Kobe Bryant’s Rank

i agree with some things and i don’t with others.

i agree that MJ and kareem are nº1 and 2 without a doubt.

i don’t agree russell is nº3. to win 11 championship is impressive but i think that in order to be considered the best you need something else. i think rusell was the best competitor and the best defensive player of all time but he only averaged 13 PG in his career!! playing in the 60’s..plus he played in one of the greatest dynasties of all time in any sport.

i don’t agree neither having kobe at 4. i think he’s the most talented player ever, but again, in order to be between the best you need something else and you know what, kobe did not change the game. the best thing kobe has done for the game is to put all the moves from the best in one player but nothing from him is original..

magic johnson did changed the game, not only that, but he made basketball international. still today, there hasn’t been other player/specimen like him, plus he retired at 31 at the peak of his game. and sorry to say but yes, he was the best player in the lakers. kareem only won 1 championship before playing with magic..period.

and one more thing, imo, MJ is the greatest scorer ever, i did a post a few months ago talking about wilt’s stats and comparing them with MJ’s. you can check it and then decide.

But Its so hard to RANK a Greatest Ever List…I’ve said this but it needs be done by Position or ERA…

Kobe to me is a lock for G.O.A.T consideration…I tell people this all time but In My Eyes he is better than MJ, and if he finishes his carrer with 7 or 8 rings he’ll end that debate for good…Think Evolution people, MJ was the prototype but KOBE was the APEX, yes he needs that signature Moment in the Finals and 1 MORE RING to surpass Jordan as King, I said it…

Now as far as ALL TIME goes…

1. Wilt Vs. Kareem will never be duplicated, they were One in a Lifetime type of Players, try to name a player like them, Shaq? The Dream? Superman?…These men where not only Gigantic players and personalities but they were also the Most talented players of their ERA’s and possibly All Time…Name a player that could lead the League in scoring and rebounding one year and Assits the Next…I’ll wait for someone to mention Kevin Love, who could arguably do something like that in the right place…KAJ and Wilt the Stilt comes down to one’s choice(ironicly these men were advovates of freedom and civil rights for all)…It’s a Choice of Wilt’s charisma, shear dominance, 100 point game and 10,000 women in bed legend Vs. Kareem’s Collegiate Dynasty, Political influence, multiple Championships, MVP’s and All Time Scoring Record…Kareem gets my vote because he kicked ass with Bruce Lee in a classic Kung Fu flick…

2. Jordan Vs. Kobe

Sorry Tuck. there’s nothing wrong with pumping up Kobe as a top 5 player all time but I have to disagree with a few of your points.

First off Jordan really didn’t play against anyone and when he finally beat the Pistons or Lakers they were old… For heavens sake he had trouble against Reggie Miller (Not HOF nor Super Star, sorry Indiana) John Starks and Joe Dumars? Both are 6’3 (If that)… Give a Super Star in the NBA today those inches over someone and its 30+ easy.

When he finally beat the Pistons or Lakers they were old? Actually when the Bulls SWEPT the defending champion Pistons in 1991, Isiah Thomas was 29, Joe Dumars was 27 and Dennis Rodman was 29. The key pieces were still playing at an elite level. Him and the Bulls also defeated a Blazers team loaded with talent featuring Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Clifford Robinson, Jerome Kersey, Buck Williams, and Kevin Duckworth; a Suns team featuring Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle in their primes and Jazz teams with Malone and Stockton.

Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan are just two examples of players right now that had about a 3 inch advantage on most players at their position and they were never elite scorers putting up 30 every night. Also I’m not sure where you’re getting the height of Starks, Starks was only an inch shorter than MJ (listed at 6-5 while Jordan was listed at 6-6).

Most people forget that Magic wasn’t even the best player on his team…

Maybe for his first few seasons in the league, after 1982 Magic was indisputably the best player on his team. By the time Magic joined the Lakers in 1980 Kareem was already 32 years old and won the last MVP of his career. After 1982 Kareem would never average more than 23.9 PPG or 7.5 RPG (that’s right he was mediocre rebounder in his later years) over any seasons for the rest of his career and was never really considered the best center in the league anymore. Most people gave that distinction to Moses Malone and then Hakeem. Magic would go on to win 3 more championships with Kareem well past his prime and anyone who watched basketball in that era will tell you that Magic was the best player on the showtime Lakers and the straw that stirred the drink

11 RINGS… 11 F***ing Rings!!! I know he had a team (so did Wilt, see Bill Simmons book) but 11 rings?

I think Russell was a great player but using this as the main reason for placing him at #3 overall is absurd. Teams win championships not individual players and Russell had the benefit of playing in an era with 8 to 10 teams in the league. It’s simple math, it’s easier to win a championship with 7 or 9 other teams in the league than it is with 29 other teams. Frankly I think MJs 6 championships and Kobe’s 5 championships in the modern era are just as impressive as Russell’s 11.

With all the scoring and rebounds (I’m sure Block Shots) Wilt only managed to get one freaking ring… ONE… With teammates like Rick Barry and Jerry West, One Ring is piss poor Wilt… Not to mention his stats meant more to him than winning (to include the women)…Once wanted to lead the league in assists instead of taking easy lay-ups he would pass to teammates to get an assist… LOL… He got it though, he lead the league!!!

I get it. You want to argue for Kobe over Wilt. But you still miss the mark on a couple points here. First off Rick Barry and Wilt never played together. Secondly Wilt won 2 championships…2…let me make this clear again…2. For all the hate that Wilt gets for not being the winner Russell was it’s interesting to note that before the 80s the 2 greatest teams in NBA history were widely considered to be two Wilt led teams (the 67 Philadelphia team and the 72 Lakers).

#1. Michael Jordan- You cant question what he did as a player as pointed out above he beat everybody, Magic, Isiah, Bird, Barkley, Malone/Stockton, THE KNICKS, Clyde, Nique, Reggie…did I miss anyone. He did everything he won every MVP, he won the ROY, DPOY, Dunk Contest, I think he won the 3Pt shootout, scoring titles…he did it all and was the best at everything. He changed the game unlike any other and for that he is the GOAT.

#2. Kobe Bryant- I’m sorry but he is Jordan-lite….no question about it you cant tell me nothing. He is the complete player and has that fire and the best work ethic next to Jordan. He replicated MJ and for that is 2nd best player ever

#3. Magic Johnson- 6’9 Point Guard…sure he lacked elite athleticism but who had it back then besides Nique and MJ…he  epitomized court vision and could play 1-5 not to mention he excelled in the open court and in the half court a rarity for PG’s now in days

#4- Shaquille O’Neal- The most dominate force ever in the NBA….Shaq could go toe to toe with Russell, Wilt, Hakeem, Robinson and KAJ…he was unstoppable in an era where guys where his size. Russell, Wilt and KAJ dominated smaller guys most of the time….David Robinson didnt really dominate the league and Hakeem was more of a PF than traditional center…Shaq..haaaaa….he’s the greatest in the universe

#5- Tim Duncan- He won 4 titles over a span of 8 years…so consistency was not an issue…..he was a true fundamental player but still was solid on the boards and defensively…not to mention he took a back seat to his players and didnt mind letting others go off….the ultimate professional and teammate…the best PF of All Time

The Next 5

Larry Bird- best unathletic player ever

Karl Malone- 2nd best PF ever and freak athlete

Allen Iverson- say what you want he did so much with so little…best player to never win a title

Julius Erving- revolutionized the game….inspired MJ…nuff said

Charles Barkely- 6’5 PF come on he’s the AI of big men and dominated every one in his path

kobe isnt even a top 2 greatest laker…

"sure he lacked elite athleticism but who had it back then besides Nique and MJ."

???

Wilt Chamberlain

Spud Webb

"Karl Malone- 2nd best PF ever and freak athlete"- quote from you

Clyde Drexler

Shawn Kemp

Darryl Dawkins

Dr. J

Pippen
Charles Barkley

David Thompson

…etc.

Sheen, u telling me Kareem isn’t even in your top 10?

You named 1 guard which is my point people question his athleticism and I say guys like MJ and Nique were the prototype athletes along with Drexeler but MJ and Nique were just on a different plato in my opinion, Spud is a freak of his own but isnt in Magic’s class. So the fact that he won 5 titles against all these "elite athletes" makes the argument against his athleticism irrelevant.

As far as Kareem goes I never liked his game. He just never had anything appealing to me. I mean sure he scored the most points all time but he suffers from the Wilt-itis where he was just bigger than mostly all the other players. To top it off he lost all consideration when he said he wanted a statue outside of the Staples Center, I mean sure you deserve one but you dont ask for one. You dont hear Bird or Russell asking for statues outside of the Boston Garden like really.

Honestly, his list wasn’t too bad, but you have to put Wilt at three, and then I don’t mind having Russell and Kobe 4 and 5 respectively.

Now I know many peoplehave a problem with Kobe ahead Magic and Bird, annd I can understand that, and honestly, I think Magic and Larry are 5a and b, with Kobe and Oscar tied after them.

I don’t want to chose between Magic dn Larry, both are so great in their own right, but I will argue that it is posible to put Kobe ahead of the two.

Kobe has moved ahead both of them on the all time scoring list, and has just as many rings as Magic and and more than Larry. Granted they both have more MVPs than Kobe, but htat doesn’t mean Kobe hasn’t had his fair of spectacular seasons.

So although I would put Magic/Larry ahead Kobe, I don’t think that Tuck is completly out of line with his list, although I do think Wilt sould be a bit higher.

"As far as Kareem goes I never liked his game. He just never had anything appealing to me. I mean sure he scored the most points all time but he suffers from the Wilt-itis where he was just bigger than mostly all the other players. To top it off he lost all consideration when he said he wanted a statue outside of the Staples Center, I mean sure you deserve one but you dont ask for one. You dont hear Bird or Russell asking for statues outside of the Boston Garden like really."

I don’t care about whether you like the guy or not, but that should NEVER get in the way of ranking the greatest players of all time. Sure you think he’s obnoxious and boring and dull, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he was one damn good player, and It is pretty pathetic that you let that stuff influence who think is the greatest PLAYER of all time.

charlie sheen’s list is stupid and warrants no respect

 Everyones list and opinions deserves respect whether you disagree or not.

just so u know, I wasn’t trying to attack your post at all and didn’t know you were just talking about athleticism amongst guards.

As for Kareem, you may not like his style, but that doesn’t change the fact that the dude is the leading scorer in NBA history, as well as a strong shot blocker and boarder.  I think you gotta respect that and throw him atleast in the top 10.  That sky hook is the most unguardable move of all time given his size as well.  He was just so dominant.  Look at the stats or tapes from back in the day.  Its your opinion so your entitled to it, but I think he’s def. top 10. 

 Kareem had it ALL. College championship, college awards, NBA MVP’s, individual success, NBA championships, and longevity. Arguably best player of all time.

Let him finish his career first before we jump into this debate. There is still a chance (especially with a shortened season this year) for him to get another ring or two.