When basketball fans debate who the greatest player in the history of the NBA, the conversation typically revolves around Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Despite his two-decade-long career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant’s name doesn’t always come up as often in the GOAT debate.
On “The Big Podcast,” Shaquille O’Neal asked Draymond Green why Kobe isn’t considered as much as Jordan or LeBron in the greatest-of-all-time conversation. Green shared an insightful response.
“Number one, he played with you, and people hold that against him. Number two, Kobe kind of fell in a weird time. And what I mean by that is Mike left the league. When Mike left the league, y’all were dominated,” Green said.
Green continued to describe how LeBron James’s rise impacted Kobe’s place in the GOAT debate. He referred to LeBron James, explaining that while Kobe was struggling with an underperforming Lakers team, LeBron was beginning to make a name for himself.
“And I think the amount of time that it was a consensus that Kobe was the number one in the league, like the top guy, I don’t think it was long enough for everybody to say, like to put him in that conversation. Because Bron then came and put his name,” he concluded.
Shaquille O’Neal Reveals How He Motivated Kobe Bryant
Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant shared an incredible partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers during their eight seasons. While Kobe was already a talented player, Shaq often played a crucial role in elevating his game by tapping into Bryant’s competitive nature. In a recent appearance on The OGs podcast, Shaq revealed an unexpected strategy he used to ignite that fire within Bryant.
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“I used to say things to make him mad on purpose because I knew that’s when he’d play his best. I’d tell him things like, ‘You’re not Michael Jordan,’ or, ‘They got this kid LeBron [James] in Cleveland who’s better than you,’” Shaq said.
Before his retirement, Bryant was instrumental in leading the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships. Although the former Lakers star is often overlooked in discussions about the greatest players of all time, the impact of his legacy remains indelible.
Also Read: Is Kobe Bryant The Greatest Laker Ever? Ranking The Greatest Lakers Stars Of All-Time.
