Lakers News: Shaquille O’Neal Defends Kobe Bryant After Being Ranked 11th-Best NBA Player Ever

Bleacher Report's recent ranking of the top 100 NBA players of all time placed Kobe Bryant at 11th, sparking significant debate and criticism, particularly from his former teammate Shaquille O'Neal. O'Neal publicly denounced the ranking on social media platform X, calling Kobe's placement at 11th "criminal."

The Bleacher Report top 10 list, in order, consisted of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Stephen Curry. Kobe Bryant followed at 11th, ahead of Hakeem Olajuwon, Kevin Durant, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry West.

The article argues that leaving Bryant out of the top 10 is a significant oversight, regardless of personal opinions about the Lakers legend. It contends that Bryant's combination of statistics, accolades, championships, and the "eye test" should guarantee him a top-10 spot, validating O'Neal's criticism. The piece emphasizes that players who competed with or against Bryant consistently place him among the very elite.

It acknowledges that Kobe's standing in historical rankings has been negatively impacted for some by the increased focus on advanced statistics since his retirement. While certain efficiency metrics don't favor him, the article counters that those who witnessed his career firsthand unhesitatingly rank him at the highest level.

The piece concludes by mentioning 2025 top draft pick Cooper Flagg's challenging Summer League debut. Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggested Flagg needs development time, drawing a parallel (while cautioning against direct comparison) to Kobe Bryant's own early career progression with the Lakers, noting it took Bryant a couple of years to become a polished player.