DeMarcus Cousins. Draymond Green. Russell Westbrook.

What do those three NBA players have in common?

Well, aside from the fact that those three are among the best current players in the league, all three are also no strangers to receiving technical fouls. When it comes to filling up the stat sheet in one of basketball’s ugliest categories, Cousins, Green, and Westbrook are repeat offenders. Referees must love officiating their games.

But, which NBA players throughout the league’s history can boast the statistic of having been assessed the most technical fouls? Cousins, perhaps? Green? Westbrook? Extracurricular activity on the court does seem to be their specialty. Surely, at least one of them can, right?

Nope. Not yet, anyway. The three All-Star-caliber drama setters may well be on their way, however – in due time. We’ll just have to keep tuning in.

But no, as of right now, the guys with the most technicals under their belts are not even playing in the league today. They’re all former players.

Hmmm… That’s still a pretty broad hint, isn’t it? But, it’s at least something to work with. Guesses, anyone?

Let’s try the Detroit “Bad Boys” of the ‘80s. Their indelible reputation is anything but innocuous. You’ve got Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn. Check, check. You’ve also got Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, the unquestioned leader of that rugged championship-caliber hoop squad. Another check.

Surprisingly, though, even they do not make the final cut. Sheesh! Who’d have thought that?

Hmm… Dennis Rodman? He was a D-Town Bad Boy, too, after all. Bingo!

Yes! Rodman DOES, in fact, make the final cut here. And even he is just No. 5 on the list below. Four other former players are still ahead of him. Notably, most of these guys are among the league’s all-time greats. This is a top-five list. You know the drill, NBA nerds. Scroll down to view history.

No. 5 Dennis Rodman

Technical Fouls Assessed in NBA Career: 212

*Hall of Fame

No. 4 Gary Payton

Technical Fouls Assessed in NBA Career: 250

*Hall of Fame

No. 3 Rasheed Wallace

Technical Fouls Assessed in NBA Career: 317

No. 2 Charles Barkley

Technical Fouls Assessed in NBA Career: 329

*Hall of Fame

No. 1 Karl Malone

Technical Fouls Assessed in NBA Career: 332

*Hall of Fame

Assessing technicals is an ugly but necessary part of the game; the five men above know this better than the rest. You gotta love the refs, man.