Trash-talking has likely been a part of the game of basketball since it was invented and is certainly a big part of the NBA.
Regardless of the era, there have been plenty of examples of the league’s best players trash-talking their opponents in order to gain a mental advantage.
That is no different in today’s game and the Los Angeles Lakers have one of the most infamous talkers in the league in Lance Stephenson. Growing up in Brooklyn, NY, Stephenson was surely raised on the well-known street courts where trash talk is essential, and he has not let that part of his game go away despite being on the biggest stage.