Kobe Bryant is not the second greatest player in NBA history, A.I. 

Kobe went to three straight finals after Shaq left, he lost to Boston in 08, beat Orlando in 09, and got his revenge on Boston in 2010. Kobe three year run to the finals is undervalued and taken for granted.

Allen Iverson played against Prime Jordan, Prime Kobe and Prime Lebron. His opinion trumps any sports commentator's, especially those who'd never played in the NBA. And at the end of the day, its Iverson's opinion. He does not have to bow down to the ESPN force-fed narrative.

So Kobe is punished for playing with Shaq, but Lebron isn't penalized for hopping teams, stacking the deck wherever he goes, orchestrating over 70 trades, and playing with the likes of Bosh, Wade, Kyrie, Love, Ray Allen, Westbrook, Melo, Shaq, Dwight, and AD? Make it make sense.

Wtf! This man is with his ancestors! You can't kill or try to diminish Kobe's legacy and what he contributed to the league for 20yrs. Just stop it and let this man Rest in Peace!

The fact that most players, past and present would pick Kobe over Lebron speaks volume.

Can’t stand how these commentators go out of their way to discredit Kobe. All of his peers say he’s Top 5.

Im startin to think its a hidden agenda to erase Kobe from history

Under LeBron ERA: - All-star game rule change - Play-in Tournament - In-season Tournament - 6 Finals losses - 2 Finals Sweeps - Team hopped 3 times - Played with 8 all-stars - Gave up 6 times in the playoffs - Called league office 3 times for foul calls I mean, how much more help does LeBron really need? How is this guy top 5, let alone top 2? Kobe is definitely ahead of LeBron in any rankings.

People keep forgetting that Kobe Bryant had a TAINTED IMAGE. The league couldn’t market Kobe but if we being honest he was the best from 03-10

All u media heads give Kobe his damn respect

the disrespect for Kobe is insane

Shit sad I will never respect Stephen A smith again

Kobe is #2..All dayyyyy! #RIPMAMBA

Will never forget Kobe. He was a living legend before dying.

The level of disrespect towards Kobe amazes me. It's ridiculous how cats like Stephen A or Chris Broussatd, television personalities who's words carry wait for the casual fans out there, brush off Kobe like he was a bum. People who didn't see Kobe or can't think for themselves hear this, and assume it to be true. He's top 3 in my book, along with MJ & Kareem.

Kobe was more skilled then the other players he naming

Kobe top 5 definitely but my personal opinion he is number 2 on my list period

This Kobe blasphemy is outrageous‼️🤦🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️

This man is working for people who hate Kobe. Don’t listen to anything he says been a fool

Crazy how he says Kobe had shaq for 3 rings but doesn’t mention how magic had the number one scorer of all time kareem for all 5 of his rings. All that Kobe hate is all because that Colorado case with a white woman. But Nobody wants to say it

They love bringing up shaq but fail to mention Kobes the ONLY player thats been called a sidekick to go on to go to 3 finals without their Hero. Pippen didnt do it, magic didnt do it, any of the all stars Lebron played with didnt do it. Kobes the ONLY one to be accused of being carried to go on to damn near 3 peat with a completely different superstar

First off, getting to the NBA Finals in the East when it was considered “The Least” is not saying something. Kobe making it to 7 NBA Finals in the West, which has been the best conference for almost 25 years, means more then 10 NBA Finals trips coming from the East. And actually winning 5 of 7 means a lot.

People need to rewatch the three peat including the playoffs to see just how crucial Kobe was during that 3 peat..

Let's say he won two titles without Shaq and scored 81 pts in a game second to Wilt and footwork is second to Hakim and to quote all his peers killer instinct second to Jordan and never played on a super team and work ethic is unmatched c'mon man...carry on!

Stephen A. Brings up the fact Kobe’s first 3 rings were with prime Shaq but Lebrons first two rings came with Wade & Bosh. Wade had to tell LeBron in their second season together that it was his team and he needed to lead. No one ever needed to tell Kobe they needed him to take the lead. Kobe knew exactly what & who he was from the moment he entered the NBA even when they weren’t giving him playing time on the court because of the politics back then of a young player being able to come in from high school and take over.

I’m taking A.I.’s opinion over Stephen A. Smith’s opinion everyday of the week. The fact is A.I. played against both Jordan and Kobe, not to mention so many other top-100 all-time players, and so his opinion carries more weight.

I really don’t get the Magic vs Kobe. The same thing held against Kobe is completely ignored with Magic. He played with many peoples admission, a top 3 player ever, for basically his entire career. He was given 1 of his FMVPs because Kareem wasn’t at the arena during his rookie year. And had Kareem and Worthy won FMVP over him while playing together while Kobe had Shaq for 3 of his 5 titles.

Docking Kobe for playing with Shaq but not docking Magic or Kareem for playing with each other is ridiculous

Kobe is #2 in my eyes, Lebron couldnt take the Killer Bs to back to back championships

Stephen A wouldn’t have said this to Kobe’s face when he was alive

The fact that Kobe destroyed the best Celtics team I have ever seen and I am a Celtics fan. I cried that night, but I had to admit him. he was literally the best player I had ever seen besides jordan ,he was unstoppable.

He was once challenged by shannon that magic ddnt win without kareem and he responded "thats a stry for another day"

Kobe #2 Greatest Basketball in NBA history!!!

Hold on, Shaq wouldn't have gotten his 3 rings if he didn't have Kobe

As dominant as Shaq was Phil Jackson didn’t have to ask Shaq to tone it down or they would lose Kobe. When he asked Kobe that Kobe was on a run of how many straight 40point games? Since he was in a lakers uniform there were people dimming his light, toning him down, trying to get the ball out his hand.

This generation is all about participation trophy and social media influence. Jordan, Kobe, Kareem, Magic, Bird etc are the true legends. LeBron? Please, don't even mention his overrated name anymore.

Kobe number 2 Rest In Peace 🙏🏿

That hypocrisy from him is insane. We gon ignore that lebron won his 2 first rings with D wade who was top 5 player in 2011. Please give the Mamba his respect. Most of the players who played against both. Almost pick kobe over lebron.

I'm usually on Stephen A. Smith side of things. But did y'all just forget What Kobe was like ?? Like the competition he faced in the west and also getting it done in the finals. Kobe was that dude man. I just find it crazy y'all forgot what that Killa use to do to everyone 🤣

1. jordan (not even close to an argument) 2. shaq lebron kobe kareem, magic, wilt (arguments can be made for alll as 2nd best ever) anyone without a bias would have something similar to say here

What I don’t understand is why Kobe gets shit for winning 3 with Shaq, when Magic had Kareem for all his rings? Kobe still won 2 without a top 75 player. Not tryna argue, but just tryna understand why things like that get overlooked when discrediting Kobe

Most NBA players say differently from yall media folks. That should tell you something!

Kobe had 12 defensive selections? Wow

I love seeing all the love on this page from the Fans. We know! Long live the Mamba!! Thank you AI.

Kobe is #2 in my imo

Man so quick to point out first three were with Shaq but no mention how Lebrons first two were with a Superteam (and still lost two finals embarrassingly). Cavs title was another superteam attempt he jumped to after Miami aged. Then he runs to the Lakers and immediately starts planning a trade for AD, gathers high quality role players and won a bubble chip. It’s not that we want to put Kobe as #2, it’s that we refuse to put him behind Lebron. I can accept Kareem, Magic, hell even Duncan has a case to be in top 5

"GREATEST" is pretty immeasurable. Kobe inspired and entire generation of fans to either love him or hate him. Defenses were terrified of him. He was a KILLER scorer and put LA on his shoulders. I can see someone putting that stuff over MVP's and "finals appearances"

KD ballin with the Mad 😠 face like Iverson is crazy !!

Kobe’s the last player to make it 5 straight all nba and 5 straight all defense 1st team as well for 5 years in a row. Look it up

It's just funny how many people consider MJ the GOAT but then fault Kobe for being a carbon copy of the "GOAT" but for some reason it ends up being a knock against him not being the 2nd or even 3rd best player. It's criminal to have him outside the top 5 of all time

Kobe’s first 3 rings were won alongside Shaq. All 6 of MJ’s rings came with HOF’s Pippen and Phil Jackson. So what are you saying bruh? That’s not an indictment on Kobe’s greatness. His playoff averages are legit and he accomplished a lot.

What's wrong with placing Kobe Bryant in the top five NBA all-time greats, let alone allowing basketball purists having their opinions? The Black Mamba's place remains undisputed. #RIPMamba

Every year we talk about “lebron needs more help” yet Kobe wanted Shaq gone and went to three straight finals, winning two and they act like Kobe being better than Lebron is so outlandish. The disrespect is real

To say putting Kobe #2 is blasphemous, is even more blasphemous

The majority of players who competed against both pick Kobe. I will trust their judgement over TV commentators.

I remember crying like an infant when Kobe andy grandfather passed

Kobe absolutely has an easy case in the top 5. If we’re being real Kobe has the second best NBA performance ever based on the “game score” stat. Second only to MJ’s 69 point masterpiece against the Cavs. So only one player in history has proven to have a bigger one game impact than Kobe, everyone else is several levels below him. Kobe also has the highest pace adjusted PPG in nba history, not even Wilt or Jordan were quite the explosive scorer Kobe was. Kobe scored 81 points, the highest since wilt in 1962!!!! Arguably the greatest game ever played and inarguably a truly remarkable record. Kobe’s 9 strait 40 point games is the highest since Jordan did the same thing in 1986!!!! I don’t wanna type an essay, but Kobe beat more elite competition than anyone and at his peak was as good as anyone who’s played, besides MJ out of respect for the goat. I’d probably put him 3rd. Out of every all time player, Kobe’s career is the most misunderstood and disrespected. There’s a reason most hold Kobe and Jordan in such high regard, objectively no one else in history had the impact they had, especially in dominating one game. I don’t think anyone was really better at basketball than Kobe, besides Jordan due to extreme physical gifts (huge hands + ridiculous athleticism + supreme skill)

Forget championships. Forget awards. Lets talk Ball. Kobe Bryant gave more to basketball than anyone else period. The foot work. The knowledge. The sacrifice. Kobe gave more to basketbball than anyone ever has or will. RIP MAMBA. You all can call your BS GOATS. Kobe gave his body, soul, and pride more than any player ever. Never gave excuses. Never changed who he was. Im a 80s child. I watched the bad boY Pistons. Birds amazing celtics. Jordans 90s teams. Basketball saved my life as a kid. Its all I knew. Kobe is easily the Goat IMO.

yall saying lebron hopping to make super teams when in reality he’s the one who makes them “super”

Just the fact that Kobe made 9 first team defense & 3 second team should hold him much higher in the media but we all know their narrative.

How is Lebron over Kobe? How? Naw SAS clearly you and Kobe wasn’t that cool. Folks try to play these games stop how many did shaq win without Kobe or before Kobe stop the Kobe Slander when folks share their honest opinion from playing the man

Kobe has to be #2 because the media is trying SO hard to protect their chosen one😂Greatness doesn't have to be protected or shoved down anyone's throats. It just IS. The media rides lebron so HARD. And stephen acting like A.I.s the only professional to ever say this is hilarious

Any time an argument for a playoff starts with numbers you know the fix is in.

The momba mentality is always goated. No one had heart like Kobe

I would give Kobe more credit, for his two rings, with Pau Gasol, than I would LeBron, for his two titles with D-Wade, Ray Allen and Bosh. A lot of player can win rings with Wade and Bosh. Who was Pau winning anything with, before Kobe? Wade won a ring, with nobody but an over-the-hill Shaq.

My problem with this is that there are a lot of factors and it’s honestly an unfair comparison to compare players who played at different times, even with overlap. Rules change, style of play changes, etc. The pace today is higher and players shoot more 3s. In ‘96 (when Kobe was drafted) coaches didn’t let rookies play much so out of the gate LeBron had an advantage on individual accomplishments. LeBron played with super teams once he went to Miami and in an easier conference. His greatest competition was Boston who only won once and Toronto who never made it to the Finals. Kobe played in a tough western conference and actually did well against the Spurs. Something no one else in this conversation can say. Kobe’s best teammate in his post Shaq career was Gasol. Gasol was a great player, but he wasn’t D Wade, AD, or Kyrie. Kobe has the most wins against 50 win teams in the playoffs - a record that should hold for a long time. When they actually guarded each other (not just playing in the same game) Kobe won those head to heads despite being smaller. I think the main difference between the two is that LeBron is a better floor raiser. He’ll get your team to go deep in the playoffs no matter what the roster is - almost guaranteed. Kobe though is the one who once your team is good enough to be a title contender is going to get a win more times than not. His 2 losses in the Finals were against the Celtics who also beat LeBron and the Pistons when he had a toxic locker room (feuds with Shaq and Karl Malone) and off the court distractions (rape trial). Which by the way, that rape trial is when the media turned on him. No player has 12 All NBA defensive awards while also having 30k points. I didn’t even get into adjusting numbers for pace or style of play (guys shoot more 3s now and also shoot them at higher percentages because they take more of them). At the end of the day, you had to watch them both play and there is no right answer, but Kobe belongs in the conversation despite what stats may say. Otherwise if you want to be so attached to stats without context then Wilt is the GOAT.

Kobe is #2! Pretty much right there with MJ on every level.

Kobe is EASILY #2 behind MJ. The media only mentions Lebron because he is still alive and playing. They know this foolish debate draws anger and therefore lucrative.

Kobe Bryant was the second greatest behind Michael Jordan there is no doubting it everyone has said he is the closest thing to Jordan and Jordan was the greatest every NBA player that has played against him and LeBron knows Kobe was way better than LeBron

Greatness can also be about who you beat to get there. With Kobe’s 5 rings look at the teams he beat to get there. Those 2000s Spurs teams. Tmac and Yaos rockets. Melos Nuggets. Nashs Suns. And that’s without mentioning the Kings and Blazers of the early 2000s. Unless we’re talking big 3 Celtics everything was a cake walk for Lebron until he got to the finals

95% of players have Kobe and mike above everyone else and say its hard to put kobe below Mike

How a media dude gon tell someone who played all 3 of these guys he’s wrong nah wtf is the world coming too

Bro Kobe was literally locking mfs up 😅

Michael Jordan won his 5th NBA Championship at Age 34, Kobe Bryant won his 5th NBA Championship at Age 31, and LeBron James at Age 39 only has FOUR (4) NBA Championships, still chasing his 5th ring. Smh. And then at Age 35, Michael Jordan won his 6th (SIXTH) NBA Championship, at Age 35, Kobe Bryant still had 5 NBA Championships, and at Age 35, LeBron James had 3 NBA World Championships and 1 Orlando Disney Mickey Tricky Bubble Ring. Smh. 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️

lmao he said we cant ingore the fact the first three came with Shaq in his prime. The last 4 for lebron came with d wade bosh kyrie kevin love, ray allen saving him and kyrie saving him plus Anthony Davis during the pandemic run with no travel while they complained about bein locked in Disney World lmao

If Jordans the best, and Kobe copied his game to a tee and as a matter of fact added to it, PLUS did it in a tougher defensive era, WHILE having to guard other monsters, and c’mon he’s got a great resume.. what does that make Kobe? 🐐

Stephen A. forgets sometimes that A.I. actually PLAYED against these guys?!???

Here we go with the mainstream media trying to undermine Kobe's greatness & legacy. With all due respect to Steven A Smith, I'm going to go with what Allen Iverson said. And if Steven A thinks Lefraud is the number 2 greatest player of all time he's bumped his head because lefraud isn't better than Kobe!💯

Kobe is the goat 🐐 🐐 🐐 🐐 🐐 for my generation.

1. MJ 2. Kobe 3. Kareem 4. Magic 5. Bird 6. Hakeem 7. Russel 8. Big O 9. Duncan 10. Shaq/ Steph

Salute to Iverson,. I also have Jordan and Kobe over LeBron. The Kobe disrespect has to stop. Stephen A. dont try to diminish Kobe because he was with Shaq when Lebron formed a superteam in Miami

Gotta agree with A.I. Kobe #2

Stephen A Smith should be ashamed of himself Kobe is the only player in history to face 4 50+ win teams in one postseason without a Top 75 teammate and only 4 teams has faced such competition being the 94 Rockets, 01 Lakers, 08 Lakers and 2010 Lakers the Mamba is responsible for 3/4 of them. Kobe has a 25-10 record against 50 win teams in the playoffs which happens to be the most in league history from 2008-2010, Kobe Bryant Beat As Many 50-Win Teams In The West As Magic Johnson Did In His Entire Career.

I don’t understand why Kobe gets discredited for winning championships early in his career. It took him 4 years to get a ring. You could argue he was the best in the world by ‘03 season. Stats wise Lebron wins but ball in 2010s turned into something else after 2013 , late 90s and 2000s has some great ballers and was a very defensive era. You could argue Kobe top 5 , top 10. Top 3 is hard because of stats because if it’s about winning Kobe has a better playoff and finals record.

How dare he say if Lebron plays literally no defense no defense the Kobe Disrespect is trash

Kobe is the best. He had to play through the old school rules and new soft rules. Kobe brought the game back on his last game. It was memorable.

Thank god he only speaks for him self and nobody else

I swear this man live live off of hypotheticals if I I was a millionaire. Doesn't guarantee I could balance a checkbook

Kobe is ahead of Lebron in my book.

Kobe got his rings with PRIME SHAQ. Well GUESS WHAT? Lebron got his ring with PRIME WADE, PRIME BOSH, PRIME AD, AND PRIME KYRIE! Shaq never considered Kobe as his 'ROBIN', and Kobe was the closer of the team. On the other hand, Lebron has DWade and Kyrie closing games for him. You're delusional to think that Lebron is clutch, when he can't even make his Freethrows under pressure or not.

Kobe was one of the best 2 way players all time.

I would d pay a million dollars to debate with this man about this topic

Jordan was the best player ever most had ever seen and Kobe mimicked all his moves🤙🏿skill wise Kobe is the 2nd best ever. The players who played against Kobe mj lebron all rank Kobe ahead of lebron way before Kobe died the lebron being even top 5 was all media manipulation 💯

Plus, LBJ was at the weaker eastern conference and needed a super team to reach the NBA FINALS. Look at him now at the western conference, he’s struggling despite having AD with him. And even if LBJ reached the finals alot of times, he doesn’t have a winning record to show.

Stephen, this is meant with zero disrespect but I am going to listen to someone that actually battled Mike and Kobe at a level higher than most ever could. I trust the Answer.

So we're not gonna talk about the competition that Kobe had to go through to get to those finals, are we not gonna talk about how Kobe was waiting for Lebron in the finals and Lebron couldn't even get that done, so we never got to see Lebron VS Kobe. I thought it was all about winning. I'm seeing that it's more about stats now

I’m tired of this disrespect to Kobe man he really is like that 🤦🏾‍♂️💯RIP 🐐

A.I was nice as hell

Gilbert’s take on this was perfect.

Can't a man have his opinion without the paid media coming out to undermine? We are allowed to agree to disagree. People lose their minds if you dare say Kobe is better Lebron. The mainstream media fail to realize there are people that don't worship Lebron's every move. They've moved the goal post so many times to force him down our throats when it used to be about winning. He's a great player but he's nowhere near being the GOAT.