There have been few better duos in NBA history than Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal when they were playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Both players are among the best in league history and will never be forgotten.
During their years together, O’Neal and Bryant won three NBA championships. There was simply no way to stop the dominant big man and dynamic scoring guard when they were playing their best alongside one another.
Where those two stand among all-time players is a major debate.
Recently, a new all-time ranking was revealed by Bleacher Report. In those rankings, Bryant was heavily disrespected and placed at No. 11 on the list.
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In order, the rankings were Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Stephen Curry, and then Bryant.
Those rankings did not sit well with O’Neal. He responded to the social media post from Bleacher Report about their rankings and sent a five-word message.
“Kobe at 11 is criminal,” he wrote.
Bryant played in 20 career seasons, all with the Lakers. His numbers were off the charts and he will always be known as one of the most prolific scorers to ever play in the NBA.
During his 20 career years, Bryant played in 1,346 games and made 1,198 starts. He averaged 25 points per game to go along with 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals. Bryant also shot 44.7 percent from the floor and 32.9 percent from three-point range.
As for O’Neal, the towering center played in 19 seasons. He dominated the league to the tune of averaging 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game over the span of 1,207 games and 1,197 starts.
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While the two players each had success without each other, their years together were unforgettable. Los Angeles was must-watch basketball each and every game.
There is one thing that sets Bryant apart from any other player that has played the game of basketball. His “Mamba Mentality” and brutal competitiveness were unmatched. Each and every game, he left every single ounce of energy that he had in his body on the court.
It’s a difficult job to come up with all-time rankings, but not having Bryant in the top 10 simply feels wrong. O’Neal clearly feels the same way.
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