Professional athletes are often seen as the most coveted and celebrated figures in their respective fields. However, when these players become too demanding or difficult to work with, they can cause a rift between themselves and their team that leads to them being traded or released from the franchise.
The shaq and kobe feud is a bitter fall out between two of the most popular athletes in history. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant had their own personal beef that was not resolved until years after it all started.
People believe that professional athletes have it easy. But the truth is that they must put in a lot of effort to maintain their physical and mental health. They must also suffer a great deal of separation from their families. In addition, intense rivalries between players and teams are a difficult reality in professional sports.
For a number of causes, these ramifications arise. Sometimes it’s simple because two athletes aren’t on the same page. It’s about money on other instances. Elite athletes are often disappointed by their teams’ inability to compete or lack of desire. As a consequence, they often request trades. So, today, we’re going to look at 30 acrimonious squabbles between clubs and players. Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report have compiled the list below.
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USA TODAY Sports is required to be credited.Brett Favre (#30)
Throughout their history, the Green Bay Packers have had some great quarterbacks. Favre was the guy in Title Town before Aaron Rodgers arrived on the scene. Fans loved the signal-caller, who was regarded as one of the greatest of his age. Following his departure from Lambeau Field, though, his relationship with the franchise deteriorated when they replaced him with Rodgers.
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The issue was that after hanging up his cleats, Favre chose to come out of retirement. This wasn’t the first time he’d done anything like this. The Packers, on the other hand, had already decided on Rodgers as their starting quarterback and informed him they were willing to move him somewhere. Favre went on to play for the Jets and carried a hatred against the Packers for the rest of his career.
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Shaquille O’Neal (#29)
Before joining the Miami Heat, O’Neal was the Lakers’ top player for nearly a decade. He was a four-time NBA Champion and former MVP who was considered one of the greatest players of his generation. Shaq, on the other hand, had a massive ego, which put him at odds with his colleague Kobe Bryant. The emergence of the ‘Black Mamba’ posed a danger to O’Neal, so he did all he could to keep him at bay.
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However, as O’Neal grew older, his time in Los Angeles came to an end. come to a close. But, unfortunately, it ended in acrimony since he had a tumultuous relationship with the franchise’s general manager at the time. His contract demands were excessive, and the club was unable to fulfill them. He was ultimately transferred to Miami, where he won his second NBA title.
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Jon Jones (nineteen)
Although the UFC isn’t officially a team, the organization does have its fighters under contract. Many MMA athletes, including former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, are affected by this. Everyone expected Francis Ngannou to face Jones when he won the heavyweight title in 2021. That is, everyone except UFC President Dana White. It was, unsurprisingly, all about the money.
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Jones wanted up to $30 million for the bout, according to several reports, including MMA Fighting’s Luke Thomas. In a nutshell, the UFC mocked him. Because the promotion showed no regard for him, the former champion requested that the promotion remove him from his contract. However, there is no way this will happen since he is still a valuable asset. This vehement conflict is still going on today.
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Yannick Ngakoue, 27
After four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ngakoue felt he’d had enough of a team that seemed to be going nowhere. They offered him a lot of money for the franchise tag, but he declined and demanded a transfer. For a time, it seemed that no one would blink. But, eventually, the Jaguars let him go, launching a wild 2020 season for the defensive end.
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In a strange year for the pass rush specialist, Ngakoue played for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Baltimore Ravens. He was content, though, to just get out of Jacksonville following a tumultuous exit. He departed as a free agent after 11 games with Baltimore, including two playoff appearances. This time, he signed a two-year contract with the Raiders in Las Vegas, ensuring him long-term security.
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Anthony Davis, age 26
Davis, a six-time NBA All-Star, outgrown the Pelicans in New Orleans. He is still their best player, but he was forced to depart after seven years. He then joined the Lakers, where he won the NBA Championship in his first season. The way in which he pushed a trade, on the other hand, did not endear him to New Orleans fans.
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In January 2019, he made his plans known and was fined. Meanwhile, the Pelicans were compelled to play him because if they didn’t, the NBA would have punished them for failing to safeguard their star player. It was an uncomfortable combination of circumstances, and they were relieved to see him go in the end. Fortunately, Zion Williamson arrived to help alleviate the pain of Davis’ departure.
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Antonio Brown (#25)
Brown had one of the great comeback stories in 2021, when he won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This, however, occurred after a lot of turmoil in his life. After a heated rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he suffered one of the worst team fallouts on this list. His friendship with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has deteriorated.
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One of their worst moments occurred during a walkthrough when Roethlisberger wanted to go over a hot read again, and Brown stormed out in disgust. As violence erupted on the practice field, ‘Big Ben’ reportedly antagonized Brown and did nothing to assist the situation. Brown stated that there was a lack of mutual respect among the Steelers, which led him to quit the team.
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Patrick Roy (number 24)
Many Montreal Canadiens supporters feel their team has yet to recover from Roy’s departure. In 1995, one of the most infamous transactions in hockey history happened. In an 11-5 loss against the Detroit Red Wings, Roy let up nine goals. He informed the team president that he would never play for the club again, disgusted. The following day, the Canadiens suspended their captain.
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Montreal traded Roy to the newly renamed Colorado Avalanche when the situation became unsustainable. He dutifully assisted them in winning their first Stanley Cup in their first season. Meanwhile, the Canadiens struggled through the muck and saw their status as an NHL superpower dwindle. Many consider this to be one of the worst transactions in hockey history, and the franchise’s impact is still being felt.
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Wes Welker (number 23)
After joining the New England Patriots from the Miami Dolphins in 2007, Welker was a huge hit. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time league leader in catches. Many others, though, thought he was just a beneficiary of Tom Brady’s remarkable efficiency rather than a gamechanger in his own right. In 2012, he went into lengthy contract talks with the Patriots.
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They, on the other hand, were uninterested in him and refused to fulfill his contract demands. Welker rejected them by joining Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos in a nasty move. His tenure in Denver, however, was not pleasant, as he endured numerous concussions and was unable to win a Super Bowl. It’s sad that the Patriots and Welker’s relationship ended so abruptly, but that’s the brutal truth of pro football.
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Antoine Griezmann (22), Antoine Griezmann (22), Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann earned a reputation as one of Europe’s best strikers while playing for Atletico Madrid. During his time at the Vincente Calderon stadium, he established himself as the team’s primary star. When Barcelona expressed interest in Griezmann, though, the player’s attention was drawn away from him. He aspired to join the Catalan giants and become a real superstar.
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It’s amazing how fast a player’s position may shift. Before this, Atleti supporters adored him, but when he declined to play for them, they turned on him with deep hatred. He also neglected to show up for preseason training in an effort to push the move through. It was a sad conclusion to his tenure with the club, given how effectively he had previously served them.
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Terrell Owens (#21)
“T.O.” was a real paradox, a fiercely gifted player who was also a terrible teammate. The wide receiver was a great athlete, but his quarterback relationships were a disaster. He hinted that Jeff Garcia was homosexual in a number of high-profile instances. Needless to say, his old Niners colleague was not impressed. Owens, on the other hand, was involved in a number of feuds.
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Meanwhile, during his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, he had a major feud with Donovan McNabb. To summarize, McNabb accused Owens of being a distraction and acting unprofessionally throughout his time in Philadelphia. He felt that the receiver was one of the major causes for the breakup of an NFC Championship-winning team. Because they haven’t forgiven one other, their connection is still strained.
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Scottie Pippen (#20)
During the Chicago Bulls’ prime, Pippen was the Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman. Pippen was a six-time NBA All-Star and the duo won six NBA Championships together. Meanwhile, on two instances, he won both the Olympics and the NBA Championship in the same year. This is a one-of-a-kind accomplishment. Pippen was an all-time great, but he wasn’t compensated as such by the Bulls.
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Jerry Krause enticed Pippen into an infamous contract in which he was severely underpaid by the organization. Pippen joined up because he was anxious for security for his family. However, as he grew older and saw lesser players earning far higher wages, he felt deep hatred against the Bulls, particularly Krause. He managed to flee as soon as he was able.
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Christian Yelich (19.)
MLB players do not have the same player power as NBA and NFL players. Even if their team agrees to trade them, they almost always wind themselves on a worse squad. Yelich’s position, on the other hand, is certainly intriguing. He was fed up with living in Miami and wanted a transfer. The Marlins didn’t want to lose one of their most promising young players, but he gave them little choice in the end.
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They made a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers and transferred him to the state of Wisconsin. It turned out to be a fantastic decision for Yelich, as he went on to enjoy the best season of his career. After a great season with the Brewers, Yelich was named the NL MVP. In addition, he became the franchise’s face. He severed connections with everyone in Florida and moved north to pursue his profession.
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Carlos Tevez (nineteen)
In the Premier League, Tevez was a tough opponent with a volatile temper. The Argentine striker was a fan favorite at Manchester United, but he left for Manchester City, their arch-rivals. The Red Devils were left with a sour taste in their mouths as a result of this. With his actions, though, he burned bridges on both sides of Manchester. His most famous incident occurred when he escaped to Argentina and refused to return unless City agreed to a move.
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Finally, the team put him on gardening leave and told him to stay away from the practice fields. Finally, they reached an agreement with Juventus, and he went to Serie A. Tevez was a dynamic and entertaining player with a fiery personality. As a consequence, he was engaged in two of the most infamous Premier League transactions in recent memory.
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Joe Montana is seventeen years old.
Montana is regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He encapsulates a lot of what makes football so wonderful. He, not Tom Brady, is the best quarterback in league history for much of a particular generation. Montana made a name for himself with the San Francisco 49ers, where he won four Super Bowls. However, due to an elbow injury, he missed two seasons and was replaced by Steve Young.
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After Montana returned, the Niners were poised to keep Young as their starter, which angered him. He refused to be a backup and requested a trade instead. San Francisco, on the other hand, was well aware of the impending public relations disaster and attempted to restore him. However, it was too late since the schism was too deep. After that, they approved a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Kahwi Leonard is 16 years old.
Leonard seemed to have found his home in San Antonio, but he had other plans. The Spurs and Leonard disagreed over the severity of Leonard’s injuries after he missed the whole 2017-18 season due to it. He also spent a considerable amount of time away from the squad while undergoing rehabilitation with his own physicians. This resulted in a heated back-and-forth between the athlete and the squad.
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Leonard eventually came to the conclusion that his position with the organization was unsustainable. They agreed to his proposal for a swap. It paid off for him when he moved north of the border and won the NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors in only one season. Then he went to the Los Angeles Clippers, where he became one of the franchise’s biggest stars with Paul George.
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Lionel Messi (15.)
Messi is a great soccer player and one of the most renowned sportsmen in sports history. He spent his whole career with Barcelona, capturing almost every trophy available in the sport. Behind the scenes, however, everything was not well, and he got involved in a violent feud with the club’s leadership. Then, in 2020, he stunned the world by requesting a move.
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Nobody knew who could pay him or whether or not he was serious, so this was a huge story. Many thought it was a power move by Messi, and he eventually remained at the club. However, six months later, Barcelona had presidential elections, which resulted in a power shift behind the scenes. Only time will tell if Messi chooses to remain in Spain or chase a new ambition.
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Josh Hamilton (#14)
There aren’t many baseball transactions on this list, but Hamilton’s departure from the Texas Rangers caused a major rift with the team. Hamilton came to the Angels after several years of personal success in Texas, including an AL MVP season. Then he made some regrettable remarks regarding the franchise’s structure and his former colleagues.
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This angered supporters who had been enjoying some schadenfreude following Hamilton’s personal problems in Anaheim. Finally, with his tail between his legs, he returned to Texas. But he repaired his connection with the club, and the supporters gave him a standing ovation. However, injuries derailed his return in Texas, and he was eventually released after three seasons.
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Demetrious Johnson (#13)
Although mixed martial arts is an independent sport, competitors participate under the supervision of promoters. Johnson is one of the best fighters in UFC (and MMA) history on paper. He never won over fans, and UFC President Dana White was ambivalent about the flyweight champion. Johnson had an amazing 11 successful title defenses and spectacular finishes, but his pay-per-view statistics were disappointing.
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Johnson eventually left the UFC for ONE Championship in the first blockbuster MMA deal ever. In exchange, the UFC got Ben Askren. Johnson was irritated by the scenario since it occurred so soon after his first tumultuous defeat, a tight decision to Henry Cejudo. He did, however, express his delight at the prospect of fighting for a promotion that embodied the real essence of martial arts.
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LeBron James (#12)
One of the most infamous events in American sports history is known as “The Decision.” Because he revealed his intention to go to Miami, it caused a rift between James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. King James wanted to win an NBA championship, but he didn’t think he’d be able to do it in Ohio. Fans, on the other hand, did not agree, and several of his jerseys were burned.
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To alleviate the fans’ sorrow, James returned with two NBA rings and won another with Cleveland. After achieving atonement, he returned to Los Angeles under less tumultuous conditions. Meanwhile, when James left, former Cavs GM Dave Griffin ripped him and claimed he disliked constructing a team around him. To summarize, he has a love-hate relationship with Cleveland.
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Virgil Van Dijk (No. 11)
Van Dijk is one of the greatest defenders in the world, and he plays a key role in Liverpool’s defense. He is regarded as a genuine professional by both fans and experts. Southampton fans, on the other hand, have a different viewpoint due to the way in which he was pushed out of the squad. Liverpool wanted to sign him, but Southampton accused them of snatching him, so negotiations were cut short.
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They came back for him six months later, and this time Van Dijk was determined to escape. He went on strike because he wanted to go, and his connection with the Southampton fans deteriorated as a result. Finally, the two sides came to a deal, and Van Dijk became the world’s most expensive defender. He never looked back after excelling for the Saints.
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DeShaun Watson (#10)
As the 2020 trade of Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins demonstrated, the Houston Texans were a disaster of a team. However, when J.J Watt departed in 2021, things became worse for them. Finally, their franchise quarterback Watson decided he was weary of Texas and wanted a new start. This occurred after the club’s greatest individual quarterback season in franchise history.
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Watson was interested in joining the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, among other clubs. Watson’s image was quickly damaged when a series of sexual assault accusations surfaced. This put his ambition of starting a business on wait since no one wanted to take a chance. However, it was a sour disaster that made no one pleased. This is one of the most poisonous conflicts in recent memory.
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Ashley Cole (nine)
Cole, perhaps England’s best ever left-back, was a revelation for Chelsea. However, it’s easy to forget that he began his career as a vital member of Arsenal’s defense. However, after signing for Chelsea in 2005, he left in a tumultuous manner. Chelsea was hit with a substantial punishment after detaining Cole in violation of the rules. In the meanwhile, Cole vented his rage in his book.
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In the book, he destroyed Arsenal, but in the process, he damaged his public image. Cole had an undeserved reputation for being greedy as a result of this, although in retrospect, his demands were not unreasonable. In exchange for losing Cole, Arsenal got William Gallas and cash, but Chelsea felt they had the superior bargain. At the time, this was a huge story and a turning point in his career.
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Dwight Howard (#8)
Howard was a fantastic player for the Orlando Magic, but towards the conclusion of his career, his relationship with the team had deteriorated. He requested a trade to the Nets after establishing a reputation for himself in Florida. The Magic, on the other hand, were not happy and refused to grant the request. When a tumultuous split, he eventually signed with the Los Angeles Lakers after Orlando admitted they couldn’t retain him.
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After leaving Orlando, Howard, an eight-time NBA All-Star, became a wanderer. He moved around from franchise to franchise, most of which lasted less than a year. He did, however, spend three seasons with the Houston Rockets, where he created a lethal duo with James Harden. However, the way in which he left Orlando left a sour taste in many fans’ mouths.
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Eric Lindros (#7)
Lindros was selected by the Quebec Nordiques in 1991, although he never played for them. But, like Eli Manning, he refused to play for the squad because he preferred to play for an English-speaking team. He reasoned that this would increase his marketability. Finally, the Philadelphia Flyers acquired the growing star in a trade, and he relocated south of the border.
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It was a sour breakup, but the Nordiques and their supporters may have gotten the final laugh. They relocated to Colorado four years later and became the Avalanche. The team went on to win two Stanley Cups in a short period of time, but Lindros never did. However, the temperamental Canadian star did win an MVP award in 1995, so there was some happiness for him.
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Jamal Adams, No. 6
Throughout the 2010s, the New York Jets were a disorganized jumble of a team. Because of their surprising performance, they were able to select a lot of extremely skilled players. However, since the franchise showed no indications of going anywhere, it was tough to retain them beyond their rookie contracts. After a falling out with GM Joe Douglas and becoming disillusioned with the project, Adams was forced to leave in 2020.
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After two seasons of playing under Adam Gase, it’s understandable that Adams was fed up with the situation. Despite the Jets’ difficulties, he was able to earn two consecutive Pro Bowl selections as a player. He finally left New York for the west coast after a violent feud. Following an outstanding season with the Seahawks, he was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.
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Diego Sanchez, No. 5
Sanchez took first place in the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2005. Due to his all-action style and quirky attitude, he became a huge fan favorite. Incredibly, he was still on the UFC roster in 2021, and was scheduled to face Donald Cerrone in May of that year. Joshua Fabia, Sanchez’s “head coach” and spiritual adviser (yeah, we’re serious), had other plans.
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Fabia is one of, if not the, most successful snake oil salesman in the sport’s history. Prior to the event, he got into an odd spat with the UFC commentary crew. As a consequence, the UFC cut Sanchez because he was deemed unable to compete due to his health. Unfortunately, Sanchez’s coach turned him down for the promotion, resulting in his humble departure. Fans of the renowned boxer had to swallow a hard pill.
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Tom Brady (No. 4)
Brady is a New England Patriot legend and the most successful player in NFL history. When he retires, there’s little question he’ll return to Foxborough to wrap out his career as a Pat. But the truth is that he left the club under a shadow when he moved to Tampa Bay. For a number of reasons, his relationship with head coach Bill Belichick deteriorated. Brady’s situation eventually grew unsustainable.
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They had a chilly, functional professional relationship, but they didn’t get along on a personal level. Brady was reportedly enraged when Belichick barred Brady’s personal trainer from flying with the squad. Meanwhile, events like DeflateGate have made it difficult for the couple to renew their romance. Brady and Belichick are consummate professionals, so they didn’t let that affect their game. They didn’t like each other, however.
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Coutinho is number three.
Coutinho, a Brazilian midfielder, was Liverpool’s best player in 2017/18. However, when he learned that Barcelona was interested in signing him, everything changed. He pushed his departure by faking an ailment, but in the process enraged his supporters. Before this, Liverpool supporters loved him, but his antics let them down. As a consequence, many of them thought of him as a mercenary who had let the club down.
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Liverpool, however, utilized the huge $160 million transfer fee to finance their new team. Then, in back-to-back seasons, they won the Champions League and the Premier League. Coutinho, on the other hand, won a lot of trophies but never able to create an impact for Barcelona. They loaned him out to Bayern Munich, where he struggled, before bringing him back to Camp Nou.
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James Harden (#2)
After an acrimonious departure from Houston, Harden made this list for the second time. Although the former Rockets great was associated with the team, it all ended in sorrow. He was the team’s most valuable player and biggest star, but it didn’t bother him. His dispute with the franchise grew acrimonious and public, but he received little compassion from fans.
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Harden demanded a trade, but it took longer than he anticipated. Finally, as part of a four-team transaction, they sent him to the Brooklyn Nets. Harden, a nine-time All-Star and former NBA MVP, is one of the league’s most consistent athletes. He also recorded a triple-double in his first game with the Nets, indicating that he has their backing. However, he is not and will not be popular in Houston.
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Aaron Rodgers, No. 1
Rodgers, a veteran of the Green Bay Packers, is unlikely to play for another team. In Wisconsin, though, the great quarterback may have underachieved. For the former MVP, the fact that he only won one Super Bowl with Green Bay is a harsh truth. Rodgers, a nine-time Pro Bowler, is one of the NFL’s most recognized and respected athletes.
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In 2021, however, he shocked the league by demanding a transfer. This happened at the NFL Draft and was one of the weekend’s most memorable events. The Denver Broncos stood up and took notice right away, as Green Bay rushed to satisfy their star player. It was and continues to be a difficult issue for the club, as well as a display of Rodgers’ player power.
The Dallas Stars Players are a professional hockey team in Dallas, Texas. They have had some bitter fallouts with their teams. Reference: dallas stars players.
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