[Arc12345Participant]

With his retirement just announced, what do you guys think?

I think he has to be one of 10 greatest players of all time and probably the 2nd best SG of all time. I still remember watching him score 81 and being in awe (it’s the true scoring record, since when Wilt scored 100 there was no 3 second rule). 

So where does he rank for you guys? If he’s in your top 10, I’d like to see everyone’s top 10 list. Mine:

1. Jordan

2. Oscar

3. Magic

4. Bird

5. Kareem

6. Duncan

7. Kobe

8. Russell 

9. Olajuwon 

10. Lebron

I’m sorry Shaq and Wilt, but you have to make free throws to be in my top 10. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ScarTissue98Participant]

 I don’t know how old you are but Kobe is just not in the All Time top 10 & I LUV Kobe – Luv him… he’s an All Time great & deserves Every bit of respect he gets… But Kobe is 7 years younger than Shaq… They were Not a duo…. Those were Shaq’s teams & his 3peat w/ 3 Finals MVP’s are considered Every bit as dominant as Jordan’s…… Kobe was Not in his prime on those teams – he was a young all-star… but no where near the stud he grew into….. Want proof – check out the 4th qtr & OT of game 7 At Sacramento w/ the 3peat on the line in the Western Conf Finals…. Phil goes to Shaq EVERY play…. Kobe not only does not score – he never even touches the ball… He just wasn’t ready yet….. But he had his time to shine in the following years….

[ScarTissue98Participant]

 I don’t know how old you are but Kobe is just not in the All Time top 10 & I LUV Kobe – Luv him… he’s an All Time great & deserves Every bit of respect he gets… But Kobe is 7 years younger than Shaq… They were Not a duo…. Those were Shaq’s teams & his 3peat w/ 3 Finals MVP’s are considered Every bit as dominant as Jordan’s…… Kobe was Not in his prime on those teams – he was a young all-star… but no where near the stud he grew into….. Want proof – check out the 4th qtr & OT of game 7 At Sacramento w/ the 3peat on the line in the Western Conf Finals…. Phil goes to Shaq EVERY play…. Kobe not only does not score – he never even touches the ball… He just wasn’t ready yet….. But he had his time to shine in the following years….

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 Scar tissue RU CRAZEe??!!! No way Shaq wins those rings without Kobe and visa versa!!!! 

[dazeoneParticipant]

 You can put any good player in that era that doesn’t have a ring with Shaq and they would all have rings.He was lucky to have Shaq and be on the Lakers…they stole Paul Gasol…Just to name a few AI, Tracey McGrady,Vincent Carter,and Reggio Miller are just a few players that would have benefited from Shaq…. 

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 Miller or carter?? Hahahahahaha !!!! must be Kobe haters!!  

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 Miller or carter?? Hahahahahaha !!!! must be Kobe haters!!  

[dazeoneParticipant]

 You can put any good player in that era that doesn’t have a ring with Shaq and they would all have rings.He was lucky to have Shaq and be on the Lakers…they stole Paul Gasol…Just to name a few AI, Tracey McGrady,Vincent Carter,and Reggio Miller are just a few players that would have benefited from Shaq…. 

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 Scar tissue RU CRAZEe??!!! No way Shaq wins those rings without Kobe and visa versa!!!! 

[circumlocution75Participant]

The NBA is 68 years old….. & in each era there are 1 or 2 or maybe 3 players that transcend the game….. Kobe was Without question one of those rarest of players….. For the people in here who are under 30 years old…… What people may not realize is that Jordan was So huge that people actually feared that the NBA might falter w/o Jordan….. It’s sounds crazy now, but trust me back then it was a very real fear….. Shaq & Iverson & Kobe filled that void from about 1998 thru 2004….. 

But when Kobe & Shaq split…. & I know the Lakers struggled for a few years between 2005 – 2007….. but Kobe became even Bigger after 2004…… He was a global phenomenon…… No star is perfect, but make no mistake Kobe was as big a deal as any star ever was or will be…… Sometimes we get caught up in debating who is the G.O.A.T. ……. & each person has their preferences but there is no question that Kobe was among the very greatest of all time…….

 

[circumlocution75Participant]

The NBA is 68 years old….. & in each era there are 1 or 2 or maybe 3 players that transcend the game….. Kobe was Without question one of those rarest of players….. For the people in here who are under 30 years old…… What people may not realize is that Jordan was So huge that people actually feared that the NBA might falter w/o Jordan….. It’s sounds crazy now, but trust me back then it was a very real fear….. Shaq & Iverson & Kobe filled that void from about 1998 thru 2004….. 

But when Kobe & Shaq split…. & I know the Lakers struggled for a few years between 2005 – 2007….. but Kobe became even Bigger after 2004…… He was a global phenomenon…… No star is perfect, but make no mistake Kobe was as big a deal as any star ever was or will be…… Sometimes we get caught up in debating who is the G.O.A.T. ……. & each person has their preferences but there is no question that Kobe was among the very greatest of all time…….

 

[ScarTissue98Participant]

 & So did I – I was Not bashing him… All I said was I don’t put him ahead of Shaq……

1. Jordan

 2. Magic

 3. Bird  

 4. Kareem  

 5. Wilt  

 6. Shaq  

 7. Duncan  

 8. Russell  

 9. Dr. J  

 10. Oscar  

 11. Lebron  

 12. Kobe  

 13. Isaiah Thomas  

 14. Hakeem the Dream  

 15. Moses Malone

 

A Lot of people separate Centers in their All Time Goat debate….

W/ Centers seperate:

1. Jordan

2. Magic

3. Bird

4. Dr. J

5. Oscar

6. Lebron

7. Kobe

8. Isaiah Thomas

9. Sir Charles

10. Allen Iverson

Honorable Mention (No Particular Order): Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Joe Dumars, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Carmelo, Kevin Garnette, Penny Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson (Grandmama), Gary Payton, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, Chris Webber, Dominique Wilkins, Kevin McHale, Bernard king, Adrien Dantley, David Thompson, Bill Walton, Bob McAdoo, Tiny Archibald, Calvin Murphy, Bob Lanier, Pistol Pete Maravich, Dave Cowens, Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, John Stockton, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Walt Frazier, Rick Barry, Gail Goodrich, Willis Reed, Walt Bellamy, Nate Thurmond, Dave Bing, Chet Walker, Tommi Hiensohn, Bob Pettit, Paul Arizin, Bob Cousey, Dolph Schayes…..

**** I know there are some Centers in this Honorable Mention Category…. But the players were just TOO good not to mention them… & I felt like if we have any old timers on the site they would enjor reading some of these names… I know it gave me incredible nostalgia…… Hope you guys enjoy the list & the list is IMHO & nothing more…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ScarTissue98Participant]

 & So did I – I was Not bashing him… All I said was I don’t put him ahead of Shaq……

1. Jordan

 2. Magic

 3. Bird  

 4. Kareem  

 5. Wilt  

 6. Shaq  

 7. Duncan  

 8. Russell  

 9. Dr. J  

 10. Oscar  

 11. Lebron  

 12. Kobe  

 13. Isaiah Thomas  

 14. Hakeem the Dream  

 15. Moses Malone

 

A Lot of people separate Centers in their All Time Goat debate….

W/ Centers seperate:

1. Jordan

2. Magic

3. Bird

4. Dr. J

5. Oscar

6. Lebron

7. Kobe

8. Isaiah Thomas

9. Sir Charles

10. Allen Iverson

Honorable Mention (No Particular Order): Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Joe Dumars, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Carmelo, Kevin Garnette, Penny Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson (Grandmama), Gary Payton, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, Chris Webber, Dominique Wilkins, Kevin McHale, Bernard king, Adrien Dantley, David Thompson, Bill Walton, Bob McAdoo, Tiny Archibald, Calvin Murphy, Bob Lanier, Pistol Pete Maravich, Dave Cowens, Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, John Stockton, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Walt Frazier, Rick Barry, Gail Goodrich, Willis Reed, Walt Bellamy, Nate Thurmond, Dave Bing, Chet Walker, Tommi Hiensohn, Bob Pettit, Paul Arizin, Bob Cousey, Dolph Schayes…..

**** I know there are some Centers in this Honorable Mention Category…. But the players were just TOO good not to mention them… & I felt like if we have any old timers on the site they would enjor reading some of these names… I know it gave me incredible nostalgia…… Hope you guys enjoy the list & the list is IMHO & nothing more…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 People’s opinions are going to be puffed up for him right now.  Once emotions balance out,

I think he will be considered in the top 25.

 

 

 

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 People’s opinions are going to be puffed up for him right now.  Once emotions balance out,

I think he will be considered in the top 25.

 

 

 

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

I really hope you’re joking. I guess there is such a thing as a wrong opinion

[SubZeroParticipant]

I really hope you’re joking. I guess there is such a thing as a wrong opinion

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

best since MJ, who cares where he stands, its all an opinion and everyone has one.

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

best since MJ, who cares where he stands, its all an opinion and everyone has one.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 He’s most definitely in the top 10. He’s hands down the best individual offensive player of all time. In his prime he literally had no weaknesses on the offensive end of the floor, and put up mind blowing numbers while both playing with Shaq AND playing in a non-traditional offense [The Triangle]. If he had played in a more traditional offense with iso’s, pick and rolls, etc… He would’ve averaged 40+ a game for several seasons, and I’m being dead serious. I’ve played ball with more current and ex-NBA players than I can count, and literally EVERY SINGLE ONE has said that Kobe’s the best player they’ve ever played against, including Jordan and Lebron. He’s what I call the NBA’s first ever "black sheep" superstar. He’s never gotten the public respect or admiration that he deserves. Maybe it’s ’cause he’s an a$$hole, maybe it’s ’cause he’s a Laker, maybe ’cause he’s just that good, I don’t know. But, I can tell you this: When he’s gone, there will NEVER be another Kobe Bryant.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 He’s most definitely in the top 10. He’s hands down the best individual offensive player of all time. In his prime he literally had no weaknesses on the offensive end of the floor, and put up mind blowing numbers while both playing with Shaq AND playing in a non-traditional offense [The Triangle]. If he had played in a more traditional offense with iso’s, pick and rolls, etc… He would’ve averaged 40+ a game for several seasons, and I’m being dead serious. I’ve played ball with more current and ex-NBA players than I can count, and literally EVERY SINGLE ONE has said that Kobe’s the best player they’ve ever played against, including Jordan and Lebron. He’s what I call the NBA’s first ever "black sheep" superstar. He’s never gotten the public respect or admiration that he deserves. Maybe it’s ’cause he’s an a$$hole, maybe it’s ’cause he’s a Laker, maybe ’cause he’s just that good, I don’t know. But, I can tell you this: When he’s gone, there will NEVER be another Kobe Bryant.

[NBADNABYLM]

1. Kareem

 2. Jordan 

3. Magic 

4. Kobe

5. Russell

6. Bird

7. Wilt 

8. Shaq

9. Duncan 

10. West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NBADNABYLM]

1. Kareem

 2. Jordan 

3. Magic 

4. Kobe

5. Russell

6. Bird

7. Wilt 

8. Shaq

9. Duncan 

10. West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Im not into making lists or comparing players from 50 years ago to today but when you take Kobes overall resume into account you would be hard-pressed to find 10 players with more impressive ones. 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Im not into making lists or comparing players from 50 years ago to today but when you take Kobes overall resume into account you would be hard-pressed to find 10 players with more impressive ones. 

[canadabasketballisrisingParticipant]

 1. Jordan

2. Magic

3. Bird

4. Kareem

5. Kobe

6. Oscar

7. Wilt

8. Russell

9. Duncan

10. Lebron

-Shaq.. (top 15). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[canadabasketballisrisingParticipant]

 1. Jordan

2. Magic

3. Bird

4. Kareem

5. Kobe

6. Oscar

7. Wilt

8. Russell

9. Duncan

10. Lebron

-Shaq.. (top 15). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Gold Chain]

 1. Kobe

2. Harden

3 Jordan

4 Iverson

5 Lou Williams

6 Magic

7 Tupac

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BubbaChuckParticipant]

At first I downvoted this. Then looked at at for a few more moments, and upvoted it (:

(forgiveness Tupac)

[BubbaChuckParticipant]

At first I downvoted this. Then looked at at for a few more moments, and upvoted it (:

(forgiveness Tupac)

[Gold Chain]

 1. Kobe

2. Harden

3 Jordan

4 Iverson

5 Lou Williams

6 Magic

7 Tupac

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NJHooper95Participant]

Its difficult and disrespectful in a sense when ranking all-time players. I think in order to be fair and respectful you have to judge players by how they played In their era, against their peers and with the rules at that time.  With that being said Kobe is the best perimeter player of his generation and top 3 of his era with Duncan and Shaq in that convo. 

All-time is very difficult because too often we slight the players of the past like Cousy, Russell, Chamberlin, and the big O, but those guys dominated their and era and their peers. It’s unfair to compare the players of today to way back then, the game has evolved and humans have evolved physically, medicine and technology has evolved, so guys today are much different than back on the Cousy era.

 

 

[NJHooper95Participant]

Its difficult and disrespectful in a sense when ranking all-time players. I think in order to be fair and respectful you have to judge players by how they played In their era, against their peers and with the rules at that time.  With that being said Kobe is the best perimeter player of his generation and top 3 of his era with Duncan and Shaq in that convo. 

All-time is very difficult because too often we slight the players of the past like Cousy, Russell, Chamberlin, and the big O, but those guys dominated their and era and their peers. It’s unfair to compare the players of today to way back then, the game has evolved and humans have evolved physically, medicine and technology has evolved, so guys today are much different than back on the Cousy era.

 

 

[trelos6Participant]

1. Jordan

2. Lebron (assuming he plays another 3/4 yrs at a slowly declining level)

3. Bird

4. Kareem

5. Magic

6. Duncan

7. Shaq

8. Kobe

9. Wilt

10. Russell

11. Hakeem

12. West

13. Oscar

14. Dr. J

15. Dirk (assuming 1 or 2 more years) 

 

[trelos6Participant]

1. Jordan

2. Lebron (assuming he plays another 3/4 yrs at a slowly declining level)

3. Bird

4. Kareem

5. Magic

6. Duncan

7. Shaq

8. Kobe

9. Wilt

10. Russell

11. Hakeem

12. West

13. Oscar

14. Dr. J

15. Dirk (assuming 1 or 2 more years) 

 

[NJHooper95Participant]

I like that list with the exception of Lebron number 2.  If he doesn’t win another title or two it will be hard for him to put him ahead of Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Magic ,or Kareem.

[trelos6Participant]

LBJ is 30 yrs old, and already has accomplished so much.  

He’ll likely keep putting up a few more 25/7/7 on over 50% shooting carrying his team to more 55 win seasons.

If he does that, he’ll be in the running for MVP every year and also likley the ECF and a chance to win the ‘chip.

 

 

 

  

[trelos6Participant]

LBJ is 30 yrs old, and already has accomplished so much.  

He’ll likely keep putting up a few more 25/7/7 on over 50% shooting carrying his team to more 55 win seasons.

If he does that, he’ll be in the running for MVP every year and also likley the ECF and a chance to win the ‘chip.

 

 

 

  

[NJHooper95Participant]

I like that list with the exception of Lebron number 2.  If he doesn’t win another title or two it will be hard for him to put him ahead of Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Magic ,or Kareem.

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 I have said this on many posts and Im not just saying this today, Kobe Bean Bryant is the greatest player of all time. Dont let the stats fool you and dont let the lack of awards fool you either. Look up the total ppg stats and possessions of the 80s and 90s, for the most part, it would be rare to see a team able to hold another team under 100 ppg and the game was played at a most faster pace in comparison of today. Also, the FG% overall was much higher. More possesions, more stats.

 At the end of the day, the name of the game is to WIN, and Kobe did it better than nobody else. Here are my reasons.

1. The three peat Lakers. Yes Shaq at the moment, was the best player on the planet, but as much you want to take away the fact that Kobe wasnt "the man" you have to Kobe credit for accepting his role and do whatever it took to not just WIN, but dominate. The last two rings, no team took the Lakers more than 5 games, except the Kings. This team IMO was the greatest team of all time despite outside of Shaq and Kobe, it was really no one else that did nothing but hit 3s, hustle and defend. Kobe plently of times was the mvp of a west conf series, but sadly they dont give awards for that but lets not be foolish, during those 3peat series, the real finals was played before they matched up with an east team. We have seen plenty of times when alpha dogs cant play with each other. Iverson and Melo are an example, those late 90s Rockets had Drexler, Barkley, and Olajuwon couldnt get it done, those Heat teams with Bosh, Lebron, and Wade did win but did barely scrap by in winning their rings. Kobe sacrificed for the good of the team to make an all-time great. 

2. It was time for him to show everyone he could be the man and he showed up. It was Shaq’s fault, if he wasnt going around saying Kobe was nothing without him, Kobe would have tried to make it work for them. Kobe is one of the most competitive players ever, I wouldnt want anything less from my franchise player if someone challenged him like that. Anyways Kobe got his own team and he responded by taking the challenge of having one of the worst supporting cast of all-time starring Kwame Brown, Smush Parker and Luke Walton, to the PLAYOFFS. Kobe by himself, would end games by the 3rd quarter, and didnt matter what team he was going against. the game vs Mavericks is an example and im sure you can youtube others if you want. He won back to back rings with Pau as his 2nd man, a guy who has never won a playoff game in his life before joining KB. His 3rd best player was Odom(never was an all-star) who was ranked somewhere between 10-15 best power forwards in the league, which if you couldnt catch my drift, wasnt anything special.

3. Countless Lakers from the back-to-back championship team who left Kobe, couldnt stick in the league. Except Pau and Ariza, these Kobe-made champions, were lost without him. Bynum, Shannon Brown, Vujacic, Farmer, Lamar were all key rotation players that busted out of the league quickly after they left the Lakers.

4. He rarely had it easy in any playoff series to win those rings. Christie, Bowen, Tony Allen, Dahntay Jones, Raja Bell, shefolsha, Deshawn Stevenson, Brewer, Pietrus, and so much more. What do all these guys have in common? Guys who played significant minutes for a contending team, who had one and one role only, to stop Kobe. You wont find this with any other player in the history of the game.

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 I have said this on many posts and Im not just saying this today, Kobe Bean Bryant is the greatest player of all time. Dont let the stats fool you and dont let the lack of awards fool you either. Look up the total ppg stats and possessions of the 80s and 90s, for the most part, it would be rare to see a team able to hold another team under 100 ppg and the game was played at a most faster pace in comparison of today. Also, the FG% overall was much higher. More possesions, more stats.

 At the end of the day, the name of the game is to WIN, and Kobe did it better than nobody else. Here are my reasons.

1. The three peat Lakers. Yes Shaq at the moment, was the best player on the planet, but as much you want to take away the fact that Kobe wasnt "the man" you have to Kobe credit for accepting his role and do whatever it took to not just WIN, but dominate. The last two rings, no team took the Lakers more than 5 games, except the Kings. This team IMO was the greatest team of all time despite outside of Shaq and Kobe, it was really no one else that did nothing but hit 3s, hustle and defend. Kobe plently of times was the mvp of a west conf series, but sadly they dont give awards for that but lets not be foolish, during those 3peat series, the real finals was played before they matched up with an east team. We have seen plenty of times when alpha dogs cant play with each other. Iverson and Melo are an example, those late 90s Rockets had Drexler, Barkley, and Olajuwon couldnt get it done, those Heat teams with Bosh, Lebron, and Wade did win but did barely scrap by in winning their rings. Kobe sacrificed for the good of the team to make an all-time great. 

2. It was time for him to show everyone he could be the man and he showed up. It was Shaq’s fault, if he wasnt going around saying Kobe was nothing without him, Kobe would have tried to make it work for them. Kobe is one of the most competitive players ever, I wouldnt want anything less from my franchise player if someone challenged him like that. Anyways Kobe got his own team and he responded by taking the challenge of having one of the worst supporting cast of all-time starring Kwame Brown, Smush Parker and Luke Walton, to the PLAYOFFS. Kobe by himself, would end games by the 3rd quarter, and didnt matter what team he was going against. the game vs Mavericks is an example and im sure you can youtube others if you want. He won back to back rings with Pau as his 2nd man, a guy who has never won a playoff game in his life before joining KB. His 3rd best player was Odom(never was an all-star) who was ranked somewhere between 10-15 best power forwards in the league, which if you couldnt catch my drift, wasnt anything special.

3. Countless Lakers from the back-to-back championship team who left Kobe, couldnt stick in the league. Except Pau and Ariza, these Kobe-made champions, were lost without him. Bynum, Shannon Brown, Vujacic, Farmer, Lamar were all key rotation players that busted out of the league quickly after they left the Lakers.

4. He rarely had it easy in any playoff series to win those rings. Christie, Bowen, Tony Allen, Dahntay Jones, Raja Bell, shefolsha, Deshawn Stevenson, Brewer, Pietrus, and so much more. What do all these guys have in common? Guys who played significant minutes for a contending team, who had one and one role only, to stop Kobe. You wont find this with any other player in the history of the game.

[dawsdabossParticipant]

anybody that doesn’t have Kobe in their top 5 is pretending to know something we don’t. I hate Kobe but only him and MJ have ever had that killer instinct in a guard. Hard to compare forwards to guards, but MJ/Kobe/Magic are all in same boat.

[dawsdabossParticipant]

anybody that doesn’t have Kobe in their top 5 is pretending to know something we don’t. I hate Kobe but only him and MJ have ever had that killer instinct in a guard. Hard to compare forwards to guards, but MJ/Kobe/Magic are all in same boat.

[BubbaChuckParticipant]

1. MJ
2. B. Russell
3. Kareem
4. LeBron
5. Magic
6. Bird
7. Wilt
8. Duncan
9. Jerry West
10. Oscar
11. Shaq
12. Hakeem
13. M. Malone
14. (maybe) Kobe
15. Dr. J
16. Barkley
17. Pippen
19. K. Malone
20. D Wade
21. David Robinson
22. KG
23. Iverson

[BubbaChuckParticipant]

1. MJ
2. B. Russell
3. Kareem
4. LeBron
5. Magic
6. Bird
7. Wilt
8. Duncan
9. Jerry West
10. Oscar
11. Shaq
12. Hakeem
13. M. Malone
14. (maybe) Kobe
15. Dr. J
16. Barkley
17. Pippen
19. K. Malone
20. D Wade
21. David Robinson
22. KG
23. Iverson

[goldie92689Participant]

Kobe is not top ten, he is very close, but not in the top 10. I do not weigh his 5 championships very heavily simply because Shaq was the most dominant player of the era. 

I do give high value to Kobe standing on the all time scoring list, that is an amazing feat!! I kind of look at him as a great individual athlete, but he was not a great team player and is incredibly inefficient when compared to the greatest players of all time. I agree shaq wins his three wins with any of the top perimeter players of the era, including, Pierce, Iverson, Kidd, Carter, Stockton, Miller, Allen, Nash, Mcgrady. In addition there are several players of the era and other eras that I would rather have than Kobe who I feel are more impactful on the court. i.e Dirk, Barkley. 

 

Top 10

1. MJ

2. Kareem

3. Russell

4. Wilt

5. Oscar

6. Magic

7. Bird

8. Shaq

9. Dr. J 

10. Duncan

HM

Lebron, Hakeem, Isaiah, Kobe, Malone, Barkley, West. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[goldie92689Participant]

Kobe is not top ten, he is very close, but not in the top 10. I do not weigh his 5 championships very heavily simply because Shaq was the most dominant player of the era. 

I do give high value to Kobe standing on the all time scoring list, that is an amazing feat!! I kind of look at him as a great individual athlete, but he was not a great team player and is incredibly inefficient when compared to the greatest players of all time. I agree shaq wins his three wins with any of the top perimeter players of the era, including, Pierce, Iverson, Kidd, Carter, Stockton, Miller, Allen, Nash, Mcgrady. In addition there are several players of the era and other eras that I would rather have than Kobe who I feel are more impactful on the court. i.e Dirk, Barkley. 

 

Top 10

1. MJ

2. Kareem

3. Russell

4. Wilt

5. Oscar

6. Magic

7. Bird

8. Shaq

9. Dr. J 

10. Duncan

HM

Lebron, Hakeem, Isaiah, Kobe, Malone, Barkley, West. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 Im sorry but seeing Russell so low on these lists is disrespectful! He literally DOMINATED a decade, and played before blocks were even recorded. 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 He also played a large amount of his games against a total of 8 teams.  He was dominant but the notion that he is one of the top 10 greatest players of all time is kind of ridiculous to me.  Yes I penalize him for playing so long ago.

That would be like trying baby food as an infant and leaving it in your top 10 favorite meals of all time.  Yeah, it was good as it was what you needed at the time.  But if we are being real, it doesn’t hold up.

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 He also played a large amount of his games against a total of 8 teams.  He was dominant but the notion that he is one of the top 10 greatest players of all time is kind of ridiculous to me.  Yes I penalize him for playing so long ago.

That would be like trying baby food as an infant and leaving it in your top 10 favorite meals of all time.  Yeah, it was good as it was what you needed at the time.  But if we are being real, it doesn’t hold up.

 

[Gold Chain]

 Yeah, plus he only won 11 titles in 13 years. What a baby.

And what was with all the putting the team first garbage. Kobe and Harden are much better fantasy basketball players than Russell ever would have been today.

That’s why I have Kobe and Harden as my top 2 of all time.

and my favorite song is Kanye West’s "Let’s have a toast for the dbags"

 

 

 

[Gold Chain]

 Yeah, plus he only won 11 titles in 13 years. What a baby.

And what was with all the putting the team first garbage. Kobe and Harden are much better fantasy basketball players than Russell ever would have been today.

That’s why I have Kobe and Harden as my top 2 of all time.

and my favorite song is Kanye West’s "Let’s have a toast for the dbags"

 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Heeeeee’s baaaack.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Heeeeee’s baaaack.

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 Im sorry but seeing Russell so low on these lists is disrespectful! He literally DOMINATED a decade, and played before blocks were even recorded. 

[Gold Chain]

 #1 – No Means No

 

 

[Gold Chain]

 #1 – No Means No

 

 

[barbabodomParticipant]

 It´s not fair to put Lebron is these lists. Let´s wait until his career is over (or near the end) to see what he has accomplished in overall.

As for Kobe, he´s, for sure, in the Top15. In the Top10, after MJ, Russell and Kareem, you can put any of the great players in any order you want and there will not be a wrong answer. 

 

[barbabodomParticipant]

 It´s not fair to put Lebron is these lists. Let´s wait until his career is over (or near the end) to see what he has accomplished in overall.

As for Kobe, he´s, for sure, in the Top15. In the Top10, after MJ, Russell and Kareem, you can put any of the great players in any order you want and there will not be a wrong answer. 

 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I don’t do lists, but I do do tiers. 

Tier 1 would be Jordan, Magic, and Bird, as those guys revolutionized the game, created dynasties, and made the game what it is today. All of them were great at every facet of the game, and were some of the greatest competitors seen in any sport. Because of this I tend to put them on a tier to their own. It’s hard to accomplish what these 3 guys did for the NBA, and incidentily, you can’t tell either of their stories without mention of the other two, and that’s special. 

Tier 2 would be the dominant centers. Shaq, Hakeem, Russle, Wilt, Duncan, Kareem, ect. These guys are once in a generation talent, and if you have one of them on your team, youre going to be winning rings. Simple as that. I think it’s harder to do all-time lists mainly because of the Center position, as many people don’t know how to truely appretiate the value of the big men in the middle. These guys change the game in ways that guards can’t, and that’s why I put them on a tier all to themselves. They deserve that respect. 

Tier 3 would be the guys who were generational, but not centers, and not in tier one. These guys are the people who owned their generation, won rings, and played both sides of the ball. LeBron, Oscar, Dirk, Dr. J, Kevin Garnett, Isaiah. This is the Tier I would put Kobe in, as he was the best player in the NBA for many years, and has stats and acolades that can’t be bested by only a select few. Being in the conversation with Big O and Dr. J is were I think Kobes legacy will settle into place. He had a great career, was a part of two seperate dynasties, and proved that he didn’t need Shaq to win games. It’s a shame we never got to see that Kobe vs. LeBron finals, but I think when it’s said and done, both of those guys will go down as easy top 1% in NBA history. 

Tier 4 would be the other generational talents, but the ones who didn’t have enough to get over the hump and solidify their legacy. Barkley, Malone, Stockton, Ewing, ect. ect. 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I don’t do lists, but I do do tiers. 

Tier 1 would be Jordan, Magic, and Bird, as those guys revolutionized the game, created dynasties, and made the game what it is today. All of them were great at every facet of the game, and were some of the greatest competitors seen in any sport. Because of this I tend to put them on a tier to their own. It’s hard to accomplish what these 3 guys did for the NBA, and incidentily, you can’t tell either of their stories without mention of the other two, and that’s special. 

Tier 2 would be the dominant centers. Shaq, Hakeem, Russle, Wilt, Duncan, Kareem, ect. These guys are once in a generation talent, and if you have one of them on your team, youre going to be winning rings. Simple as that. I think it’s harder to do all-time lists mainly because of the Center position, as many people don’t know how to truely appretiate the value of the big men in the middle. These guys change the game in ways that guards can’t, and that’s why I put them on a tier all to themselves. They deserve that respect. 

Tier 3 would be the guys who were generational, but not centers, and not in tier one. These guys are the people who owned their generation, won rings, and played both sides of the ball. LeBron, Oscar, Dirk, Dr. J, Kevin Garnett, Isaiah. This is the Tier I would put Kobe in, as he was the best player in the NBA for many years, and has stats and acolades that can’t be bested by only a select few. Being in the conversation with Big O and Dr. J is were I think Kobes legacy will settle into place. He had a great career, was a part of two seperate dynasties, and proved that he didn’t need Shaq to win games. It’s a shame we never got to see that Kobe vs. LeBron finals, but I think when it’s said and done, both of those guys will go down as easy top 1% in NBA history. 

Tier 4 would be the other generational talents, but the ones who didn’t have enough to get over the hump and solidify their legacy. Barkley, Malone, Stockton, Ewing, ect. ect. 

[HitsterParticipant]

Any top 10 list is subjective and how can you compare different eras let alone different positions. Statistically some players are better than others yet some have had more success than others. That depends also on who their team mates were, who they were playing against.

Guys like Hakeem only won 2 titles compared to say Tim Duncan who won 5 but Hakeem was playing in an era dominated by MJ so that has to be factored in too.

I’d happily put Kobe as a top 10 player but more in the 6 to 10 range IMO and I’d probably class him as the 2nd best SG ever behind MJ.

That could be one thing thast possibly shadows Kobe’s greatness, he cannot really be called the best player of all time at his position and will always be behind MJ. But he is still an all time great, 1st year eligible HOF lock etc.

[HitsterParticipant]

Any top 10 list is subjective and how can you compare different eras let alone different positions. Statistically some players are better than others yet some have had more success than others. That depends also on who their team mates were, who they were playing against.

Guys like Hakeem only won 2 titles compared to say Tim Duncan who won 5 but Hakeem was playing in an era dominated by MJ so that has to be factored in too.

I’d happily put Kobe as a top 10 player but more in the 6 to 10 range IMO and I’d probably class him as the 2nd best SG ever behind MJ.

That could be one thing thast possibly shadows Kobe’s greatness, he cannot really be called the best player of all time at his position and will always be behind MJ. But he is still an all time great, 1st year eligible HOF lock etc.

[ballislyfe25Participant]

6-10 all time, no doubt about it.

Kevin Pelton, who’s work and alternate perspective I sometimes enjoy, wrote a piece saying Kobe is more like 15th best all time. His arguments were based purely in analytics, which do not favor Kobe at all, and still lists Kobe as the 15th best player ever. It’s tough enough to list 5 players definitively better than him, let alone 14 and Magic Johnson himself calls Kobe the greatest Laker ever. 

Bryant’s greatest is intangible and simply cannot be quantified. You had to witness it and live through the moments to truly understand how special he was. 

[ballislyfe25Participant]

6-10 all time, no doubt about it.

Kevin Pelton, who’s work and alternate perspective I sometimes enjoy, wrote a piece saying Kobe is more like 15th best all time. His arguments were based purely in analytics, which do not favor Kobe at all, and still lists Kobe as the 15th best player ever. It’s tough enough to list 5 players definitively better than him, let alone 14 and Magic Johnson himself calls Kobe the greatest Laker ever. 

Bryant’s greatest is intangible and simply cannot be quantified. You had to witness it and live through the moments to truly understand how special he was. 

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

If he only played against a total of 8 teams, wouldnt that make those teams unbelievably talented? If you dont think Bill Russell is a top 10 player of all time I have to question your knowledge of the game, im sorry. 

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

If he only played against a total of 8 teams, wouldnt that make those teams unbelievably talented? If you dont think Bill Russell is a top 10 player of all time I have to question your knowledge of the game, im sorry. 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 No, it would not by default make those teams more talented.  Assuming that the talent was as equally distributed as it is in todays game would be a wrong assumption.  It was during the infancy of basketball.  Teams were picked and made up of players majority from that area, they were called Territorial picks.  

I could really go on and on.  However all you need to do is watch footage of games from that era and know that they are nowhere close to being even in the same league as the skill/athleticism/whatever else you want to throw in this list as todays players.  That’s just the way that it goes.  Do some people who had great success at one point in time get penalized because of the era they played in? On my list yes.

Not saying that is the right way to make a list, or that is how you should make yours, but it’s a factor in mine.  Off the top of my head I have maybe 3 players that played in the 70’s.  2 if you don’t count Magics rookie year.

   

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 No, it would not by default make those teams more talented.  Assuming that the talent was as equally distributed as it is in todays game would be a wrong assumption.  It was during the infancy of basketball.  Teams were picked and made up of players majority from that area, they were called Territorial picks.  

I could really go on and on.  However all you need to do is watch footage of games from that era and know that they are nowhere close to being even in the same league as the skill/athleticism/whatever else you want to throw in this list as todays players.  That’s just the way that it goes.  Do some people who had great success at one point in time get penalized because of the era they played in? On my list yes.

Not saying that is the right way to make a list, or that is how you should make yours, but it’s a factor in mine.  Off the top of my head I have maybe 3 players that played in the 70’s.  2 if you don’t count Magics rookie year.

   

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 lol absolutely not the point. More teams mean less chances of being 1 of 15 players to be on a NBA team.

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 lol absolutely not the point. More teams mean less chances of being 1 of 15 players to be on a NBA team.

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 on a nba team that would win a championship*

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 on a nba team that would win a championship*

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 So like… I like Kobe, I think around 10-15 is right for him… but how do you look at his game (I watched his whole career) and conclude he was better than Duncan and Lebron?  Shaq? Maybe… Shaq didn’t try a lot and Kobe basically always did.  But from numbers to accolades, Duncan and Lebron have him beat… and that’s before we get to past great.  So top 3/4 of his era does not equal greatest of all time.  And PLEASE stop including "could have" in the argument.  He had the carreer he had.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 So like… I like Kobe, I think around 10-15 is right for him… but how do you look at his game (I watched his whole career) and conclude he was better than Duncan and Lebron?  Shaq? Maybe… Shaq didn’t try a lot and Kobe basically always did.  But from numbers to accolades, Duncan and Lebron have him beat… and that’s before we get to past great.  So top 3/4 of his era does not equal greatest of all time.  And PLEASE stop including "could have" in the argument.  He had the carreer he had.

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