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Some banter is expected in the NBA as players and fans come at each other on occasion. However, there are extreme cases where stars are trolled regularly on and off the court.
Some of the biggest superstars like Dennis Rodman have been on the receiving end of these trash talks more than the average NBA player. They have come under blast for various reasons, including the decision to leave a franchise, or for something as little as making a bold claim in a press conference or on social media.
Greatness often comes at a cost, as you would always be under the microscope and garner reactions for the littlest things. While it might negatively impact some NBA players, few have learned to rise above it and take it as an indication that they are doing something right.
That said, here are the five most hated players in the NBA right now.
#5 Trae Young
Ice Trae Young was a thorn in the flesh of the New York Knicks during the 2021 NBA playoffs first round. Fans at Madison Square Garden did not appreciate his demeanor in the series but the youngster relished the hate.
Young was confident in his abilities and was not afraid to show them. His shimmy against the Milwaukee Bucks was also seen as disrespectful, as it forced a reaction from the eventual NBA Finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 2021 NBA playoffs was Young's first appearance on the big scene, but he managed to piss off some of the league's biggest fan bases. With his increased confidence, it will be exciting to see how things pan out for the Atlanta Hawks' star in the 2021-22 season.
#4 James Harden
James Harden has always been hated for his ineffectiveness during the playoffs. His recent fiasco with the Houston Rockets has added to the list of reasons why he is one of the most hated players in the NBA right now.
One area that has drawn a lot of criticism is Harden's flops and the way he draws fouls. With the recent NBA rules that will be implemented at the start of the new season, we would see fewer of these calls in favor of the guard.
Harden's playoff failures continued despite joining a super team with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Although injuries played a role in his poor performance, his shooting was still nothing close to what we see in the regular season.
#3 Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook has drawn major criticism in the NBA for the way he gets his triple-doubles. Many believe he is a stat-padder as it seems like he actively seeks out these stats without paying as much attention to the game.
Joining the LA Lakers in the 2021 NBA free agency is another reason the veteran guard has faced criticism. His desire to join a super team was uncharacteristic but at least that has changed the opinions of many regarding his desire to compete for a championship.
#2 LeBron James
LeBron James has come under fire on social media for several reasons. He has been blasted for his take on societal issues, and many have questioned his GOAT status, boldly asserting that he only won championships because he was on super teams.
Regardless, it is absurd to negate James' impact in the NBA. He is the most popular and marketed superstar since the Michael Jordan era.
James does an incredible job in blocking out the noise and focusing on the game. With every slander he receives, he takes his game up a notch to silence the critics.
#1 Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is undoubtedly the most hated player in the NBA right now. He was loved in his early days as a college player and his time with the OKC Thunder. However, his decision to join the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in 2016 drew a lot of hate from fans.
It was doubly frustrating for the Thunder fans as he defected to the team that beat them in the playoffs the year before. The move remains one of the most criticized in NBA history.
Durant is known to be very active on Twitter, going back and forth with fans on topics they disagreed on. However, an area of ridicule was his creation of burner accounts.
Durant admitted to having several burner accounts that he uses to respond to haters. However, Durant was caught liking a tweet that slandered his former teammate in San Francisco, Stephen Curry.
Although he quickly unliked and apologized for liking the tweet, it is possible that such an error occurred because he forgot to log out of one of his burner accounts.
