Over the years, fans have seen many great NBA players flaunt their talents from time to time. Each generation has its players that simply dominate that period with their impact on the game and winning numerous accolades in their career. The last two decades or so have been similar as well.
Players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry have had insane careers and they have a phenomenal resume to show for it. There is hardly anyone who might argue that there have been any other players that have had more impact on the league in the said time period.
Well, NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas seemingly agrees with it for the most part. In an interview, he was asked about his thoughts on the players that have run the league in this generation. While Thomas did include LeBron, KD, and Steph on his list, he apparently forget about Kobe and Shaq.
Via EssentiallySports:
I haven’t said this. But you know, when I look at you know historically this 15-20 year run of basketball. You know it will be defined by mainly three people; Durant, LeBron, and Curry. You know, those three guys in this era are gonna be the guys that get talked about, that get compared to, who’s who, this, and that. And it’s a beautiful thing. But when you look at this era, those three guys will be, you know, the guys.
It is true that all three NBA superstars that he mentioned have had unmatched careers in the league over the last 15 years or so. Be it winning NBA Championships or team accolades, the three have done it all. In fact, LeBron James has earned himself the recognition of being the GOAT for many fans.
On the other hand, Steph has established himself as the greatest shooter of all time and he also sits at the top of the list of most 3-pointers made in history. Lastly, Durant is known for his sensational ability to score at will, which has frankly given many opponents a run for their money.
Despite that, leaving Kobe and Shaq off the list is astonishing. There is a possibility that Thomas might have forgotten about them. After all, the two superstars had already achieved a lot in their careers in the early 2000s. While Shaq started to show signs of decline in the late 2000s, Kobe won two rings in 2009 and 2010.
Whatever be the case, it is a hot take from the NBA Hall of Famer and he might be met with some criticism from fans for his comments.
