While much of the best NBA player of all-time debate now rages around Michael Jordan or LeBron James, Kobe Bryant’s legacy as one of the greatest to ever step foot on a basketball court is still very much secure.
Bryant’s achievements with the Los Angeles Lakers make him one of the greatest players in franchise history, even despite the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal all enjoying dominant careers with the team.
His multiple NBA championships – including the significant roles he played in them (he won two Finals MVPs) – means he is naturally in the conversation surrounding the best basketball player of all-time. After all, when he first came into the league and started to make a name for himself, it was the comparisons with Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan that caught people’s eyes.
In fact, it was at the 1998 NBA All-Star game that saw Jordan and Bryant face off, with the former explaining just why he had added motivation to beat the talented star.
I just wanted to make sure Kobe did not dominate me. The hype was me against him. I knew I wasn’t feeling 100 percent because I’ve been in bed for three days. He was just biting at the bit.
He came at me pretty early. I would if I was him. If I see someone that’s maybe sick or whatever, you’ve got to attack him. He attacked. You know, I liked his attitude.
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While Jordan would end up with All-Star Game MVP honours, the Hall of Famer knew that Bryant was destined for greatness, and so it proved with the kind of legendary career the late, great star enjoyed. When later asked to name his top five greatest NBA players of all-time, and whether he would include himself in that conversation, Bryant said he would never do so, instead opting to go with these legends below.
Jerry West
Given he predominantly played in the 1960s, it’s easy to forget just how great of a player Jerry West was. The 6 foot 3 point guard was a life-time Laker, winning the NBA championship for the one and only time in 1972. From starting his career in 1960 to ending it in 1974, West made the All-Star team an impressive 14 times, and was named to the All-NBA First Team on 10 occasions. As well as being a supreme scorer – he won the scoring title in 1970 – he would lead the league in assists in 1972.
He finished his time as a Laker and NBA star averaging well over 25 points per game, with over five rebounds and five assists too. West would then embark on a career off-the-court too, first as a head coach and then as a highly successful executive, and working hand-in-hand with Bryant. When asked during the 2010 NBA Finals whether he thought he could now be considered the greatest Laker of all-time, Bryant was emphatic in his answer.
No. In my opinion, it’s Jerry West because of everything that he’s done. Jerry’s body of work and the championships that he’s been responsible for, just my opinion, you can have your own opinion, it doesn’t really matter to me. In my opinion, I think Jerry West is.
Hakeem Olajuwon
The cornerstone behind the Houston Rockets’ back-to-back title successes in the 1990s, Hakeem Olajuwon was everything you could possibly want from a center and is one of the best all-time in his position. A defensive monster who could block shots at will and protect the paint so well that nobody dared trying to take him on, Olajuwon was a gifted scorer and passer out of the post. Possessing the kind of footwork even guards would have loved to have had, the Rockets icon played in an era with some of the greatest big-men of all-time, and essentially dominated them all.
In my opinion, he’s the best post player ever. With all due respect to [Kevin] McHale, Hakeem was phenomenal. I learned a great deal, obviously, just the details of the post game from him. Hakeem is incredibly smart and for him to take the time and welcome me into his home and show me different things is a tribute to his greatness.
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Larry Bird
A three-time NBA champion, Larry Bird was a key reason as to why the NBA was must-watch television in the 1980s. A bona-fide star who was versatile enough to play at either the three or the four, the Boston Celtics legend’s ability to make clutch shots and plays when games and titles were on the line are enough to garner him immortal status. As well as just how good he was, Bird would do things with his own style and natural charisma, including trash-talking opponents and making shots others wouldn’t even think about taking in the first place.
Add to that his collection of three MVP awards, his two Finals MVP prizes and the fact he was named to the NBA All-Star team 12 times, and it’s clear to see why Bird is held in such high regard, including by Kobe Bryant.
I will say as the years go on people really forget how great Larry Bird was. He was ridiculous. And I grew up in LA — just like everyone else here — hating his guts. Dude — the guy was just money.
Magic Johnson
One of the greatest point guards of all-time, if not the best, Magic Johnson guided the Los Angeles Lakers to incredible success during the 1980s. While is much made about the kind of physical advantages Magic had over some of his other positional rivals at the time, there’s no questioning he also combined that unique athletic ability with sheer passing skill and IQ. Johnson’s ability to know when to set up his teammates like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, and then when to step up his own scoring efforts, made him a coach’s dream.
Having previously declared Jerry West as the greatest Laker in history, Bryant named Johnson as the man to take that title during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
I grew up watching Magic, and I’ve learned so much from him. I can’t say that I’m the greatest Laker ever, to me he is. To keep it real with you, I’ve stolen so much from him, that my game wouldn’t be complete without him!
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Michael Jordan
What more is there to say about Michael Jordan that hasn’t already been said? Whether you’re a passionate statistician, or simply a basketball lover, the NBA’s greatest player of all-time is at the top of the list for most people. Now a global icon, the Air Jordan brand has taken on a world of its own, still going strong thanks to the remarkable legacy left by the Chicago Bulls icon.
Winning all six of the NBA finals he was involved in (as well as winning Finals MVP in each of those series), Jordan would claim five MVP awards across his career, with only Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar nabbing more with six. As well as being one of the greatest scorers the game has ever seen, Jordan’s work ethic on defence made him a nightmare to go up against on the other end of the floor too, winning the Defensive Player of the Year in 1988, as well as being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team on nine occasions.
It’s no surprise then that Jordan’s mentality to play hard night-in and night-out caught the eye and inspiration of a young Bryant, who has since detailed just how much of an influence and impact the former had on his career.
At that point, Michael provided a lot of guidance for me. Like, I had a question about shooting his turnaround shot so I asked him about it and he gave me a great, detailed answer but, on top of that, he said if you ever need anything, give me a call.
I truly hate having discussions about who would win one-on-one. You heard fans saying, ‘Hey, Kob, you beat Michael one-on-one.’ I feel like, what you get from me is from him. I don’t get five championships here without him because he guided me so much and gave so much great advice.
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