With some of the rule changes made over the recent years, the NBA today has become a softer league. Most flagrant fouls called in today’s game would’ve been just a regular foul back in the day. Players can’t even show too much emotion or they will get a tech. The commissioner and his team decides what rules should be made, but I wonder how many of the players in the league today could survive the wars and battles of the past. Michael Jordan used to literally get assaulted by the Detroit Pistons in the 80′s and he’d still do his numbers. If Jordan played in today’s NBA rules, he would’ve been greater than he already is, and he’s already the best ever. With all of that being said, I came up with a list of my all time goon squad. This list consists of players who I believe are the toughest, dirtiest, and most thugged out players ever, and if you got into a beef on or off the court, you would want them on your side. I only limited it to a starting five and a sixth man, but there are plenty more who could’ve made the list.

PG -GARY PAYTON

Gary is known to be one of the biggest trash talkers ever, and he would trash talk anyone and everyone.  It got to the point where it messed you up mentally and got you off your game. His nickname was “The Glove” because he was on you like a glove on defense and you couldn’t get away from him.

SG – BRUCE BOWEN

Bruce presents a nice guy image off the court, but on the court, he is known as one of the dirtiest players ever. He was a great defender, making the ALL-NBA defensive team several times, but people like Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen constantly complained about his dirty tricks, basically saying that he was doing things to try and hurt them for real. Now that’s some goon shit.

SF- RON ARTEST / METTA WORLD PEACE

Probably the most recognized out of all the NBA goons, Ron Artest has done it all to earn the goonie crown if there was one. His most popular moment was when he went into the stands and actually fought a fan. He has had multiple flagrant fouls in his career and most of them looked like they were on purpose. Besides all of that, he is one of the best defensive players ever, and a lot of it has to do with how physical he can be against his opponent.

PF – CHARLES OAKLEY

If you have a drug crew and you need one of your guys to be the enforcer and do the murdering, Charles Oakley would be that guy. He is the enforcer. If you’re old enough to remember the Knicks of the early 90′s, then you know how grimy they were and Oakley was the ringleader. He was extremely loyal to his teammates and wouldn’t let anyone touch them without going through him first.