With ESPN’s “The Last Dance” dominating the self-quarantined psyche of many sports fans worldwide, I found it hard not to get swept up in the nostalgia as an avid fan of both Scottie Pippen and the Chicago Bulls.
I know, I know: Pippen isn’t exactly the name most kids were sporting on the backs of their Bulls jerseys during the ’90s, but it was those magical, championship iterations of that legendary team that made me fall in love with the game of basketball. And with basketball on the minds of me many with The Last Dance now in our rearview mirrors, I figured why not build off the momentum of my Bloodsport article by focusing on the NBA’s baddest for this next installment of “How would they do in MMA?”
Putting my Bulls bias aside, I decided to rank some of basketball’s most notable forces in relation to how their attitudes and abilities would translate to mixed martial arts.
So, without further ado …
No. 15: Larry Johnson
Summary: One of the finest to ever come out of UNLV at 6-foot-7, Larry Johnson – all 250 pounds of him – was an undeniable force for both the Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks.
Johnson could play hard in the paint (and later the perimeter), while still making time to play toward the production side of things a la his “Grandmama” advertising campaign with Converse. More importantly, Johnson had a hard edge to his basketball game that helped him earn his way onto this list.
From the fierce loyalty he showed to current teammates (seen here in this altercation with Xavier McDaniel in the ’93 playoffs) to his ferocious attitude toward former ones (as shown in the video below), Johnson seems like he’d make for a formidable heavyweight in MMA – whether we’re talking about the early UFC days or the more modern PFL tournaments.
Larry Johnson vs. Alonzo Mourning:
No. 14: Rasheed Wallace
Summary: Perhaps it’s his longstanding records for both regular and technical fouls, but Rasheed Wallace was one of the first names to pop up in my head when assembling this list.
Although Wallace really didn’t hit my radar until his days with the Portland Trailblazers, USA Today’s “High School Player of the Year” was already landing sneaky elbows and showing all kinds of savvy in his college days during his time with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Standing at 6-foot-10 and weighing in the neighborhood of 225 pounds, it’s easy to imagine an athlete like Wallace having his choice at either heavy or light heavyweight within the MMA space. I also would have to imagine that a sport that’s a bit more friendly to trash talk and rough play wouldn’t be the worse thing in the world for a guy like Wallace, as he’d have to pull some kind of serious stunt to match his record for an 81-second ejection.
Add-in Wallace’s almost Robbie Lawler-like disregard toward media, and I suspect he still finds himself a memorable member of any organization’s roster.
No. 13: Lebron James
Summary: It almost feels like cheating when selecting any of these basketball players based mainly on their athletic ceilings, but specimens like Lebron James make themselves difficult to deny.
Not only is James considered to be one of the greatest and most versatile basketball players of all time, but the athletic phenom was also scouted and recruited by division 1 football programs like Notre Dame, as many NFL pros and pundits alike speculated that James could’ve played in the National Football League.
Weighing in at a well-distributed 250 pounds, James fills out a balanced 6-foot-9 frame that is capable of both speed and power off the line. Factor in his composure, smart decision making, as well as his ability to perform in clutch situations – and what you have is a piece of athletic potential and possibility that could make the UFC’s acquisition of Greg Hardy look like a pet project in comparison (no offense, Greg).
No. 12: Kobe Bryant
Summary: If we’re throwing Lebron on this list then you know I have to give some love to the late, great Kobe Bryant.
NBA accolades and recent tragedies aside, Bryant deserves to be on here for a lot more reasons than his athletic abilities. Though his 6-foot-6 frame would’ve allowed him to comfortably make the 205-pound limit at light heavyweight, it’s Bryant’s mentality that sticks out to me more than his physicality.
Sure, he wasn’t always a model of composure (as seen here in this scuffle with Reggie Miller), nor did he win every fight he took part in (Chris Childs lands a two-piece combo on Kobe). But Bryant – who was not one to let adversity deter him – knew how to play off emotions, as he wasn’t afraid to hit players back with everything from goading trash talk to sneaky shots to the throat that drew controversial calls.
After all, as we’ve seen in combat sports, the ability to talk trash or play dirty isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That said, Bryant, like many who have played for the Lakers, also had a reverence for martial arts (apparently studying Jeet Kune Do), which makes me further suspect that he could’ve translated his competitive drive toward MMA if he wanted to.
“It seems Bruce Lee has nothing to do with basketball. To me it has everything to do with basketball. There are a lot of similarities.” – Kobe Bryant
No. 11: Metta Sandiford-Artest
Summary: Though you could argue that Metta Sandiford-Artest (originally Ron Artest) is amongst those who might be too volatile of a character to even be on this list, I had a hard time ignoring what are familiar flags in regards to profiling a potential fighter.
From his eccentric and brash behavior to his love for boxing (given his upbringing and father’s Golden Gloves background), it isn’t too hard to see Artest fitting into combat sports circles. Sure, his involvement in “The Malice at the Palace” wasn’t something that should be celebrated, but that kind of behavior isn’t exactly as costly to your reputation or pocketbook within the MMA space.
Sporting a 6-foot-7 frame within the range of 260 pounds, who knows what this athlete would’ve done if he had followed in his father’s footsteps and attempted to use his violent sensibilities to make opportunities rather than minimize them.
Ron Artest’s greatest fights, cheap shots and moments:
No. 10: Shaquille O’Neal
Summary: Those who know me know I have no love lost when it comes to Shaquille O’Neal.
Nevertheless, despite my thoughts on O’Neal as both a person and a player, you cannot deny that the man has a place on this list.
Not only has “Shaq” shown interest in martial arts through avenues like reality TV or video games (yes, I’m referring to “Shaq Fu”), but he’s also firmly amid Dana White’s Rolodex of celebrity supporters in regards to his visual and vocal presence in MMA.
Although I couldn’t find any official Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranks under O’Neil’s proverbial belt, the NBA superstar – who has experience training in mixed martial arts – used to “spar naked” with teammates. According to former coach Alvin Gentry, a stark naked O’Neil would ambush unsuspecting players and coaches alike in the locker room after practices.
However, fun and games aside, even O’Neal admits that the “WWE world” is more appealing, as it seems that the big man would’ve only been interested in annual appearances within the fight world. If that’s that case, then I say send O’Neal to RIZIN for their New Year’s Eve shows since super heavyweight is the only weight class he qualifies for anyways.
So long as O’Neil’s striking has improved since the missed sucker punch he threw at Brad Miller, then he should be able to make a decent account of himself.
Shaquille O’Neal vs. Forrest Griffin:
No. 9: Larry Bird
“You put all of us in a room—you know, Magic, Jordan, myself and Bird, Bird probably be the guy who walks out at the end of the day.” – Isiah Thomas
Summary: I know that many of you may be familiar with the guy in the photo above, yet are still probably wondering, “how in the heck does this farmboy make it so high on the list?”
Well, for those who don’t remember, Larry Bird didn’t only play and beat the best players across multiple generations – but he also fought many of them, too.
One of the most stinging trash talkers in the sport’s history, Bird stoked the competitive fires of both himself and his contemporaries like it was second nature, as he was not one to stand down when it came to physical confrontations or all-out fisticuffs.
Bird was never the most athletic or imposing character on the court, but his borderline-ambidextrous nature and tenacity lent itself to both slick shots on the highlight reels and sneaky hooks inside of scuffles.
Most notably, Bird got into fights with rivals like Julius Irving and his crew of 76ers, as well as a memorable little exchange with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar back in ’84. The legendary Boston Celtic also displayed some solid takedown defense and strikes off the break when the Utah Jazz’s Allan Bristow came at him; and who could forget that brief ground-and-pound action he got in on Bill Laimbeer in Detroit?
Top 5 Larry Bird fights:
No. 8: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Summary: Perhaps it’s my martial artist bias that brings about this placement, but there was no way that I’m doing this list and not talking about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Initially hitting the basketball scene as Lew Alcindor, Abdul-Jabbar was more than a great ballplayer who briefly shared the screen with Bruce Lee.
Bruce Lee vs. Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Game of Death):
Studying Aikido during his formative years in New York, Abdul-Jabbar wanted to continue his martial arts training when it came time to head to UCLA for college. It was there in California where the future two-time NBA scoring champion crossed paths with the legendary Lee, whom he studied under from 1967-1971.
Although Abdul-Jabbar the first to practice Jeet Kune Do under the Lakers banner, he wasn’t beyond landing the occasional slick elbow en route to establishing dominance in the low-post. And as an avid yoga practitioner, the big man was able to breathe properly and keep pace with lighter and more youthful players.
Despite the fact that flexibility and breathing would assist Abdul-Jabbar in bad spots on paper, I’m still not sure how he’d fare as a fighter overall. That said, it’s hard to deny that the Hall of Famer doesn’t check the boxes of a true martial artist.
“I dedicated myself to preparation by maintaining complete focus during basketball practice and my training with Bruce. As a result, I became stronger, faster and a much more intense player.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
No. 7: Charles Barkley
Summary: Similar to Shaq, Charles Barkley is someone else I consider a controversial character – but one whose place I can’t deny on this list.
Given the fact that he started out as a shorter and chubbier player, Barkley inherently became an overachiever during his rise up the ranks. Lacking the work ethic in the training room but bringing an almost-unrivaled intensity on the courts, you could say that Barkley was akin to Quentin Jackson in regards to his outspoken attitude and dietary discipline (albeit Jackson actually won a championship).
Nevertheless, a young Barkley – who started off his NBA career being mentored by Moses Malone (another man who could’ve easily made this list) – displayed the vigor as a 76er that would make him a great basketball player and formidable fighter. Whether he was helping Malone hold Larry Bird so that Julius Irving could land hard punches or launching left hooks of his own toward Bill Laimbeer, Barkley could’ve hypothetically made noise in any organization’s heavyweight division.
Charles Barkley vs. Bill Laimbeer:
No. 6: D.J. Mbenga
Summary: Between D.J. Mbenga’s physical build and his black belt in judo, you could easily argue for this specimen to be placed higher on the list.
Coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (where his father essentially had to sacrifice himself in order to negotiate for his imprisoned family’s freedom), Mbenga had an adversity-filled upbringing that makes many coming of age stories look like hiccups in comparison.
Using both martial arts and sports to overcome the odds, Mbenga went from playing basketball in his newfound home of Belgium to making his way to a two-time NBA championship Laker team within a 10-year span.
Although some still suggest that his overall NBA career was an underwhelming one considering the standards set, you can’t help but wonder – at an undeniably athletic 7-foot frame that sits just under the heavyweight limit – if Mbenga was, in fact, in the wrong sport after all.
D.J. Mbenga and the art of judo:
No. 5: Dennis Rodman
Summary: There may be an undeniable soft side to this bad boy, but his weirdness and vulnerability are important factors the help comprise the other attributes that earn him a top-five slot.
There may be more sheer physical forces on and off of this list, but few can even come close to checking off the boxes of pageantry and showmanship. From his grand entrances on motorcycles, rogue appearances on professional wrestling shows and random relationships with high-level celebrities, it’s not hard to see Rodman reluctantly falling into the role of providing fuel for both fight promoters and the media sphere alike.
More importantly than the rockstar part of the equation, Rodman also fits the physical and mental part of the bill. Much smarter than he looked, Rodman was savant-like in the way he studied his opposition and the game itself, something that would likely come in handy as a fighter.
Rodman could play like an animal as he put on a show, all the while cleverly goading players into coming at him. Whether he had Shaquille O’Neal charging him or Anthony Mason choking him, Rodman knew how to keep his composure and play toward the officials at all times (which is another skill that would likely serve him well in fighting).
Add-in Rodman’s athletic hustle and inherent need to please, and I believe you have the sum of a lot of parts for a successful mixed martial artist.
Dennis Rodman cheap shots and plays:
No. 4: Dikembe Mutombo
Summary: In keeping with the unspoken theme of defensive phenoms on this list, I present you with Dikembe Mutombo.
Standing at 7-foot-2 and weighing in at roughly 260 pounds, Mutombo’s elbows have recorded upwards of 25 injuries that include the likes of Michael Jordan, Robert Parish, Yao Ming, Chauncey Billups, Chris Childs and Patrick Ewing.
Need I say more?
No. 3: Charles Oakley
Summary: Initially starting out as an enforcer for the 1980s Chicago Bulls, Charles Oakley was a key protector for a young “Air” Jordan inside of the paint and helped harden supporting cast members like Scottie Pippen before later mentoring other defensive standouts like Ben Wallace down the road.
Charles Oakley punks rookie Scottie Pippen:
Talk about a natural fighter – just look at the way Oakley grips the lapel on Pippen’s polo in order to gain some solid leverage and land his version of Stockton slaps. I mean, could you imagine unleashing a prime Oakley into the early days of MMA to grab onto gi collars in similar ways?
Oakley wasn’t just about brute power in close either, as he also seemed to cleverly enter space in scuffles by sneakily utilizing hand-fighting variations. Akin to a Daniel Cormier or Tony Ferguson, Oakley will almost-blatantly extend his arms out in order to bait opposition into exchanging with him on his terms.
Heck, even the “elder statesman version” of Oakley terrifies me, as the former New York Knick still finds himself amid altercations in The Garden as recently as 2017. Regardless if you were a fan of his or not, it’s hard to deny Oakley a high spot on this list.
Charles Oakley fight compilation:
No. 2: Bill Laimbeer
“You’d take, like, Ricky Mahorn — he’d hit ya’ and all that, but he’d hit ya’ and you knew you were gonna get hit. But he didn’t try to maim ya’. Bill would try to hurt you, though.” – Larry Bird on Bill Laimbeer
Summary: The biggest and baddest Detroit Piston of the 1980s “Bad Boys,” Bill Laimbeer deserves to be high on this list.
A borderline sociopath in the way in which he unabashedly stirred up both fights and psychological distress during gameplay, Laimbeer was at the core of the NBA’s most physical force in what was ultimately the sport’s most physical era.
Credited as being one of the dirtiest players in league history, Laimbeer didn’t hesitate when it came to throwing elbows, raking his opposition’s eyes or taking the feet right out from a fellow basketball player mid-air (I mean, the guy had a video game called “Bill Laimbeer’s Combat Basketball” for crying out loud!).
What made Laimbeer even more fierce was the fact that he could seemingly take it just as well as he dished it out. Even when the legendary Celtics center Robert Parish knocked him down with a hellacious hammer fist, Laimbeer seemed to slowly nod to himself as he steadily shook off the haze, almost as if to say, “Hey. Not bad.”
Bill Laimbeer hits Alonzo Mourning in the throat and flips off crowd:
No. 1: Willis Reed
Summary: A two-time NBA champion and a member of the legendary 1970s Knickerbockers, Willis Reed steals a number one spot that could’ve gone multiple ways.
Despite not having any formal martial arts training, Reed practically embodied the old adage of “speak softly and carry a big stick,” as he had no issues laying down the law to both teammates and opposition alike.
Willis Reed fights the entire Lakers team (1966):
As you can see in the video clip above, the gentle giant that is Reed was a one-man wrecking crew that was just waiting to be unleashed. And though that moment alone is enough the secure the top slot, it was Reed’s Georges St-Pierre-like championship moment that solidified things for me.
In Game 5 of the 1970 NBA Finals, Reed – who was the team captain, scoring leader and league MVP – tore his adductor muscle during the game and was thought to be out for good. The series came down to a Game 7, where Reed made a dramatic, last-minute appearance at Madison Square Garden that helped inspire his team to rally to their first championship.
Marv Albert hailed that crowd reaction to be loudest in his memory, as he would later call Reed the most competitive player prior to Michael Jordan.
Willis Reed answers the call in game 7 of the NBA Finals (1970):
