Some players just want to hoop. Others want to hoop and have the coach cater to them, the media adore them, and their teammates never look them in the eye without permission. These are the divas—the stars who needed everything to be just right or it was drama city.
From locker room tension to midseason mood swings, the NBA has always had a few players who thrived only when things were exactly how they liked them. Whether it was about minutes, money, or media narratives, these guys made sure the world knew when they weren’t happy.
20. Rajon Rondo
Rondo was brilliant when he was locked in, but getting him locked in wasn’t always easy. He clashed with coaches, questioned systems, and needed a lot of things to go his way to stay engaged.
19. Gilbert Arenas
Agent Zero had swagger, talent, and an endless flair for drama. When things didn’t go his way, he brought energy—sometimes in the form of locker room stunts nobody asked for.
18. Russell Westbrook
Few played harder than Russ, but if you tried to take the ball out of his hands or questioned his approach, good luck. He’s always needed to be the guy, whether it was helping or hurting the team.
17. Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Buckets demands excellence, which sometimes means everyone else has to fall in line—or deal with the smoke. He’s built different, but he’s also not shy about letting people know when the vibe is off.
16. Carmelo Anthony
Melo’s offensive game was smooth, but his willingness to adapt was not. For years, it was his way or bust—even if that meant team success took a back seat.
15. Ben Simmons
From refusing to shoot to ghosting the court entirely, Simmons has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He’s talented, but it seems like everything has to be on his terms.
14. Anthony Davis
AD can dominate when healthy and motivated, but that’s a big if. The guy often seems more concerned with conditions being perfect than just getting out there and hooping.
13. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie is one of the most creative players to ever touch a basketball—and also one of the most unpredictable. Whether it’s skipping games or cryptic messages, you never quite know what version you’re getting.
12. Allen Iverson
Iverson gave his heart on the court but didn’t love the structure around it. Practice? Media? Coaches? If it didn’t align with his world, he wasn’t buying in.
11. Karl-Anthony Towns
KAT is a big man with big emotions, and when he’s not vibing, it shows. He can go from dominant to disengaged faster than you can say “my team, my rules.”
10. Stephon Marbury
Marbury had immense talent and a massive ego to match. He needed the offense to run through him, and when it didn’t, chaos usually followed.
9. Chris Paul
As much as CP3 is known for his leadership, he also has a reputation for being controlling to a fault. If things weren’t just the way he wanted them, he could wear down teammates and coaches alike.
8. James Harden
Whether it was requesting trades, picking teammates, or skipping training camp, Harden has always needed to feel in charge. When he’s not, he checks out—mentally or literally.
7. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaq was a generational force but also a full-blown diva behind the scenes. He demanded touches, took shots at teammates, and needed a lot of ego management.
6. Joel Embiid
Joel wants to be the man and be loved for it, even when things don’t go well. If the Sixers lose, the postgame press conference might be more dramatic than the game itself.
5. Dennis Rodman
Rodman’s talent was undeniable, but so were the distractions. Between midseason vacations, media spectacles, and unpredictable behavior, everything had to orbit around him.
4. LeBron James
LeBron is the definition of a player-turned-CEO. From hand-picking rosters to coaching from the bench, the King has always needed the kingdom to run exactly how he envisions it.
3. Dwight Howard
Dwight’s personality was larger than life, and so were his diva tendencies. From demanding trades to clashing with stars and coaches, he made everything a production.
2. Kevin Durant
KD is elite, but he’s also extremely online and very sensitive to slights. If things aren’t perfect—from his role to how people talk about him—he doesn’t hide his displeasure.
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1. Kobe Bryant
Kobe’s intensity was legendary, but so was his need for things to go exactly his way. He demanded greatness—and if teammates or coaches didn’t deliver, he let them hear about it.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Ruthless NBA Stars of All Time
