Trash talk has always been a defining part of NBA culture. Legends like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Kobe Bryant have been pointed out for their constant trash-talking on the court. Now the new generation of NBA players is keeping the art of trash talk alive.
Recently, SportsCenter shared a compilation featuring several NBA players, including Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant, naming the league’s biggest trash-talkers and offering a mix of hilarious and honest answers.
NBA Players Name Anthony Edwards, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, and Others as Elite Trash-Talkers
The compilation quickly revealed one recurring name: Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards. Ayo Dosunmu said, “I’m going to have to give it to Anthony Edwards. He gets going.” Bam Adebayo added, “It’s out the gate. He’s talking trash.”
Even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander agreed to Edwards’ name: “Oh, Ant does talk trash, yeah.” Edwards, a four-time NBA all-star himself, then gave his perspective while also naming another well-known trash talker: “Besides me, don’t nobody really talk too much trash that, like, get buckets. So I’m going to say Draymond Green. I like, I like, I love Draymond. Draymond talks a lot of trash.”
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III echoed that sentiment and shared one memorable example. “Probably Draymond. That’s a real talent. He told Paul Pierce, like, you chasing a farewell tour, like, you’re not Kobe. That’s crazy. That’s a crazy thing to say.”
Green, known for his constant energy and communication, embraced the reputation: “My favorite trash talker in the NBA. Am I wrong if I say me?” Donte DiVincenzo piled on: “He talks nonstop.”
Zach LaVine also added Green’s name as his favorite trash talker: “He just don’t stop.” Kelly Oubre Jr. joked about Green’s fearless approach. “He doesn’t really care about half the things that come out of his mouth.”
Green later explained where that personality comes from: “I’m from Saginaw, Michigan. It’s just a very innate thing.”
Another major name mentioned throughout the compilation was Kevin Durant. Nic Claxton said, “KD, because I just heard him say some wild stuff on the court.” Wendell Carter Jr. added, “Like his trash talking is like he wants to get to your soul. He wants to make sure you really feel what he’s saying.”
Moritz Wagner shared a funny personal story. “When Kevin Durant fouled me, I had no idea it was KD. Because I’m dumb, I said, you can’t guard me to myself. And he heard it. He went in on me, dude.”
Durant himself offered a surprising pick, naming Memphis Grizzlies forward Georges Niang as his favorite trash talker. “My favorite trash talker is Georges Niang,” Durant said. “We were losing by 25 points, and just him being annoying was enough for me to really appreciate his trash talk.”
Kyle Kuzma explained why Niang stands out.
“Georges Niang, for sure, because he does it in just a funny way. He comes up with such witty stuff on the spot. And if you talk trash back to him, it’s like you really can’t because what are you going to do? Are you going to make fun of his body? What are you going to do to make fun of how slow he is? He’ll tell you how slow he is. He’ll tell you about his body.”
But Niang himself credited a veteran, Joe Ingles, known for his clever on-court humor: “My favorite trash talker in the league is Joe Ingles. He’s still in the league, right? Yeah, I’m kidding. He is.”
Jaden McDaniels hinted at how intense trash talk can get, “This stuff would be like a little like… R-rated. I can’t say it on camera, though.”
Niang added more context: “Just because he has an Australian accent, and he’s just funny. Looks like a math teacher, but can talk smack with the best of them.”
Phoenix Suns shooting guard Dillon Brooks was also mentioned repeatedly. Brooks is infamous for giving ‘King’ LeBron James a hard time on the court. He even acknowledged how easy it is to trash-talk James in his year 23. It seems other NBA players also consider him good at trash-talking.
Tim Hardaway Jr. said, “Dylan Brooks. Talks the most, I would say.” Santi Aldama added, “Probably Dylan Brooks. I learned a lot of good trash talk from him.” Ziaire Williams explained the impact of Brooks’ trash talk: “This is definitely Dylan Brooks. It really is amazing how some guys just have to talk trash just to get them going and get them juiced up.”
Brooks, meanwhile, embraced the identity: “Probably be me. I got a lot of content. I got a lot of things to say. And I know how to just push buttons. It’s all about pushing the buttons.”
From Edwards’ confidence to Green’s nonstop chatter and Durant’s sharp one-liners, the compilation highlighted how trash talk continues to shape the personality of today’s NBA. Styles differ, but the goal of trash-talking remains the same — to gain any possible competitive edge. And if this list proves anything, the league’s next generation is keeping the tradition alive, louder than ever.
