets of the game. The Knicks forward did a great job at fighting for position under the basket, and did everything he could to out-muscle opponents for rebounds.
That tenacity gave him a fearsome reputation as an enforcer who wasn’t afraid to use his physicality to get an edge. He was one of the key players during the strong 1980’s Knick teams, acting as an anchor on both sides of the ball.
3. Ben Wallace
Like Oakley, Wallace was a powerful defensive player who’s aggressive play style and strong hustle led to great defense. The multi-faceted center wasn’t the biggest or tallest, but he made up for it with sheer strength.
Wallace sparked the “Malice at the Palace” for getting into a physical altercation with Ron Artest, and he entered many scuffles during his time in the NBA. Still, he knew how to push other big men out of the way and keep them out of the paint.
4. Charles Barkley
A power forward on the shorter side, Charles Barkley made up for his height by being one of the most aggressive basketball players of all time. He got into numerous altercations with other stars, and became known for the numerous technical fouls he racked up during his career.
He was quick to anger, quick to fight, and never backed down. That combination got him into trouble, but it also made him a strong rebounder and excellent forward. In fact, it’s one of the biggest reasons he had a hall of fame career.
5. Dennis Rodman
A championship player with both the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, Dennis Rodman is quite possibly the best rebounder of all time. He had plenty of height and size, and he combined that with a tough, physical playstyle almost no one could match.
He then backed that up with trash talk that often distracted opponents. His ability to get under players’ skin made Rodman unpopular, but he used such tactics to his advantage throughout his career.
6. Kendrick Perkins
Almost all of the top aggressive NBA players were from older eras. That is not true of Kendrick Perkins. The big man played with various teams throughout the 2000’s and 2010’s, and he earned the reputation as a physical enforcer during that time.
He racked up plenty of fouls, and got into plenty of fights. However, he never backed down either. That made him an excellent rebounder and role-player, two traits that put him above many other shorter-lived forwards.
7. Bill Laimbeer
Many physical players used aggression as a complement to their game, but not Bill Laimbeer. The center of the “Bad Boy” Pistons broke from that mold by using hard fouls and a fearsome reputation to create a defense that nobody wanted to mess with.
He was not afraid to hammer people in the lane, nor was he afraid of getting suspended. He received multiple ejections and earned tons of fines during his career. That led him to being the villain of the NBA, with nicknames like “His Heinous” and “The Prince of Darkness.”
8. Kevin Garnett
Few players were known for their trash talking ability and confrontational nature like Kevin Garnett. The big man played throughout the 2000’s, and he did his best to muscle into opponents, make them mad, and get under their skin.
That strategy perfectly complemented his physical game, and is one of the reasons he helped the Celtics win a Championship in 2008.
9. Gary Payton
Most of the top aggressive players in NBA history were big men who used their size and power to bully opponents down low. That was not the case with Gary Payton. Despite being a point guard, he still had a reputation for being incredibly aggressive.
Payton did a great job of locking up opposing players, and he often trash talked while doing so. That combination earned him the nickname “The Glove” and showed how some athletes can take aggression and turn it into solid defense time and time again.
10. Shaquille O’Neal
All big men are known for aggression in one way or another, but few of them were able to channel it like Shaq. The Lakers legend wasn’t just big, he took over games due to his raw strength, solid core, and ability to completely overpower opposing big men.
Shaq used his big size to his advantage, out-muscling other players and easily fighting for position. That power helped him lead the Lakers to three championships, the Heat to one, and gave him the reputation as one of the toughest to ever play.
Conclusion
Aggression can lead to issues on the court, but it can be beneficial as well. All of the above players knew how to use it to their advantage, creating a competitive spirit that ended with blocks, rebounds, and a lasting legacy.
It’s a tough balance, but having some aggression can go a long way. While you never want to be out of control, if you can be aggressive while staying within your game it can go a long way.
