Former NBA veteran Cuttino Mobley didn’t hesitate when asked to rank the greatest players of all time. On a recent appearance on All The Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Mobley offered a passionate and revealing take on the legendary trio of LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant, and he didn’t play it safe with his answers.
“I love Kobe so much, you can’t tell me nothing. Growing up, Mike was my GOAT, right? Mike was the guy.”
“But you ever watch Weird Science? And I know this is a quick hitter, but you ever watch Weird Science and you got to build someone? You build LeBron. You don’t build Kobe or Mike. You build LeBron. And that’s why I think. There’s LeBron, there’s Kobe, then there’s Mike.”
It was a stunning order from a player who came up in the late ‘90s, a time when Michael Jordan was not just the face of basketball but the icon of American sports.
But for Mobley, the evolution of the game and the sheer completeness of LeBron’s profile pushed him ahead of the others. Size, strength, vision, scoring, leadership, Mobley believes LeBron has it all, and that’s what ultimately separates him from even his idols.
This isn’t the first time Mobley has favored LeBron in these discussions. In a past interview, he openly admitted that James was the toughest player he ever had to guard, even tougher than Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant.
Mobley’s perspective carries weight. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, suiting up for teams like the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Orlando Magic. He faced all three legends in their primes, from late-era Jordan with the Wizards to peak Kobe in L.A., to a young, ascending LeBron in Cleveland.
Unfortunately, Mobley’s career was cut short at age 33 when he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition. The diagnosis came just after a trade to the New York Knicks in 2008, and further evaluations revealed the issue had likely been misdiagnosed earlier in his career. Forced to retire immediately, Mobley left the game earlier than expected, but his insight into the game has remained relevant.
Despite his early exit, Mobley has stayed connected to the basketball world as a media voice and mentor. His GOAT rankings reflect a player who saw it all, the flash of MJ, the fire of Kobe, and the force of LeBron, and came away believing the King wears the crown.
