RIP Kobe Bryant

Honestly, he was overrated before his death and now he's getting a posthumous bump.

Kobe was a great player. He's definitely top 20. I don't think he's top 10, and the people who argue for him being in the argument for GOAT are basing it largely on bullshit.

When he died there was a lot of "the greatest Laker" stuff. Depending on how you frame it, I'm not sure he's a top 5 player for the Lakers.

 

I think he's probably solidly top 5 if you only consider the portion of the career spent in Los Angeles. Kobe vs. Kareem is interesting if you completely ignore the part of Kareem's career in Milwaukee.

If you consider the full career, things get dicey for Kobe.

 

All true. I think it’s interesting because not many players would get that posthumous bump but it makes sense for Kobe, whose career had already been somewhat overvalued. That some even have him in the GOAT conversation is proof enough.

 

And so many Kobestans just seem shocked that people don't have him at least top three. It's really strange. He belongs nowhere near that discussion.

I saw someone post a top 10 list that had Kobe around 4, I think, and didn't include Wilt. In 1961-62 Wilt averaged 50 points, 25 rebounds, and 48.5 minutes per game. That's insanity.

 

There's a lot of recency bias on this list: Kawhi at 25, Wade at 26 and Giannis at 27?

 

I don't have a problem with Wade there at all. Kawhi is maybe a little generous but it doesn't bother me. Giannis could be top 10 someday but doesn't belong anywhere near 27 on a list of all-time greats at this point in his career.

And holy shit, just realized Dwight Howard isn't on the list. That's flat-out insane.

 

They're positioning it so he'll be voted the 8th best player and 24th best human ever.

 

MJ will move down to 23 and 45.

 

Kareem was unbelievable; people nowadays get enamored with Giannis swooping down lane but Kareems Sky Hook was unstoppable and before 35 he was the most dominant defender around (well he had to want to defend). Kareem hit FTs and could pass too. I’d take him 1.

 

Kareem had 6 MVPs in the 70's.