there are A LOT of guys who have massive egos in the NBA. however, when you sit back and think about it, you have to have to have a lot of confidence (or ego) to play in the nba. if you don't believe in yourself and your abilities, no one else will. with that being said no one is in the same room as kobe bryant. that is the only man i've seen who would rather lose in a game 7 playoff game to prove a point than to WIN the game. i've never seen someone take it that far, where they just stop trying to acheive the goal at hand in such a crucial situation.
Heh, look at the graph of the poll results. If we compare the graph to a man's body, then the winner is in the correct anatomical position.
Heh, why is Shaq on there? I know he's boisterous with the media, but he isn't a egomaniac - pretty much everyone who's played with him has said he's the best teammate anyone could have.
i think it was on the budweiser hot seat that billups picked himself as the mvp. i mean it wasn't in an amazingly arrogant way or anything, but he was pretty much the only candidate to actually pick himself in an interview that i heard. he said he was the best player on the best team (or played on the best team and made them go, i forget exactly) and that's why he thought he should be mvp. of course, as someone else pointed out, he just said he felt like he won it to even be nominated and was grateful just for that, so who knows.
Why is he on the list? I will tell you why - when he went to the East the he said the East will dominate the ASG (even though he is no longer the force he once was) because of him. - created a write song saying "you (Skillz) remind me of kobe bryant trying to be high like me." - "I am the m.d.e. (most dominant ever)" - a host of nicknames glorifying himself - has repeatedely criticized teammates for not passing him the ball (even as recent as this playoff series wher he has many capable teammates). I really don't see why you cannot consider Shaq egotistical. And by the way, why does everyone consider Kobe so arrogant. I cannot think of anything that he has said to glorify himself in such high ways, like Shaq.
And what about Mike James. He is my favorite basketball player but.. "I believe I am like wine, the older I get the better I am going to get." "Even without your vote (a member of the Slam Mag), I know I am going to win it (the MVP)." "I can do anything as good as any guard in the NBA." "I believe in my heart that I am going to win the championship in two out of the next three years." "I was better than the guards he (Pat Riley of the Miami Heat) had." "People thought I was a throw-in (in the Rasheed Wallace trade). Detroit got me strategically because they thought I was a piece to win the championship." "Slam Magazine, I am tired of seeing guys in the Slam Magazine who don't deserve to be on the front page. I am tired of you all playing with me." "My goal is to be the MVP of the NBA."
Gilbert Arenas.. after what he did to get arrested.. yea thats a huge ego. I dunno if it's bigger than Kobes but wow.
I'll grant you the last point, but everything else is pretty much tongue-in-cheek (Shaq being Shaq, just like Manny being Manny). Saying outrageous things like that is part of his personality, just like it was for Charles.
Kobe wins, he just expect random teenage girls who work at hotels to give him some free tang! he rolls out by himself! at least the new york knicks go as a team to the players club.
2nd time posting in this thread....and i'll just repeat. Mike James possesses the most ridiculously gratuitous ego in the history of mankind.
The fact that he feels that he can get away with saying outrageous things like that (tongue-in-cheek or not) JUST BECAUSE he is Shaq shows his ego.
Stephon Marbury SHOULD be on this poll. I think as a general rule, when a player gives themselves a nickname then they've got a strong case for biggest ego in the NBA. examples- Kobe - The Black Mamba Shaq- Big Aristotle, MDE, Shaq Diesel, etc etc etc Stephon Marbury - Starbury However, I had to vote for Mike James of the options given because at least most of the rest of those guys have somewhat earned their egos.
for the last time, stephon DID NOT give himself that nickname. "Starbury" was given to him at a pretty young age playing on the streets of coney island.
A few years ago I would've expected Steve and Cuttino to be on the list. Steve has since been humbleized(if thats a word) after getting traded twice and Cuttino also seems a little more unpretentious nowadays. A reality check is good every now and then. Look at Kobe. He thought he was the second coming of MJ when they were up 3-1. I bet he'll be alot more modest if he makes the playoffs next year.
