Sometimes, conversations about the NBA’s all-time greatest players can get too toxic or chaotic. Fortunately, former Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady set the record straight on haters who continue to say that Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant isn’t top five all-time player.
Bryant first entered the league straight out of high school in 1996 as the Charlotte Hornets’ 13th pick and traded shortly after to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. From there, the young shooting guard would capture everyone’s attention by winning the All-Star Game Slam Dunk Contest in 1997 as a rookie.
With more eyes on him, Bryant found success early on during his career due to playing with Shaquille O’Neal in Los Angeles. The pairing would then reach its full potential once Phil Jackson took over the Lakers as its head coach in 1999. Under his guidance, the team went on to win three consecutive championships in the early 2000s.
While O’Neal demanded a traded that broke the All-Star duo up, Bryant would go on to make the Los Angeles his own team. With Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom as the primary pieces around him, the Lakers All-Star led the franchise to two more championships down the line.
When everything was said and done, Bryant ended his 20-year career as one of the NBA’s top scorers and most decorated champions in league history. Unfortunately, a helicopter crash claimed his life in 2020, ending his post-retirement career in an instant.
Former NBA Star Tracy McGrady Blasted Critics Who Said Los Angeles Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant Wasn’t an All-Tim Top 5 Player
While Bryant has his own fair share of supporters, there are some who don’t think the Lakers legend belongs in the all-time conversation. Former NBA star Tracy McGrady seemed to think otherwise, as seen in a video shared by CyrusTheVirus on X:
Bryant ended his 20-year run in the NBA with 33,643 points, 7,047 rebounds, and 6,306 assists. He has also won five rings, four All-Star Game MVPs, two Finals MVPs, and a regular season MVP in 2008, among others.
Although there are some players who hold a stronger case, such as the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan or the Lakers’ LeBron James, there’s no denying Bryant deserves a place in the conversation. With everything he has accomplished in the NBA, there’s no reason to exclude him in the top five greatest players of all time.
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