Heels and Faces of the NBA

The NBA is full of dynamic personalities, but I thought what about attaching the idea that an NBA player could be a good guy or bad guy like the world of wrestling.  We've already had Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman step in the ring during WCW days.



Why can't some of the bigger NBA personalities create personas on the court to separate themselves as something?  The NBA is all about the players anyways, so this could create an even better product.


The way I'll break it down is to cite active "heel" players or guys who I think fit that mold of just being nasty on the court.  And I'll give you a legendary "heel" guy.  Then we'll do the faces of the NBA.  This is just something I was hearing on a podcast once, and thought it would be fun to write about.

Heels of the NBA

Kobe Bryant-  He's just an assassin on the court and really plays with that chip on his shoulder.

Lebron James-  Was a face guy before the Decision.  But getting booed in every arena is going to make you a bad guy, so I say, Embrace It Lebron!  Give us this killer instinct that I know is bottled up there.  Too bad he truly wants to be liked.

Dwayne Wade-  Via Lebron James.  I won't put Chris Bosh in with Wade and James to make them the New World Order, but Wade definitely had a chip on his shoulder last year.  He could be catty with the media too thus giving him heel status.

Ron Artest-  He got into it with a fan, does that get any more heelish?

Michael Jordan-  Legendary Heel Status.  Look at Michael and the way he played on the court.  He got calls going his way.  He worked guys against him.  He might have went out with a smile from time to time, but he truly turned it on when he was playing.

Faces of the NBA

Blake Griffin-  He did a dunk over a car, brings a fresh face to the game, looks like he's always having fun out there, and just seems like a great guy.

Dwight Howard-  Always seems to have a big smile while he's out there playing.  He's a guy who should be more aggressive and play with something to prove because he's good, but I don't if he's elite yet.  He's probably a mid carder on the verge of main event status.

Tim Duncan-  Here's a weird comparison, but to me, it makes sense that Tim Duncan is to the NBA as the Undertaker is to WWE.  Both guys go out there and give it there all each night.  Duncan is a great player, but never seems to get all the credit he deserves.  Right now I am making him my Legendary Face of the NBA.