View Full Version : NBA: Where does Kobe rank?
Just because the discussion is going to be all over ESPN and such for about a week, might as well have a poll. With his 4th title Kobe joins a much smaller club, not to mention the whole winning without Shaq thing. I'm not a fan of using championships to measure greatness, but this was a big step for those who do. So following these Finals, where does Kobe rank all-time?
Currently, #1. All-time, top 10 bottom half.
1) MJ
2) Chamberlain
3) Russell
after this I'd say in no particular order: Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Kobe Bryant, George Mikan, Larry Bird, Shaq and Kareem
I think Wilt is the Cy Young of basketball. Played such a different game, just difficult to evaluate.
Lone Wolf
06-15-2009, 04:11 AM
The poll doesn't have enough options. I would have voted him top 10, but it wouldn't surprise me if people had him higher or lower on the list.
The poll doesn't have enough options. I would have voted him top 10, but it wouldn't surprise me if people had him higher or lower on the list.
For specific placement give your list, but the two most commonly discussed spots are greatest ever or 2nd greatest to Jordan.
Who in their right mind is calling Kobe a top 3 player all time?
Da Raider
06-16-2009, 06:14 PM
He's legit for top 10 of all time. And I would put him below only Michael Jordan for best Shooting Guard of all time. Apologies to Jerry West and Oscar Robertson.
Swurgen
06-16-2009, 07:22 PM
Russell is overrated.
I'm assuming you're doing era vs era because obviously nobody up until maybe the 80's were athletic / physical enough to even pretend to cover Kobe.
STDSkillz
06-16-2009, 07:28 PM
I think Wilt is the Cy Young of basketball. Played such a different game, just difficult to evaluate.
I agree with you, but I still have Wilt ahead of Kobe.
Who in their right mind is calling Kobe a top 3 player all time?
Agree again.
He's legit for top 10 of all time. And I would put him below only Michael Jordan for best Shooting Guard of all time. Apologies to Jerry West and Oscar Robertson.
I'm not even sure if Kobe makes my top ten list or not.
mongo
06-16-2009, 07:30 PM
i'd put duncan in my top 10 before kobe.
Genius
06-16-2009, 07:44 PM
Kobe is Top 10, not Top 5, and certainly not Top 2. I think Russell is actually underrated. I still like MJ, Magic, Russell, Shaq, Bird, and Chaimberlain above Kobe. As much as Kobe has improved defensively, he isn't close to any of those players at their peak. And take a look at Bird's per game averages in almost every stat compared to Kobe, Bird wins. He's getting there, and maybe he still even has a little more room to grow. Jordan still did when he was Kobe's age.
Kobe is Top 10, not Top 5, and certainly not Top 2. I think Russell is actually underrated. I still like MJ, Magic, Russell, Shaq, Bird, and Chaimberlain above Kobe. As much as Kobe has improved defensively, he isn't close to any of those players at their peak. And take a look at Bird's per game averages in almost every stat compared to Kobe, Bird wins. He's getting there, and maybe he still even has a little more room to grow. Jordan still did when he was Kobe's age.
Larry Bird was white, doesn't count.
STDSkillz
06-16-2009, 07:49 PM
Genius, you think Shaq's defense was great? Even if his prime, I thought Shaq's defense was lame at best. Could never defend the pick and roll.
Genius, you think Shaq's defense was great? Even if his prime, I thought Shaq's defense was lame at best. Could never defend the pick and roll.
Shaq was dominant enough doesn't matter to me. I don't follow basketball nearly as much as baseball, so I might be wrong, but I don't think I'd take any center before Shaq.
Genius
06-16-2009, 07:50 PM
Larry Bird was white, doesn't count.
Larry Bird was the blackest white dude to ever ball.
Larry Bird was the blackest white dude to ever ball.
White Chocolate's going to cut you
Genius
06-16-2009, 07:54 PM
Genius, you think Shaq's defense was great? Even if his prime, I thought Shaq's defense was lame at best. Could never defend the pick and roll.
For about 10 years, Shaq completely dictated the opponent's offensive approach. Kobe has never changed the opponent's offense. He's an above-average on-ball defender, but when you played Shaq from around 92-02, the first question was, how do we get around Shaq?
Genius
06-16-2009, 07:55 PM
White Chocolate's going to cut you
White Chocolate couldn't cut a rug.
For about 10 years, Shaq completely dictated the opponent's offensive approach. Kobe has never changed the opponent's offense. He's an above-average on-ball defender, but when you played Shaq from around 92-02, the first question was, how do we get around Shaq?
I beg to differ that Kobe's never changed a team's offense. How many all-defensive teams have Kobe made?
Genius
06-16-2009, 08:00 PM
I beg to differ that Kobe's never changed a team's offense. How many all-defensive teams have Kobe made?
Okay, I was wrong about that. He's much better than a gave him credit for. But he still never changed games like Shaq did.
Not many guards do. Centers are in the paint. If you're good, you basically can take away the inside game.
Soup Nazi
06-16-2009, 08:51 PM
I have no doubt that when Kobe retires and all is said and done, he WILL make my top 10. That being said, he is just outside of it right now for me. I'm sure most will disagree(especially with 7-10), but this is how I would rank them right now:
1) Michael
2) Wilt
3) Kareem
4) Magic
5) Russell
6) Bird
7) Oscar
8) Duncan
9) Dr. J
10) Shaq
11) Kobe
EDIT: Now that I think about it, Hakeem/Baylor/West all might be on the same level as Kobe for me. Eh, I'll keep it as is for now.
freegood
06-16-2009, 08:56 PM
He's not even the greatest Laker.
Magic
Jerry West
Kareem
George Mikan (diff era to prove a point)
Kobe
Shaq
Jericho
06-16-2009, 09:00 PM
John Stockton.
Mustard
06-17-2009, 01:02 AM
John Stockton.
Don't forget Jeff Hornacek.
Ace Rockola
06-17-2009, 01:06 AM
Simmons wrote a pretty lengthy column on this subject:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090616&sportCat=nba
Da Raider
06-19-2009, 03:36 PM
Simmons wrote a pretty lengthy column on this subject:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090616&sportCat=nba
Bill Simmons: Completely unable to be anything but biased against anything having to do with the Lakers.
I like his general NBA columns, but for him and the rest of the Celtic Nation to claim that the Celtics would have easily won the NBA Title with a healthy KG is an absurd assumption.
Also, I have no idea how he can read Kobe's mind, PJ's mind, or any of the rest of the Lakers minds for that matter. Does he really think that every single thing that Kobe does is pre-meditated? Give me a fucking break. Kobe's sole obsession is with winning. Plain and simple.
Menace2Sobriety
06-19-2009, 04:37 PM
3rd best Laker maybe. Probably not though WiltMagicKareemShaqBaylorWestMadsen
Da Raider
06-19-2009, 04:54 PM
Elgin Baylor is by far one the most under rated players of all time.
redhotchilis
06-20-2009, 12:04 AM
MJ
Kareem
Magic
Kobe
mongo
06-20-2009, 12:05 AM
seriously? gtfo.
blakegriffin
08-03-2009, 06:00 AM
Call me crazy guys! In the next three to five years, Kobe will be on the lower ranks and the ones who go high will be Derrick Rose, the future "MVP".
Kobe is great, but Rose is much more than him.
thagamesova
09-21-2009, 11:41 AM
Definitely Top 10 but not in the Top 3.
thagamesova
09-21-2009, 04:45 PM
Call me crazy guys! In the next three to five years, Kobe will be on the lower ranks and the ones who go high will be Derrick Rose, the future "MVP".
Kobe is great, but Rose is much more than him.
Rose is really good, but will never be on Kobe's level in my opinion.
thagamesova
09-21-2009, 04:46 PM
MJ
Kareem
Magic
Kobe
Think Wilt and Robertson might have the edge on him at this point too.