All-time rankings are quite subjective. How could you objectively order players and their careers? If we talk about intangibles, talent, skills, perhaps players that would never make the top 20 should’ve been considered the GOAT.
If we talk entirely about silverware, then no one would ever be close to Bill Russell. However, there are a few things we can all agree on when talking about the best players ever.
So, obviously those players that racked up an important amount of silverware and personal accolades, inspired on and off the court, won multiple Championships and scored over 30 thousand career points should be near the top of the list, isn’t that right?
I mean, not so many players check all those boxes, and ESPN decided to leave one who matched that criteria outside of their top 5: Kobe Bryant.
Kobe was ranked as the 9th best player of all-time in ESPN’s controversial ranking, right after Tim Duncan and ahead of Shaquille O’Neal.
Needless to say, the news infuriated thousands of Kobe Bryant fans, including current and former NBA players, like Jamal Crawford, who took his frustration to Twitter:
“Can’t really honor any list Kobe isn’t top 5…” Crawford tweeted.
Can't really honor any list Kobe isn't top 5…
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) May 13, 2020
That ranking had already been a matter of controversies earlier in the week as they’ve ranked Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of former greats of the likes of Allen Iverson and Isiah Thomas, despite the fact that he’s just 25 years old.
ESPN’s top 10 were Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal. While not many people would disagree with that list, it was the order that raised a lot of questions. I have to side with Jamal on this one, folks.
