Everyone has their list of the Top 5 and Top 10 best players in NBA history. Fans love debating it, but even the stars themselves are often asked about it.
Building an all-time starting five is also a bit of a different proposition than just selecting the Top 5 ever. And Kobe Bryant selected a combination of both in an interview after he had retired.
“I would never put myself in the starting five ever,” Kobe Bryant said. “I’d put the people that I’ve learned the most from. Being Jordan, Magic, Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Jerry West. Those are the players that I have learned the most from.”
(starts at 2:55 minutes)
This was a humble answer from Kobe, nobody would have begrudged him for naming himself in the Top 5. But as stories from many legends like Gary Payton have revealed, Kobe Bryant was the ultimate student of the game. So it’s no surprise that he would pick the players that inspired him, the ones he grew up hearing about or watching.
NBA stars are asked questions like these a lot, it’s something that basketball fans are always curious to hear. This wasn’t the first or last time that Bryant was asked something of this nature. And while he was humble here, there are plenty of people that have spoken out on his behalf and insisted that he is a Top 5 player in NBA history.
Kobe Bryant Made Allen Iverson’s All-Time NBA Top 5 List Among Others
Kobe Bryant was always the players’ player, in that, he gets a lot more love and respect from other NBA stars than he does from the media or even fans in these conversations. For example, Jamal Crawford once said he doesn’t respect anyone that doesn’t have Kobe Bryant in their Top 5 all-time. And Allen Iverson also put his longtime rival is his list of the 5 best NBA players ever.
For a lot of people, Kobe Bryant’s name comes out in the same breath as Michael Jordan’s and LeBron James’. Draymond Green named him third while giving his Top 5, and it’s clear that a lot of people feel this way. Kobe Bryant helped the Los Angeles Lakers win 5 championships, collecting 2 Finals MVPs and an MVP along the way. He deserves a spot in the all-time starting 5.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
