Basketball is a game of skill, athleticism, and—if we’re being honest—a lot of complaining. From whining about foul calls to throwing teammates under the bus, the NBA has seen its fair share of players who just love to make a scene when things don’t go their way.
So, let’s count down the biggest crybabies in NBA history, ranked from mildly dramatic to full-on tantrum factory.
15. Russell Westbrook – Angry at Everyone, All the Time
Westbrook plays with relentless energy, but sometimes it feels like he’s one bad game away from fighting a reporter, a fan, or even his own coach. If he’s not clapping back at criticism, he’s throwing shade at former teammates or getting mad at questions he knows are coming.
14. Joel Embiid – Twitter Fingers & Excuse Machine
Embiid is one of the most dominant big men in the game, but when things go south? Suddenly, it’s never his fault. Whether he’s crying (literally) after a playoff loss, blaming refs, or sending cryptic tweets about teammates, he’s always got an excuse ready.
13. Luka Dončić – The Future MVP of Complaining
Luka is insanely talented, but his biggest skill might be whining to referees. If he misses a shot, there’s a 99% chance he’s staring down an official with his arms out like, “Really?” His constant complaining has become so bad that it distracts from his actual greatness.
12. Chris Paul – A Master Manipulator
CP3 is one of the greatest point guards ever, but he’s also one of the most annoying. Flopping? Check. Arguing every call? Double-check. Petty feuds and acting like he’s the victim? Oh, absolutely. CP3 has made whining an art form.
11. James Harden – “Trade Me or I’ll Quit”
James Harden has mastered the trade-me tantrum. When he doesn’t want to play somewhere, he simply stops trying, shows up out of shape, or disappears on the court. Houston, Brooklyn, Philly—same story, different jersey. If he’s not happy, he’s out.
10. Reggie Miller – The Original Whiner
Reggie Miller was elite at trash talk, but he was just as elite at complaining. From constantly crying about being fouled to never believing he committed one himself, Miller loved to play the victim. If you ever saw him throw his hands up in disbelief, you knew it was just another day in the life of Reggie.
9. Draymond Green – The Loudest Guy in the Room
Draymond is a defensive mastermind, but he’s also always arguing with refs, coaches, and opponents. Whether he’s clapping in someone’s face, ranting about respect, or crying about how the NBA is against him, Draymond never ever stops.
8. LeBron James – The GOAT of Flopping & Refs Complaints
LeBron is the greatest player of his era, but he’s also the greatest complainer. No one whines to refs more than LeBron—whether he’s actually fouled or just feels like he deserves a call. And let’s not forget the all-time on-court breakdown when a missed foul call cost the Lakers a game.
7. Dwight Howard – Clown Energy, No Accountability
Dwight should have been one of the best centers ever, but his constant whining held him back. He complained about Shaq, about teammates, about not getting enough post touches, and about the media being unfair. Dwight wanted to be taken seriously—until he didn’t.
6. DeMarcus Cousins – The King of “Why Me?”
Cousins was incredibly skilled, but his attitude? Brutal. He had constant beef with refs, coaches, teammates, and even fans. Whether he was staring down officials or racking up techs at an elite rate, Boogie never thought he was in the wrong.
5. Shaquille O’Neal – Couldn’t Handle Criticism
Shaq is a legend, but if you ever criticized him, he’d turn into a full-on crybaby. He never let go of petty beefs (see: Dwight Howard), never admitted when someone was better than him, and always played the victim. And now? He’s just as salty as an analyst.
4. Paul Pierce – “Why Doesn’t Anyone Respect Me?”
Pierce was a great player, but wow was he desperate for validation. He cried about LeBron getting too much attention, said he was better than D-Wade (LOL), and never missed a chance to remind people how “clutch” he was. Oh, and let’s not forget the time he faked an injury in the Finals just to return minutes later.
3. Patrick Beverley – The Tough Guy Who Cries the Most
Pat Bev acts like he’s the toughest guy in the NBA, but the second someone gives him his own medicine, he loses it. If he’s not shoving Chris Paul in the back, he’s begging for calls or whining about “disrespect.” You can’t be a bully and a crybaby. Pick a lane, Pat.
Read More: The 10 Best NBA Players at Drawing Fouls
2. Kevin Durant – Thin Skin Hall of Fame
KD might be a top-10 player ever, but he also has top-tier crybaby tendencies. He argues with random Twitter users, claps back at media criticism, and never takes responsibility for his own drama. If things go bad? It’s never KD’s fault.
Read More: NASCAR Meets F1: The Most Intense Racing Rivalries Ever
1. Karl Malone – The Ultimate Victim Complex
Malone was a dominant player, but he never took accountability for anything. He whined about the Pistons being too physical, cried about Michael Jordan ruining his ring chances, and acted like a victim every time someone called him out. And let’s not even get into the off-the-court stuff—Malone has zero self-awareness.
Read More: 15 Shocking Sports Trades That Tore Fanbases Apart
