When Bleacher Report recently slotted Kobe Bryant at only No. 11 on their all-time NBA rankings, behind Stephen Curry, Larry Bird, and even Shaquille O’Neal, it ignited a firestorm. Kobe’s placement outside the top ten, a spot many argue he’s earned, drew sharp rebukes from fans and insiders alike. Quite frankly, it’s just ridiculous.
Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former teammate and Finals rival, called the ranking “criminal,” leading a chorus decrying what they saw as a flawed valuation of Kobe’s legacy. But the numbers, accolades, and impact tell a different story.
Bryant retired fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 33,643 career points, the first to combine 30,000+ points and 6,000+ assists. He won five NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, an MVP award, and was named to 15 All-NBA and 12 All-Defensive teams, statistics that compare favorably, if not surpass, those of Curry, Bird, and Shaq in critical areas of scoring, defense, and championship pedigree.
Even career-by-career head-to-heads show Kobe edging out his peers. We have proof of that, and this article breaks down the case-by-case evidence showing why Kobe Bryant belongs ahead of Curry, Bird, and O’Neal. Let’s present the case.
NBA Championships
1. Kobe Bryant: 5 (2000-2002, 2009-2010) (3 points)
2T. Shaquille O’Neal: 4 (2000-2002, 2006) (2 points)
2T. Stephen Curry: 4 (2015, 2017-2018, 2022) (2 points)
3. Larry Bird: 3 (1981, 1984, 1986) (1 point)
Bryant’s five rings, spanning both the Shaq-dominated early 2000s and the Kobe-led 2009-10 duology, demonstrate not just peak dominance but championship longevity. That split over nearly a decade solidifies his edge, and that is a major win for the Black Mamba.
Shaq’s four rings came during the same early ’00s window, when he was unquestionably the engine. Curry’s four are impressive in the modern era of pace and 3-point overload, but Kobe’s runs were built on defense, star creation, and clutch performance that Curry hasn’t matched in two eras.
Bird’s three titles command respect; they were pure team executions of Bird/Auerbach magic. But Kobe had to reinvent himself post-Shaq, carry a franchise, and deliver championships in two distinct roles. That versatility puts him ahead in terms of numbers and legacy.
Finals MVP Awards
1. Shaquille O’Neal: 3 (2000-2002) (3 points)
2T. Kobe Bryant: 2 (2009-2010) (2 points)
2T. Larry Bird: 2 (1984, 1986) (2 points)
3. Stephen Curry: 1 (2022) (1 point)
Shaq earned three Finals MVPs during the Los Angeles Lakers’ dynasty run, but those came when Kobe was still developing his offensive arsenal. Kobe’s earlier three-peat rings didn’t yield Finals MVPs because Shaq was clearly the Finals’ best.
Kobe’s two Finals MVPs came without Shaq, signaling leadership and performance under pressure, no co-star overshadowing him. That alone distinguishes his postseason resume from Stephen Curry’s.
The same goes for Larry Legend. Bird’s two came with clutch legend credibility, and did it in a physical, defensive league, post-age 30. Curry’s lone Finals MVP in 2022 came amid a deep, talented roster; while justified, it lacks the weight of Shaq’s, Bryant’s, and Bird’s carry-your-team narrative.
Regular Season MVP Awards
1. Larry Bird: 3 (1984-1986) (3 points)
2. Stephen Curry: 2 (2015-2016) (2 points)
3T. Kobe Bryant: 1 (2008) (1 point)
3T. Shaquille O’Neal: 1 (2000) (1 point)
Larry Bird’s three straight MVPs remain vintage, a pure statistical reputation, charisma, and leadership package that defined the mid-80s. We haven’t seen a player accomplish this feat until now, even though Nikola Jokic came incredibly close. If anyone dominated the 1980s, it was Bird, and the MVPs prove that.
Stephen Curry’s back-to-back MVPs, including a unanimous one in 2016, reshaped modern basketball. His 2016 season is truly one of the greatest we have ever seen in terms of raw efficiency, because he nailed 50.4% from the field, 45.4% from three, and 90.8% from the stripe over that campaign.
Kobe’s solitary regular-season MVP in 2008 often gets overshadowed, but that’s because he was injured in the rings years. That season, his scoring title, efficiency, and team success coalesced in a perfect storm, a prove-it peak at age 30.
Shaq’s 2000 MVP felt almost inevitable; he carried that Lakers team while winning a scoring title, and there was no answer for him defensively. Kobe’s MVP, in contrast, required overcoming the shadow of Shaq’s legacy and carving a new identity. Gravity is often understated. Regardless, these two Lakers greats rank behind Bird and Curry.
All-NBA Team Selections
1. Kobe Bryant: 15 (11 First, 2 Second, 2 Third) (4 points)
2. Shaquille O’Neal: 14 (8 First, 2 Second, 4 Third) (3 points)
3. Stephen Curry: 11 (4 First, 5 Second, 2 Third) (2 points)
4. Larry Bird: 10 (9 First, 1 Second) (1 point)
Kobe’s 15 All-NBA nods tie him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in second place (behind LeBron James’ 21 All-NBA Teams), signifying not only longevity but consistency at elite output across seasons. That’s unmatched in this group.
Shaq’s 14 selections are elite; few centers ever dominated so long. But Kobe gets the edge for sheer volume and guard versatility. Curry has managed to earn 11 All-NBA Team Selections, although he has far fewer First Team selections than the other three players.
Bird, with 10 selections, was brilliant but simply didn’t maintain elite-level production as long or across as many styles of play. Injuries took a toll on Bird, but he still managed 10 selections, which is obviously nothing to sniff at.
In plain terms, Kobe stayed a top-five guard for nearly 15 seasons, adapting to teammates and eras. Shaq was almost as dominant but falls a bit short, whereas Bird was built for one dominant run, and Curry’s brilliance peaks when spacing and superteams allow it.
All‑Star Selections
1. Kobe Bryant: 18 (1998, 2000-2016) (4 points)
2. Shaquille O’Neal: 15 (1993-1998, 2000-2007, 2009)(3 points)
3. Larry Bird: 12 (1980-1988, 1990-1992 ) (2 points)
4. Stephen Curry: 11 (2014-2019, 2021-2025) (1 point)
Kobe leads the pack with 18 All-Star nods, third only to LeBron and Kareem ever, and the definitive face of the All-Star era from the late ‘90s to mid-2010s.
Shaq’s 15 selections reflect dominance at center; Bird’s dozen selections were solid but spaced across injuries and less marquee marketing years. Curry’s count climbs, but still trails Kobe. Plus, Kobe started them at age 19, Curry didn’t get his first until much later.
All-Star honors blend popularity and performance. Bryant was a superstar and storyteller every February, and so was Shaq. Bird will likely get surpassed by Curry next season, although the point guard’s All-Star rise came in a league Bird, Kobe, and Shaq had already made global.
All‑Defensive Team Selections
1. Kobe Bryant: 12 (9 First, 3 Second) (2 points)
2T. Shaquille O’Neal: 3 (3 Second) (1 point)
2T. Larry Bird: 3 (3 Second) (1 point)
3. Stephen Curry: 0 (0 points)
Nobody in this group comes close to Kobe’s 12 total All-Defensive selections, nine of which were First-Team. That’s elite two-way credibility, and there is no denying that Bryant is one of the most exceptional perimeter defenders of his time.
Shaq and Bird each earned a handful; they were impactful defensively as Second Team members, but played fundamentally different roles where defense was less weighted in their value. Curry’s defense has always lagged behind his offense; essentially no serious case for recognition.
It’s not just numbers: Kobe turned defensive effort into championships. He regularly guarded second-best scorers and delivered consistent rim help, something Bird and Curry never had to carry as much.
Career Win Shares
1. Shaquille O’Neal: 181.7 Win Shares (4 points)
2. Kobe Bryant: 172.7 Win Shares (3 points)
3. Larry Bird: 145.8 Win Shares (2 points)
4. Stephen Curry: 143.1 Win Shares (1 point)
Shaq tops the group with a staggering 181.7 career Win Shares, the most ever for a center, a testament to his scoring, rebounding, and playoff dominance at peak years. Kobe follows closely at 172.7, ranking high historically and leading Lakers icons in long-term value.
Larry Bird, at 145.8, and Steph Curry, with 143.1, trail, though both ranks reflect significant impact. Bird’s number underscores his legendary efficiency and leadership; Curry’s total is impressive but still behind the Lakers’ duo.
Career PER (Player Efficiency Rating)
1. Shaquille O’Neal: 26.4 (4 points)
2. Larry Bird: 23.5 (3 points)
3. Kobe Bryant: 22.9 (2 points)
4. Stephen Curry: 21.5 (1 point)
Shaq dominates the efficiency leaderboard with a formidable 26.4 career PER, reflecting his elite scoring, rebounding, and defensive impact at the rim. His PER ranks him among the all-time greats and sets the bar for physical dominance in NBA history. Bird, with an estimated 23.5 PER, earns his respect through versatile production, elite shooting, and all-around gameplay.
Kobe’s 22.9 PER places him solidly in elite company, a notch below Bird but still demonstrating consistent two-way excellence. Curry, at 21.5, trails the largest names in PER; his game thrives in spacing and shooting, though his lighter all-around numbers hold him back in this metric.
Final Score
1. Kobe Bryant: 21 Points (edge over Shaq because of more championships)
2. Shaquille O’Neal: 21 Points
3. Larry Bird: 17 Points
3. Stephen Curry: 10 Points
Kobe Bryant Is Absolutely A Top-10 Player Of All-Time
With Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal locked in a tie at 21 points apiece, the debate reaches a head, but Kobe’s narrative edges Shaq in lasting legacy and, most importantly, NBA championships. Shaq’s dominance was monumental, massive efficiency, relentless force, and a dominant peak. But Kobe’s career was a masterclass in longevity, two-way excellence (12 All-Defensive Teams!), and the sheer will to carry a franchise in disparate eras.
Meanwhile, Larry Bird’s 17 points reflect pure brilliance in a classic package, a transcendent leader who reshaped 1980s basketball, yet played fewer seasons and lacked Kobe’s adaptability to new eras. And Stephen Curry, with 10 points, leads the revolution in shooting and spacing, but his cumulative impact still lags behind the sheer volume of elite value Kobe put up across two decades.
In short: Shaq had the higher ceiling, Kobe the higher floor. Bird dazzled in his time, Curry changed the game, but in the arena of winning, all-around skill-set, and dominance, Kobe Bryant stands tall at the top of this ranking. Can we please turn off the noise of Bryant being a top-10 player and instead focus on where he is in the top five?
