Chicago Bulls: 15 toughest players in franchise history
player. 24. . SF. (1999-02). Ron Artest. 3
Candidly, Metta World Peace checks in at No. 3 on our list based, in large part, due to being “the Bull I’d least want to meet in a dark alley late at night.”
Born Ronald William Artest, the Queensbridge, New York native and St. John’s University product, grew up in a tough neighborhood, famously chronicled in the music of Mobb Deep. In fact, even his ESPN’s “30 for 30” documentary is titled “Quiet Storm” which was one of Mobb Deep’s most popular songs.
Peace might have been ranked higher on this countdown, but for the fact that he only played two and a half years with the Bulls (he was traded to the Indiana Pacers during the 2001-02 NBA season). Although his time in Chicago was short, it didn’t stop him from bringing a level of toughness not many players had.
His most infamous moment came with the Pacers in 2004 in perhaps the most violent fight the NBA had ever seen. On Nov. 19, at the Palace at Auburn Hills, home of the Detroit Pistons, he became involved in a mêlée with Ben Wallace that ultimately spilled into the stands.
Artest got into an altercation with the fans and was later suspended for the rest of the season. If you have not seen the full video of “The Malice at the Palace” I commend you to take 10 minutes and check out this video.
Although it did not occur during his time with the Bulls, it came to epitomize the volatility of one of the NBA’s toughest players, who flashed some, if not the most violent part of his toughness, while playing in the Windy City.