Kobe Bryant
- Fifth greatest of all-time
- Fourth greatest to ever play for the Los Angeles Lakers
The late great Kobe Bean Bryant was the most skilled, well-rounded scorer in NBA history and a staggering 12 time all-defensive selection to go with it.
Possessing a psychotic obsession for winning at the highest level throughout his 20 year Laker career, he was obviously never shy of accepting the challenge of guarding the opposition’s best scorer while also carrying the offensive load for his Lakers.
Combine that with being a captivating, high flying athlete and dunker up until his Achilles injury in 2013, he really had everything you could ask for as a basketball appreciater.
This is probably the most polarizing top ten player of all time. With a brash camp of Kobe stans whose lovable personality, personified greatness and admirable approach to the game convinced them he’s their ‘GOAT’.
Though that’s definitely not the case, the man who was just slightly worse than his childhood idol and the one he emulated in the GOAT Jordan, outside of three-point shooting, which Kobe actually had the slight edge in, deserves far more top-five consideration than many pundits give him.
Although I have him five I don’t believe it’s solidified. I would have no problem having any of those that follow him in Bird, Wilt, or Russell ahead instead, but I gave Kobe the edge because a guard naturally has a greater impact on team success, controlling tempo and flow throughout the course of a game.
The only fair knock on Kobe throughout his career is he never shot better than 46% from the field. But, for the best tough, ‘bad’ shot maker in league history it’s understandable, especially with the roster he had post-Shaq in Los Angeles.
He was simply the great who got the very most out of their god-given athleticism and talent. Pretty much at all times being the best player on the floor, but always playing as if he’s the very worst. That mindset resulted in his five titles, seven NBA finals appearances, 18 all-star appearances and two scoring titles.
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Tragically, it took the horrifying events of January 26 and the shortly ensuing coronavirus pandemic with a lengthy quarantine and reflection period for many to grasp the full scope or be reminded of how great Kobe was.
Even for me, as someone who spent years emulating his signature impeccable footwork and mid-post fadeaway jumper in the driveway among others he perfected, it took the untimely Calabasas accident and the ensuing 48 hours of having trouble thinking straight trying to start a new week.
Almost nine months now since that day and there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I haven’t stopped to think of him and his family. For these to be genuine truths for myself and many others, for someone we didn’t know personally at all, it accentuates how he’ll be remembered as one of the most inspirational athletes of the modern-day, while being a top-five basketball player of all-time ‘on the side.’