Most Annoying Types of Pick-Up Basketball Players

Having played countless pick-up basketball games since my high school days, I have come across a lot of different types of players. Chances are if you frequent any gym or playground in America, you will find at least some of these player types. Here are the 10 most annoying pick-up players, in no particular order.

1. Handchecker/Rider: This player has never been taught how to play defense with his feet or maybe he is just incapable of playing good legal defense, because this guy has his hands on you all over the court. He think good defense consists of riding you any time you put the ball on the floor, illegally impeding your progress. He defends your hard off-the-ball cuts by grabbing you. If the pick-up games would be officiated by a referee, this player would be whistled for a blocking or holding foul every time down the court.

2. The Black Hole : This guy serves as a black hole for the basketball, as there is a slim chance that you will ever see the ball again for the rest of the possession if you give it to this guy. This player will either turn the ball over or chuck up a shot. He has no interest in passing the ball back to you and on the rare occassions that he is forced to try to pass to you, he will have trouble completing that pass. This guy is usually one of the least skilled guys on the court and is not to be confused with the Chucker.

3. The Profuse Sweater: After only a few possessions up and down the court this player is drenched in sweat. Anyone who comes in contact with this guy gets wet as well. This is a guy that you usually want on your team so you don't have the assignment of boxing him out or running through his extra debilitating screens.

4. Guy Who Doesn't Get Back on Defense: This guy often puts your team at a disadvantage because of his laziness, poor conditioning, or lack of toughness. He needs to understand that getting back on defense is a minimum requirement of any basketball player.

5. The Chucker: This guy has some talent, but he takes way too many shots. This guy doesn't care about ball movement; if he has an open look at a 3, he will chuck it up. The Chucker might make a few shots, but he is not a fun guy to play with.

6. Guy Who Calls Too Many Fouls: This player often drives into multiple defenders, loses the ball or misses his shot, and bails himself out by calling a foul. He will also be charging like a kamikaze on a fast break only to call a foul on the defense. The guy fails to realize that he initiated the contact and the defense did nothing but stand in his way.

7. The Arguer: The Arguer will dispute almost every close call, whether it be an out of bounds call, a foul call, or a traveling violation. This guy is particularly sensitive to the traveling and double dribbles that are called against him. He thinks that extra step is within the rules because he saw Lebron James make a similar move. The stubbornness of the Arguer is unparalleled; his opponents better get used to playing the odds and evens game to settle disputes because this guy rarely gives in.

8. The Hot Dog: The Hot Dog eschews the simple pass on a 3 on 1 fast break and instead has to showboat and use a behind-the-back pass that often leads to a turnover. This guy also loves the exotic dribble moves. You can usually spot this guy by looking for the shorts that go down close to the ankles.

9. Guy Who Messes Up the Score: This guy is always shaving points off his opponent's score and adding points to his own team's score. Sometimes this is done on purpose, but oftentimes he does this subconsciously. You can call it wishful thinking or just forgetfulness. This guy forces you to keep close tabs on what the real score is.

10. Guy Who Has No Idea What the Score Is: This guy never keeps track of the score himself so he is constantly asking what the score is and who is winning. He will continue to ask what the score is even though we just told him a few minutes ago.