Where Does Kobe Bryant Rank All Time In Terms Of NBA Greats? | NBA | Kobe Bryant

Home

Sports
- NFL
- MLB
- NBA
- NHL
- NCAAF
- NCAABB
- NASCAR
- Soccer
- Golf
- Tennis
- MMA
- more »
Teams
Fun & Games
- Trivia
- Quizzes
- Pick'em
- Polls
- Leaders
Meet People
Feed
Quick Fantasy
- Start a Challenge
- My Challenges

Fan Articles

Home

Newest

NFL

MLB

NBA

NHL

NCAAF

NCAABB

NASCAR

Soccer

Golf

More Sports

Rex Ryan still can't keep his mouth shut. Shocking, I know.

We know he's the MVP, but just how valuable is Joe Mauer?

Is Vince Young back? Or is it really Chris Johnson doing the heavy lifting?

Doc Hollywood? Could Roy Halladay end up in L.A.?

Jimmy Clausen involved in bar altercation

Matt Stafford has a separated non-throwing shoulder, but might still play...

Cardinals hope Warner will return by next week's game

UFC 106 Medical Suspensions

Tonight's Game Could Be Quite The Shootout [Monday Night Football Live...

Another fan rant for your reading pleasure. This one involves the Chicago...

After 26 starts, is Matt Ryan really all that better than Michael Vick was...

Wigan Athletic players to refund fans after 9-1 loss to Tottenham....

6/10/09

Where Does Kobe Bryant Rank All Time In Terms Of NBA Greats?

Jeff Van Gundy Gets Us Thinking: Where Does Kobe Rank All-Time In Terms Of NBA Greats?

NBA, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Team News / Analysis, Player News / Analysis

100%InjuryRate

more posts by author

During last night's Lakers/Magic game, The Big Lead caught a fascinating statement by my favorite NBA announcer Jeff Van Gundy. Although not word for word, this was basically what he said as Kobe was lighting it up in the first quarter:

"He's one of the top 10 players of All-Time" pregnant pause "when he's shooting the ball like this."

So it begs the question, who are the 10 greatest players of all time in the NBA?

The Big Lead suggest the usual suspects, which are as follows (in no particular order):

1. MJ
2. Magic
3. Larry
4. Wilt
5. Russell
6. Oscar Robertson
7. Jabbar
8. Shaq
9. Dr. J

....and then Kobe? I'm not so sure he's there yet, although if he gets his 4th ring, possibly. If he wins a 5th ring, almost definitely. Right now, wouldn't you have to put Tim Duncan on this list? He's the greatest power forward the NBA has ever had and the dude owns 4 rings, two of which he won without David Robinson. Plus he's a two-time league MVP, and three-time Finals MVP. Actually, I just talked myself into this. Duncan clearly belongs on this list over Kobe right now, and even if Kobe wins that 4th ring.

Anyway, it's a fascinating question, but right now, in my mind, Kobe isn't on that list. He's two rings away and possibly one more league MVP away (which I doubt happens). Fire away in the comments with your thoughts.

COMMENT

ADD FEED

35 comments

Vote!

Comment!

Your votes determine top comment

6/10/09

Heyhey1970

Surge wrote:

If you're asking me about accomplishments, there may be 10 players better than Kobe. Kobe's got one career MVP award, and he was never the best player on his Finals winning team - yet.

If you're asking me who I would take as the first player to build my team around at that player's peak, I would put Kobe just behind Russell.

I'm with you that Kobe has to be on the list. He annoys me, but I would put him above Shaq, but below Dr. J. I would say the 9th or 10th best player of all time.

6/10/09

drn0iswatr

3	This comment was voted poor quality by FanIQ (Show anyway) hopefully he said that in the first quarter b/c after that Kobe couldn't hit the broad side of a barn

6/10/09

100%InjuryRate

2	drn0iswatr wrote: hopefully he said that in the first quarter b/c after that Kobe couldn't hit the broad side of a barn Although not word for word, this was basically what he said as Kobe was lighting it up in the first quarter: So yes, he said it in the first quarter.

6/10/09

Surge

2	If you're asking me about accomplishments, there may be 10 players better than Kobe. Kobe's got one career MVP award, and he was never the best player on his Finals winning team - yet. If you're asking me who I would take as the first player to build my team around at that player's peak, I would put Kobe just behind Russell.

6/10/09

Seachickenhawk

2	You've got to take Shaq OUT of the list and put in Jerry West. Shaq was really good at what he does...sit around rim and make sure NEVER to shoot outside of 10 feet. Everyone else on that list deserves to be there.

6/10/09

drn0iswatr

2	100%InjuryRate wrote: Although not word for word, this was basically what he said as Kobe was lighting it up in the first quarter: So yes, he said it in the first quarter. come on now....you mean I am supposed to read??? (aka...my bad). :)

6/10/09

dwyermaker

I say not Top 10. Here's why. Take any of those other 2 guard of small forwards in the Top 10 or close to it, put them on this or any other Lakers team Kobe has been on in place of Kobe. It's a better team. Even picture an in-his-prime Scottie Pippen (ie, 1994 Pippen who led a Jordan-less Bulls team to the top of the Eastern Conference) on this Lakers team instead of Kobe? Pippen had Pete Myers, Luc Longley and Toni Kukoc STARTING. What would he have done with Gasol, Bynum, Ariza and Odom?

6/10/09

fcgrif1952

2	Way to early in his career to say if he's top ten or not.

6/10/09

Tarheel23_GOAT

this is hard to say but out of ALL THE GREAT NBA PLAYERS im not to big on Kobe just because of the fact that he thinks he is MJ but he does have a game that commands respect( I will give him that much and thats it) all the other players on this list I would agree but disagree.
Point Guards:Magic,Pistol Pete(they brought a style that was so pretty and made showtime)john Stockton
Shoothing Guards:MJ all time(NO ONE GREATER nuff said),Reggie Miller,Joe Dumas(the best defender PERIOD)
Small Forwards:So many its hard to say
Power Forwards:Karl Malone played harder than anybody
Centers:Russell and Wilt set the tone then came along other great centers
so basically I would say even Kobe has done some things i dont think that he is in the top ten of all time I just dont see that in my opinion he is good(cause he watches MJ films lol)

6/10/09

Heyhey1970

Surge wrote:

I'm with you that Kobe has to be on the list. He annoys me, but I would put him above Shaq, but below Dr. J. I would say the 9th or 10th best player of all time.

6/10/09

cowboysfan555

Come on guys. Quit picking on Kobe. He's one of the biggest team players I've ever seen. He's also playing in an era in the NBA where athleticism is at its highest ever. Their's no way to determine a top 10 ever in basketball because of the difference in eras and the talent that existed in each one. Of course their are certain players on that list who would've done just as good period. Most notably MJ. I mean who is to say that Larry Bird would be just as dominant if he played today and would lead a team often to the finals. I'm not convinced at all he could do it for sure. So although most people ride on LBJ's back nowadays their is no reason to pick on Kobe. Kobe also gets a bad rep for his rape case a few years ago which was a total bogus lie by that stupid sl*t. And by the way I'm an Orlando Magic fan and in no way is their any bias in this. I should hate him for so many reasons right now because of the two games so far that they won basically because of him but I respect too much to ever show hate.

6/10/09

Ray_Gamma

0	Jordan Magic Chamberlain Abdul Jabbar Oscar Robertson Bird Stockton Malone Shaq Olajuwon Bill Russell Duncan There is 10+ right there he isn't better than

6/10/09

dwd40

1	Kobe is one of the best all around bn-ball players of all times. Not just his shooting ability, but his defense and assist, plus he's a player coach. So when you add all of these elements together that put's him in the top ten period.

6/10/09

100%InjuryRate

2	dwd40 wrote: Kobe is one of the best all around bn-ball players of all times. Not just his shooting ability, but his defense and assist, plus he's a player coach. So when you add all of these elements together that put's him in the top ten period. Also a great team player, seeing as he forced Shaq out of town. Oh, wait....

6/10/09

cowboysfan555

0	100%InjuryRate wrote: Also a great team player, seeing as he forced Shaq out of town. Oh, wait.... Come on Injury. I've noticed this a lot with you. Honestly, why do you tend to put Kobe down a lot?

6/10/09

spankyc14

0	1. TIE MJ and Kobe 3. LeBron

6/10/09

BluDevil

0	I'd put him in my top 10, but not top 5.

6/10/09

Phelps_Phan09

0	he does come in the top ten of the greats with the form he's in!

6/10/09

mary_dnnll

2	I think Kobe has great playing ability but I'm not convinced he's NBA's All time best. In my opinion, he greatly lacking an essential part of being an all-time great....humility!!!

6/10/09

fourtime7

0	not but by the time he retire he'll be top five barring any injuries he will break the scoring record shaq off and duncan on.

6/10/09

jjbballer

Why is Dr. J in the top ten? it should be:

1. Jordan
2. Jabbar
3. Shaq
4.. Magic
5. Wilt
6.Bird
7.Russell
8. Oscar Robertson
9.Tim Duncan
10. Kobe
11. Karl Malone
12.Hakeem Olajuwon
13.Julius Erving
14. Moses Malone
15. David Robinson

If Kobe wins the Championship this year then I'll move him ahead of Tim Duncan. I mean I really like Julius Erving but I don't think that he is in the top ten NBA players

6/10/09

100%InjuryRate

jjbballer wrote:

Why is Dr. J in the top ten? it should be:

1. Jordan
2. Jabbar
3. Shaq
4.. Magic
5. Wilt
6.Bird
7.Russell
8. Oscar Robertson
9.Tim Duncan
10. Kobe
11. Karl Malone
12.Hakeem Olajuwon
13.Julius Erving
14. Moses Malone
15. David Robinson

If Kobe wins the Championship this year then I'll move him ahead of Tim Duncan. I mean I really like Julius Erving but I don't think that he is in the top ten NBA players

Dr. J is in the top 10 because of that 'fro. And because he was the first dude to dunk from the free throw line.

6/10/09

NorseHeathen

2	Kobe? Considering all of the greats through the game? Definitely NOT YET!

6/10/09

chancescars

jjbballer wrote:

Why is Dr. J in the top ten? it should be:

1. Jordan
2. Jabbar
3. Shaq
4.. Magic
5. Wilt
6.Bird
7.Russell
8. Oscar Robertson
9.Tim Duncan
10. Kobe
11. Karl Malone
12.Hakeem Olajuwon
13.Julius Erving
14. Moses Malone
15. David Robinson

If Kobe wins the Championship this year then I'll move him ahead of Tim Duncan. I mean I really like Julius Erving but I don't think that he is in the top ten NBA players

your putting Magic behind shap?! wuteva

6/11/09

chancescars

0	Phelps_Phan09 wrote: he does come in the top ten of the greats with the form he's in! dude i dont care wut any body says kobe is a good player i'll give him that but he is a brat and a whiner. He would have had 10 rings by now if he wasnt who he is. hes like the Terrel owens of baseket ball. plus he aint as good as any Micheal, magic, bird, or any of thise greats. all yall r just over reacting

6/11/09

tina_marie67

0	kobe is god but not the top ten good maybe top 20

6/11/09

CrusaderX

The "TOP TEN PLAYERS" should be divided into two sections --- OLD SCHOOL PLAYERS and ACTIVE PLAYERS. I mean, how can you mix Kobe, Duncan, and Shaq with the other greats who has already retired?
The OLD SCHOOL PLAYERS have their own TOP TEN and the ACTIVE PLAYERS, also, has their TOP TEN!
My Top Ten: (OLD SCHOOL --- the ones with sexy shorts =) )
1.) Michael Jordan
2.) Magic Johnson
3.) Larry Bird
4.) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5.) Wilt Chamberlain
6.) Bill Russell
7.) Hakeem Olajuwon
8.) Jerry West
9.) Julius Erving
10.) John Stockton
My Top Ten: (ACTIVE PLAYERS as of 2009)
1.) Kobe Bryant
2.) LeBron James
3.) Shaquille O'neal
4.) Tim Duncan
5.) Dwyane Wade
6.) Carmelo Anthony
7.) Kevin Garnett
8.) Dwight Howard
9.) Steve Nash
10.) Yao Ming
(ALL OF THEM ARE NOT IN CORRECT ORDER)

6/11/09

nadioelcana

0	(Edited by nadioelcana) maybe he's not in the top 10, but i'm sure everybody will remember him as one of the best, just like jerry west and barkley (i don 't belive i just put those two in the same bag) and ewing and many others players that were know as the best in they era.....

6/11/09

Tarheel23_GOAT

You dont have to win a championship to be great or placed GOAT, everyone is so on KOBE's jock because of what ? when he was drafted u wasn't on his jock then ? when he sat down on the bench was u on his jock then ? Now for Jeff Van Gundy coming off saying this things about Kobe this is the same guy that crawled on the floor and got stomped between larry Johnson and ZO lol, and he says KOBE is better PERIOD ! he is just mad cause MJ use to burn his knicks lol, Like i said I dont like Kobe but he lacks alot in his game to bring him to GOAT status i wish everyone would stop comparing him to MJ please. Its sad and not far to kobe cause he WOULD NEVER COME CLOSE TO MJ PERIOD

6/11/09

joeK

I would have to say he is a top 12-15 player in NBA history. Here are the players I would rank ahead of him: Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Karl Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving and maybe Kevin Garnett. He is really close to Bird and Magic in my opinion. It will be hard to reach top 5 status for him but he will definitely retire as a top 10 player in NBA history.

6/13/09

Tyrod

1	Kobe is top 5. Ballin

6/13/09

arveygrant211

0	kobe braynt can be like mike n lakers hes a all aorund players with good attitude

6/14/09

jjbballer

0	100%InjuryRate wrote: Dr. J is in the top 10 because of that 'fro. And because he was the first dude to dunk from the free throw line. well I gotta agree with you... his fro was frotastic!