On Monday, Bleacher Report unveiled its highly debated list of the Top 100 NBA players of all time. The publication’s rankings were compiled by a panel of experts, including writers and editors, who assessed a pool of 500 current and former players. In the introduction to the rankings, Bleacher Report acknowledged the challenge of comparing athletes from different eras, stating that while statistics play a role, they cannot fully encapsulate a player’s greatness.
According to the rankings, Michael Jordan claimed the top spot, followed by LeBron James at number two and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in third place. Shaquille O’Neal narrowly missed out on the top five, finishing in sixth place, while the late Kobe Bryant, an iconic figure in basketball history, was placed at number eleven.
This positioning sparked immediate backlash from both O’Neal and Klay Thompson, who expressed their disbelief on social media. O’Neal described Bryant’s ranking as “criminal” in a post on X, emphasizing the widespread sentiment among fans and players alike regarding Bryant’s legacy.
Former NBA player Etan Thomas, who played for teams including the Washington Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks, also weighed in on the discussion during an episode of his podcast, “The Collision: Sports and Politics.” During the episode, Thomas remarked, “The level of Kobe disrespect is crazy to see. In what world is he number 11 all-time?” He further noted that such criticism of Bryant was less prevalent during his playing days, suggesting that the current discourse fails to honor Bryant’s contributions to the sport.
Thompson echoed Thomas’s sentiments by reposting his comments on Instagram, accompanied by a video montage celebrating Bryant’s iconic moments, including his remarkable dunks during the 2001-2002 season. In his post, Thompson expressed his frustration, writing, “And this is just Fro-be #8… WTF is wrong with ya’ll?” alongside a crying-laughing emoji.
Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career left an indelible mark on the NBA. He retired from the Los Angeles Lakers as a five-time NBA champion, an 18-time All-Star, and an 11-time first-team All-NBA Selection. His influence on the game and his cultural impact continue to be felt, prompting passionate debate among fans and players regarding his rightful place in the history of basketball.
As discussions around the rankings persist, it is clear that Kobe Bryant remains a central figure in basketball discourse, symbolizing not just talent, but also the emotional connection that fans and players share with the game.