[TRC1991Participant]

I was having a detailed conversation with a dear friend, and he was certain that Kobe had a better career than Shaq. Granted Kobe’s career isn’t over – his team accomplishments almost certainly are. 

Shaq was at one point, the most dominating figure in basketball, and had arguably the best MVP year of anyone in the past 15 years. We both agreed that at their peak, Shaq was a more challening player for team’s to deal with. His ego was ALWAYS getting in the way, but he still managed to win 3 consecutive NBA Finals MVP awards. 

Kobe on the other hand has more all-star game appearances, more rings, more times on the all NBA first team, and more all-star game MVP’s.

Shaq has more Finals MVP’s

Kobe has also been on an all defensive team 14 different times. Shaq just three times. I’d love to get a poll for who YOU believe had the better career.

Take into consideration their statistics, accomplishments, personalities, and overall effect on the game of basketball.

Kobe Bryant:

16x All Star

5x NBA Champion

2x NBA Finals MVP’s

1x NBA MVP

11x All NBA 1st Team

9x All NBA Defensive 1st Team

2x Scoring Champion

Lakers All-Time Leading Scorer

Career #’s: 25.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 45/34/84 shooting clip

Pinnacle Season #’s: 35.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.8 spg, 41 mpg, 45/35/85 shooting clip

 

 

Shaquille O’Neal: 

15x All Star

4x NBA Champion

3x NBA Finals MVP’s

1x NBA MVP

8x All NBA First Team

3x All NBA Defensive 2nd Team

2x Scoring Champion

#34 Retired by Lakers

Career #’s: 23.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.3 bpg, 58/5/53 shooting clip

Pinnacle Season #’s: 29.7 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3 bpg, 40 mpg, 57/0/52 shooting clip 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[IhateusernamesParticipant]

 You have to weigh in Shaqs free throw percentage. His scoring average and points scored would be insane if he were a 75% ft shooter.

So even though shaqs peak scoring numbers werent as good as Kobes. His impact was just as big or bigger due to the fouls he drew and double/triple teams he drew as well. 

Overall id go with kobe however. Shaq was swept out of the playoffs 5 times in his career, unacceptable for a player of his stature.

[IhateusernamesParticipant]

 You have to weigh in Shaqs free throw percentage. His scoring average and points scored would be insane if he were a 75% ft shooter.

So even though shaqs peak scoring numbers werent as good as Kobes. His impact was just as big or bigger due to the fouls he drew and double/triple teams he drew as well. 

Overall id go with kobe however. Shaq was swept out of the playoffs 5 times in his career, unacceptable for a player of his stature.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Shaq in his prime was the best player in the league and possibly one of the best players of all time. Kobe’s best was never even close to that. Kobe is a very good player who plays hard and prepares well. But ultimately he is a scorer who takes a lot of shots and scores at about league average efficiency. He has done it for a long time and very consistently. But it has been consistently only "very good". He has never been actually the best player in the league or even really that close.  

[arowsky205Participant]

Kobe absolutely was the best player in the league at one point, roughly from ’06-’08. If you remember, before LeBron claimed the title as the league’s best player, the question was when he was going to surpass Kobe. Also, even saying Kobe was just "very good" is criminally underrating him. 16 consecutive All-Star games (not counting 1999 when there was no game, if there was it would be 17 in a row) is not just very good. 11 First-Team all NBAs in 12 years is not just very good. 14 consecutive years of at least 24 PPG is not just very good. Shaq’s prime may have been slightly better than Kobe’s prime, but when looking at a complete body of work and how consistent Kobe was for so long, he has had the better career. I think they are both top 10 all time, but Kobe gets the nod over Shaq.

[arowsky205Participant]

Kobe absolutely was the best player in the league at one point, roughly from ’06-’08. If you remember, before LeBron claimed the title as the league’s best player, the question was when he was going to surpass Kobe. Also, even saying Kobe was just "very good" is criminally underrating him. 16 consecutive All-Star games (not counting 1999 when there was no game, if there was it would be 17 in a row) is not just very good. 11 First-Team all NBAs in 12 years is not just very good. 14 consecutive years of at least 24 PPG is not just very good. Shaq’s prime may have been slightly better than Kobe’s prime, but when looking at a complete body of work and how consistent Kobe was for so long, he has had the better career. I think they are both top 10 all time, but Kobe gets the nod over Shaq.

[machu46Participant]

Kobe is one of the 10 best players of all-time, and I think the guy you responded to was slighting Kobe by saying he was only "very good", but his point about never being the best player in the league for any given year is a valid argument IMO.  Not saying it’s definitely true, but there’s a conversation to be had.

Looking at his best years, there’s definitely some guys you could argue were better than him for the given year:

00-01: Shaq, Iverson, Duncan

02-03: Duncan, Garnett, McGrady

04-05: Nash, Garnett, Dirk

05-06: Nash, LeBron, Dirk

06-07: Dirk, Nash

07-08: Chris Paul, LeBron (this was probably Kobe’s best case for the crown though)

Note that I’m not saying all of those guys were better in their particular years than Kobe, I’m simply saying there’s an argument to be had.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[machu46Participant]

Kobe is one of the 10 best players of all-time, and I think the guy you responded to was slighting Kobe by saying he was only "very good", but his point about never being the best player in the league for any given year is a valid argument IMO.  Not saying it’s definitely true, but there’s a conversation to be had.

Looking at his best years, there’s definitely some guys you could argue were better than him for the given year:

00-01: Shaq, Iverson, Duncan

02-03: Duncan, Garnett, McGrady

04-05: Nash, Garnett, Dirk

05-06: Nash, LeBron, Dirk

06-07: Dirk, Nash

07-08: Chris Paul, LeBron (this was probably Kobe’s best case for the crown though)

Note that I’m not saying all of those guys were better in their particular years than Kobe, I’m simply saying there’s an argument to be had.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tuck243Participant]

OMG I wish I could slap the hell out of you…

Do you realize who was on those teams of his during those seasons?

That 05-06 season wasn’t a doubt in my mind who was the best player in the league was…  He had one of the best statistical seasons since Wilt Chamberlain…  Dude literally gave the Mavs 62 points in 3 quarters…  Then followed that up by scoring 81 vs the Raptors in a game that they were losing…   He had the most games of 40+ points that season…  He averaged 44 points for a whole month…  Dude CARRIED that sorry team to the playoffs in a loaded Western Conference…  And finished 4th behind a player that was in a system that inflated his stats?  And truth be told, those were some of the worst stats for a league MVP in the history of basketball…   Team success counts for majority of league’s MVP’s…   Steve Nash wasn’t better than Kobe Bryant at any point of life…  That’s not even a discussion…  

Hell Shaq even called Kobe the best player in the game after their last ring together…  2 MVP’s should’ve went to Kobe, while LeBron should’ve had another one, and Chris Paul should’ve had the one Kobe has…   Dirk and Nash should not have 1…  

They did the same ish to MJ, when Karl Malone won that MVP over him…   I remember watching around the horn and one of the analysts said they were going to vote for whomever had the better record at the end of the season (CP3 or Kobe)…  THAT’S TERRIBLE….   

I watched Kobe shut down Ray Allen and still drop 30 points on him…  Only to do the same thing to Vince Carter the very next game and give him 46…  That’s not best player material then I don’t know what is…   Kobe was an animal during those 04-08 years…  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tuck243Participant]

OMG I wish I could slap the hell out of you…

Do you realize who was on those teams of his during those seasons?

That 05-06 season wasn’t a doubt in my mind who was the best player in the league was…  He had one of the best statistical seasons since Wilt Chamberlain…  Dude literally gave the Mavs 62 points in 3 quarters…  Then followed that up by scoring 81 vs the Raptors in a game that they were losing…   He had the most games of 40+ points that season…  He averaged 44 points for a whole month…  Dude CARRIED that sorry team to the playoffs in a loaded Western Conference…  And finished 4th behind a player that was in a system that inflated his stats?  And truth be told, those were some of the worst stats for a league MVP in the history of basketball…   Team success counts for majority of league’s MVP’s…   Steve Nash wasn’t better than Kobe Bryant at any point of life…  That’s not even a discussion…  

Hell Shaq even called Kobe the best player in the game after their last ring together…  2 MVP’s should’ve went to Kobe, while LeBron should’ve had another one, and Chris Paul should’ve had the one Kobe has…   Dirk and Nash should not have 1…  

They did the same ish to MJ, when Karl Malone won that MVP over him…   I remember watching around the horn and one of the analysts said they were going to vote for whomever had the better record at the end of the season (CP3 or Kobe)…  THAT’S TERRIBLE….   

I watched Kobe shut down Ray Allen and still drop 30 points on him…  Only to do the same thing to Vince Carter the very next game and give him 46…  That’s not best player material then I don’t know what is…   Kobe was an animal during those 04-08 years…  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Shaq in his prime was the best player in the league and possibly one of the best players of all time. Kobe’s best was never even close to that. Kobe is a very good player who plays hard and prepares well. But ultimately he is a scorer who takes a lot of shots and scores at about league average efficiency. He has done it for a long time and very consistently. But it has been consistently only "very good". He has never been actually the best player in the league or even really that close.  

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

 I didn’t realize that Shaq wasn’t that elite of a defender. He only made three All-NBA second teams? That’s kind of surprising. 

I know he was in the Mutombo-Mourning-Olajuwan-Ewing-Robinson era, but still, you would have though that he would have made a few more. 

 

[SpacegrassParticipant]

 Shaq was weak especially post Orlando when he got heavier and teams would run pick and roll against him.  The older Shaq got the more pick and roll was run.  He was more of a rim protector than anything.  Guys like Robinson and Olajuwon could guard away from the basket as well.  Olajuwon and Robinson had seasons where they averaged 2+spg and 2+bpg.  While Olajuwon is the only player to ever have 200+ steals and 200+ blocks in a season which was the 88-89 season where he had 213 steals and 282 blocks.  That is essentially what kept him from winning some 1st team defense awards he just wasnt the best defensive Center.

[SpacegrassParticipant]

 Shaq was weak especially post Orlando when he got heavier and teams would run pick and roll against him.  The older Shaq got the more pick and roll was run.  He was more of a rim protector than anything.  Guys like Robinson and Olajuwon could guard away from the basket as well.  Olajuwon and Robinson had seasons where they averaged 2+spg and 2+bpg.  While Olajuwon is the only player to ever have 200+ steals and 200+ blocks in a season which was the 88-89 season where he had 213 steals and 282 blocks.  That is essentially what kept him from winning some 1st team defense awards he just wasnt the best defensive Center.

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

 I didn’t realize that Shaq wasn’t that elite of a defender. He only made three All-NBA second teams? That’s kind of surprising. 

I know he was in the Mutombo-Mourning-Olajuwan-Ewing-Robinson era, but still, you would have though that he would have made a few more. 

 

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 Tough to debate careers with the two, basically splitting hairs.  They are both as close as it gets.  Personally, I think Shaq was a more dominant player in his prime, so if I had to choose I’d say Shaq.  Probably the most physically dominant player ever.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 Tough to debate careers with the two, basically splitting hairs.  They are both as close as it gets.  Personally, I think Shaq was a more dominant player in his prime, so if I had to choose I’d say Shaq.  Probably the most physically dominant player ever.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Kobe has truly maximized his talent and potential.  You almost thought that Shaq had a bit more in him.

Other than that Shaq is on of the best five bigs ever along with Wilt, Kareem, Bill Russell, and Tim Duncan.

Kobe will finish his career as one of the top guards ever.  

I agree though that Shaq had a better prime.  Almost like a bigger, more athletic Wilt.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Kobe has truly maximized his talent and potential.  You almost thought that Shaq had a bit more in him.

Other than that Shaq is on of the best five bigs ever along with Wilt, Kareem, Bill Russell, and Tim Duncan.

Kobe will finish his career as one of the top guards ever.  

I agree though that Shaq had a better prime.  Almost like a bigger, more athletic Wilt.

[ZarathustraParticipant]

 More athletic than Wilt ???

[ZarathustraParticipant]

 More athletic than Wilt ???

[machu46Participant]

I have to rely on video clips of Wilt to see him, so I can’t really speak on his athleticism, but people forget that a young Shaq was an absolute freak of an athlete.  People as large as him are not supposed to move the way he was able to.

[machu46Participant]

I have to rely on video clips of Wilt to see him, so I can’t really speak on his athleticism, but people forget that a young Shaq was an absolute freak of an athlete.  People as large as him are not supposed to move the way he was able to.

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

The answer to this question should be based on personal priority. If you would rather have career longevity at a very high level, then it’s Kobe. But if you believe more in Peak abilities, then it’s Shaq.

I think the better question would be, not who had the better career, but who would you take if they were both coming out all over again, and you know what you know now.

I would have a hard time passing of Shaq with that one.

 

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

The answer to this question should be based on personal priority. If you would rather have career longevity at a very high level, then it’s Kobe. But if you believe more in Peak abilities, then it’s Shaq.

I think the better question would be, not who had the better career, but who would you take if they were both coming out all over again, and you know what you know now.

I would have a hard time passing of Shaq with that one.

 

[MattP31Participant]

 Honestly the answer is a personal preference that comes down to whether you prefer guard play or the dominant big man. Kobe has some bigger scoring numbers overall but the fact that it’s easier for guards to get shots has to be mentioned since they are responsible for feeding the post and have more freedom to force shots since they have the ball more. Plus guards hold up longer physically as they aren’t such large human beings.

In Shaq’s first 13 seasons in the league he only averaged less than 22.9 PPG one year, his last year in LA when he scored 21.5, and also averaged a minimum of 10.4 RPG in each of those 13 years while only one time averaging under 2 full blocks a game(1.7). Kobe took 5 years before he scored more than 22.9 a game- and if you take out his first 2 years to account for the 2 years of college experience Shaq had then Kobe’s 3rd and 4th seasons don’t begin to compare to Shaq’s 1st and 2nd.

[MattP31Participant]

 Honestly the answer is a personal preference that comes down to whether you prefer guard play or the dominant big man. Kobe has some bigger scoring numbers overall but the fact that it’s easier for guards to get shots has to be mentioned since they are responsible for feeding the post and have more freedom to force shots since they have the ball more. Plus guards hold up longer physically as they aren’t such large human beings.

In Shaq’s first 13 seasons in the league he only averaged less than 22.9 PPG one year, his last year in LA when he scored 21.5, and also averaged a minimum of 10.4 RPG in each of those 13 years while only one time averaging under 2 full blocks a game(1.7). Kobe took 5 years before he scored more than 22.9 a game- and if you take out his first 2 years to account for the 2 years of college experience Shaq had then Kobe’s 3rd and 4th seasons don’t begin to compare to Shaq’s 1st and 2nd.

[LindseyParticipant]

 I think people might look back at Kobes career as being better just because its easy to say Shaq just used his size to bully people (not the case still). But Shaq is ultimate all-time number 1 option in a good offence. 

[LindseyParticipant]

 I think people might look back at Kobes career as being better just because its easy to say Shaq just used his size to bully people (not the case still). But Shaq is ultimate all-time number 1 option in a good offence. 

[HaleParticipant]

Shaq was the better player, Kobe’s had the better career.

[HaleParticipant]

Shaq was the better player, Kobe’s had the better career.

[ZarathustraParticipant]

 As said above,the question could be "Knowing what we know now,who do you draft ?" Personnaly the thinking process is simple,when MJ is not part of the equation you go for the DOMINANT center.

 7’1 300 lbs guys don’t grow on trees.A dominant big on both ends is the best base for a team imo.

[ZarathustraParticipant]

 As said above,the question could be "Knowing what we know now,who do you draft ?" Personnaly the thinking process is simple,when MJ is not part of the equation you go for the DOMINANT center.

 7’1 300 lbs guys don’t grow on trees.A dominant big on both ends is the best base for a team imo.

[IhateusernamesParticipant]

 So nobody cares that Shaq was swept out if the playiff 5 times when he was the number 1 option? Ok

[IhateusernamesParticipant]

 So nobody cares that Shaq was swept out if the playiff 5 times when he was the number 1 option? Ok

[GrandmamaParticipant]

Not really. One time was his 2nd year in the league.  The next year was in the finals where he averaged 28/12/6 all while being doubled every single time he touched the ball.  And the next sweep was against the greatest team in history, the 95-96 Bulls.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

Not really. One time was his 2nd year in the league.  The next year was in the finals where he averaged 28/12/6 all while being doubled every single time he touched the ball.  And the next sweep was against the greatest team in history, the 95-96 Bulls.

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasherParticipant]

I am certain just about every Gm in the NBA would draft Shaq over Kobe if they  had the choice between the two.

Shaq was a huge mismatch for his team just about every time he played when healthy.  Kobe has had a nice career but much of that was due to being on the Lakers and their ability to draw top players to L.A..  Shaq would’ve brought wins and championships to wherever he played. 

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasherParticipant]

I am certain just about every Gm in the NBA would draft Shaq over Kobe if they  had the choice between the two.

Shaq was a huge mismatch for his team just about every time he played when healthy.  Kobe has had a nice career but much of that was due to being on the Lakers and their ability to draw top players to L.A..  Shaq would’ve brought wins and championships to wherever he played. 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

im going with shaq..

as great as he was,just imagine the type of career shaq would’ve had if he had worked on keeping his body in better condition and was more committed….

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

im going with shaq..

as great as he was,just imagine the type of career shaq would’ve had if he had worked on keeping his body in better condition and was more committed….

[thricethefunParticipant]

I would say Shaq is top 5 all time and Kobe is top 10

[thricethefunParticipant]

I would say Shaq is top 5 all time and Kobe is top 10

[TRC1991Participant]

Who would you remove from this list if Shaq is top 5? (which he isn’t by the way)

Michael Jordan

Magic Johnson

Larry Bird

Wilt Chamberlin

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Bill Russell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[thricethefunParticipant]

 I would put Shaq over Russell and Bird.

[thricethefunParticipant]

 I would put Shaq over Russell and Bird.

[barbabodomParticipant]

I would say Shaq is in the same level of Magic, Bird and Wilt. Anyone of these four would not be a bad choice to be in the Top5 and are sure to be in a Top10

[barbabodomParticipant]

I would say Shaq is in the same level of Magic, Bird and Wilt. Anyone of these four would not be a bad choice to be in the Top5 and are sure to be in a Top10

[TRC1991Participant]

Who would you remove from this list if Shaq is top 5? (which he isn’t by the way)

Michael Jordan

Magic Johnson

Larry Bird

Wilt Chamberlin

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Bill Russell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

To be honest, everyone is always putting in Russell and Wilt in an all-time top 5. Maybe they deserve it, or maybe they don’t. But I don’t like judging anyone who I haven’t seen play… All we have seen is a few seldom  highlights. Really not enough.

If being an all-time great is what a player has accomplished in ‘their" playing ERA, then Wilt and Russ would always be top 3. But the game has evolved so much since then, that I find it hard to make a proper call on where to place them on a top 10 list.

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

To be honest, everyone is always putting in Russell and Wilt in an all-time top 5. Maybe they deserve it, or maybe they don’t. But I don’t like judging anyone who I haven’t seen play… All we have seen is a few seldom  highlights. Really not enough.

If being an all-time great is what a player has accomplished in ‘their" playing ERA, then Wilt and Russ would always be top 3. But the game has evolved so much since then, that I find it hard to make a proper call on where to place them on a top 10 list.

[313LOUDParticipant]

Who cares what GM would draft who…..? or what if Shaq could make free throws…..? Not singling anybody out….just saying none of that matters. Question was “Better Career: Shaq or Kobe”……..how about you do the blind test…no names….just look at career accomplishments. Career highlights and milestones……its Kobe’s “resume” that would look better….hands down….

[313LOUDParticipant]

Who cares what GM would draft who…..? or what if Shaq could make free throws…..? Not singling anybody out….just saying none of that matters. Question was “Better Career: Shaq or Kobe”……..how about you do the blind test…no names….just look at career accomplishments. Career highlights and milestones……its Kobe’s “resume” that would look better….hands down….

[benny15Participant]

i would agree that if it were blind people, they would say Kobe as well.

[benny15Participant]

i would agree that if it were blind people, they would say Kobe as well.

[Author]

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