NBA players and fans unhappy with Kobe Bryant ranked at No. 9 on all-time greats list

Late NBA legend Kobe Bryant is considered one of the NBA's greatest of all time alongside players like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Bill Russell, Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. ESPN recently revealed their list of the top 74 basketball players of all time, ranked by their NBA ranking expert panel. The ESPN top 100 NBA players list ranked Kobe Bryant ninth, behind Tim Duncan and ahead of Shaquille O'Neal. NBA fans and players were unhappy with Bryant's ranking, stating that the late Los Angeles Lakers legend should be ranked higher. 

Kobe Bryant rank on ESPN top 100 NBA players list

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NBA world reacts to Kobe Bryant being ranked ninth on ESPN top 100 NBA players list

Nick Young, who played with Bryant from 2013 to 2017, was one of the first NBA players to comment on the Kobe Bryant rank. He stated that it is unfair that Kobe was ranked ninth and should be in the top three. Jamal Crawford and New York Knicks' Julius Randle also commented on the list. Crawford questioned the list, stating that he feels Bryant should at least be in the top five. 

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Fans react to Kobe Bryant being ranked ninth by ESPN

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Many fans were unhappy that the five-time NBA champion was ranked below players like Bill Russell, who averaged less than Bryant. However, some fans defended the list, pointing to the fact that the Boston Celtics legend had more championships. Many fans thought that Bryant should have been at number two instead of LeBron James. Lakers fans commented on ESPN's tweet, stating that fans now will not know who the real GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) is. Kobe Bryant played 20 seasons for the Lakers before retiring in 2016 and averaged 25 points per game. The Lakers legend passed away in a tragic helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.

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