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Reading: The Reasons Why Kobe Bryant Is The 2nd Greatest Player Of All-Time
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > The Reasons Why Kobe Bryant Is The 2nd Greatest Player Of All-Time

The Reasons Why Kobe Bryant Is The 2nd Greatest Player Of All-Time

Eddie Bitar
May 29, 2020
6 Min Read
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When it comes to ranking the top ten players of all time, at least a few players will feel like they are disrespected by not being mentioned. After all, it is extremely difficult to choose the 10 very best players out of a legitimate 20 who feel they have a shot.

Contents
  • 1. Five Rings In Seven Finals Appearances
  • 2. He Never Left The Lakers
  • 3. Great Teammates, But Not Top 50 (Except Shaq)

While it is quite undisputed that Michael Jordan is the #1 greatest player to ever play, things get tricky as we go down the list. Wilt has the records, Kareem has the longevity, and LeBron is the most recent all-time great that is still playing. As a result, these guys feel they have a shot.

But one name is often disrespected, and that is Kobe Bean Bryant. Kobe is the closest thing to Michael that we have ever seen, and that should mean that Kobe should follow MJ in the pecking order. Kobe has the rings, the postseason success, the numbers, and the overall skill that passes the eye test.

Here are the reasons why Kobe is the 2nd greatest player of all time.

1. Five Rings In Seven Finals Appearances

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Kobe Bryant has some amazing achievements in his career, including a legendary 81-point performance and countless game-winning baskets that provided iconic moments in NBA history. But perhaps the greatest achievement in Kobe’s careers are his 5 NBA titles. When comparing to the likes of another Lakers legend in Magic Johnson, Kobe’s 5 rings in 7 appearances usurps Magic’s 5 in 9 appearances. Not to mention, Kobe has won more rings than LeBron James and Larry Bird.

Even though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 6 rings, he won 5 with Magic and had a stacked squad with the likes of Finals MVP James Worthy on the team. Kobe Bryant had the great Shaquille O’Neal, but he was the closer for the team and arguably just as important as Shaq for winning three NBA titles. Not to mention, Kobe managed to take down a superteam Boston Celtics (featuring a young Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett) with Pau Gasol and Andre Bynum by his side.

2. He Never Left The Lakers

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Another big mark in Kobe’s career, that he deserves credit for, is sticking with one franchise for his entire career and delivering 5 NBA titles to the Lakers. Imagine if Kobe decided to join forces with other superstars to form a superteam of his own, how many would he have won? Kobe’s killer instinct and flawless skill set would make him the best player on any superteam he formed.

When compared to LeBron James, his greatest rival in the modern era, Kobe’s 5 rings for the Lakers stand out more. He never left his team, sticking through it even when Shaq was traded. All he needed was a big man to help him rebound and defend with an inside presence, and he won two more. LeBron actually formed a powerhouse superteam with Dwayne Wade (a top-three player at that time) and Chris Bosh. If Kobe teamed up with Garnett or Nowitzki, Kobe would certainly have many more rings.

3. Great Teammates, But Not Top 50 (Except Shaq)

Credit: Getty Images

Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen to form the best defensive duo in history. LeBron James had Dwyane Wade and Kyrie Irving to take the big shots and be the alpha scorers on his teams. Magic Johnson had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the most consistent player in NBA history with the most unstoppable move ever.

But Kobe had Shaq for 4 years but was left to find his way after Shaq was traded. He managed to have Pau Gasol, a great player but not close to the likes of Wade and Pippen. MJ had the luxury of playing with Pippen throughout his career en route to 6 titles. LeBron had Wade and Bosh, then later joined a terrific Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Of course, Magic always had a great team with Kareem and Worthy.

No matter what support case Kobe had, he was always the main perimeter player and the man who took the biggest shots in the game. Once Shaq left Los Angeles, he never had the best overall team in the league yet managed to win back-to-back titles.

Next

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ByEddie Bitar
Eddie Bitar is a senior staff writer for Fadeaway World from Denver, Colorado. Since joining the team in 2017, Eddie has applied his academic background in economics and finance to enhance his sports journalism. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree from and later a Master's degree in Finance from Utrecht in 2018, he integrates statistical analysis into his articles. This unique approach provides readers with a deeper understanding of basketball through the lens of financial and economic concepts.Eddie's work has not only been a staple at Fadeaway World but has also been featured in prominent publications such as Sports Illustrated. His ability to break down complex data and present it in an accessible way creates an engaging and informative way to visualize both individual and team statistics. From finding the top 3 point shooters of every NBA franchise to ranking players by cost per point, Eddie is constantly finding new angles to use historical data that other NBA analysts may be overlooking.A lifelong basketball fan, Eddie grew up trying to mimic Jason Kidd's game. When asked which NBA player, past or present, he would most like to interview, Eddie's choice is clear: Jason Kidd. He admires Kidd's genius at playing point guard and his ability to lead a team to two NBA Finals appearances. Eddie believes Kidd is an underrated star who deserves more praise, and he would relish the opportunity to pick his brain and discuss the intricacies of the game.
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