Metta World Peace made a lot of news and headlines recently by claiming he’s not a dirty player – just a very aggressive one. Because of that, here is us reminding you on who the NBA players around the league thought was the dirtiest in the NBA. The man formerly known as Ron Artest is very near the top.

Metta World Peace chose to hit James Harden with an elbow to the face in perfect timing. No, not because of the NBA playoffs, but because SI.com released results from their poll among 146 NBA players, determining who they think is the dirtiest player in the NBA.

The player formerly known as Ron Artest is not number one, surprising some, but is definitely considered to be among the dirtiest. It’s not all about nitty gritty defenders and bench players, believe it or not. Some of these guys, or one guy in particular, is one of the biggest stars in the league. An MVP candidate according to some.

Number 15 – Raja Bell, Utah Jazz

I’m pretty sure it’s because Bell averages only 23 minutes a night these days on the playoff-bound Utah Jazz that he got ranked so low.

Number 14 – Jammal Magloire, Toronto Raptors

Magloire averages more fouls (2 per game) than point (1.2 per game), doing all that 11 minutes a night. He averages 6.5 personal fouls per 36 minutes of play.

Number 13 – Shane Battier, Miami Heat

Still one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, I’m guessing Battier ranking so high is because people hate it when they he guards them. Averages 4.8 points per game this season for the Heat, with 1.6 personal fouls in 23 minutes a night.

Number 12 – Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Suddenly, maybe because Howard’s behavior seems to have put him on everyone’s target list, Howard doesn’t even get named as the best Center in the league around certain circles. Andrew Bynum?

Number 11 – Ryan Hollins, Boston Celtics

Hollins, like Magloire, is racking up some impressive personal fouls numbers, averaging 1.9 per game this season while playing 13 minutes a night. That’s around 5.3 fouls per 36 minutes of action.

Number 10 – Eduardo Najera, Charlotte Bobcats

No longer playing in the Western conference, I’m pretty sure Spurs player are quite happy about not seeing the 35 year old player. In 12 minutes a night, he still manages nearly 2 fouls per game, which is quite an achievement for someone’s who isn’t a center.

Number 9 – Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers

The flopping, the hair, the awkward style. It’s easy to see why a lot of NBA players don’t like playing the Brazilian big man.

Number 8 – Kurt Thomas, Portland Trail Blazers

At 39 years of age, Kurt Thomas has hardly missed any games this season for the Blazers, averaging nearly 15 minutes a night, with 2.3 personal fouls. Thomas isn’t very popular because of his flopping, aka ability to draw offensive fouls.

Number 7 – Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love stomping on Luis Scola hasn’t won him many fans among the league’s players, despite another fantastic season statistically in Minnesota, averaging 26 points and 13.3 rebounds per game.

Number 6 – Gerald Henderson, Charlotte Bobcats

Maybe it’s a Duke thing.

Number 5 – Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Probably the most surprising name on this list, but Paul is considered quite a cry baby by many NBA players and fans. It’s not all about inflicting pain when you’re trying to get hated. Just ask LeBron James. Being an MVP caliber player has nothing to do with love.

Number 4 – Jeff Foster, Retired

We’ll leave the poor guy alone. The really incredible thing to me about Foster is having such an unremarkable player spend his entire NBA career, almost 13 seasons, playing for one team, the Indiana Pacers.

Number 3 – Metta World Peace, Los Angeles Lakers

So many clips to choose from. Really surprised he isn’t number one in a post-Bruce Bowen NBA, although he has calmed down since joining the Lakers. Until the other night…

Number 2 – Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

Garnett completely changed his image the moment he wore Celtic green. A bad-ass, trash talking leader, who seems to be more about intimidation and bad mouthing opponents as he gets older and his abilities of actual basketball fade away.

Number 1 – Reggie Evans, Los Angeles Clippers

Evans is involved in the most embarrassing non-violent moment in recent NBA history with the worst flop of all-time.

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