Kobe Bryant is among the greatest authentic scorers the NBA has seen. And amongst his stalwart patronage, the five-time NBA champion sits just beneath Michael Jordan atop the greatest of all-time rankings.
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When Kobe Bryant made his NBA debut, the 17-year-old kid from Philadelphia finished the game scoreless. Needless to say, it made for an abysmal impression in front of the Los Angeles Lakers faithful.
However, little did anyone predict that the 17-year-old kid would go on to make his name as a prolific scorer in the league in the following decades that followed.
Bryant was not just an offensive threat. One might even argue his forte lay within the defensive sector of the game. His drive and mettle to be the greatest two-way player the league has come across enabled him to amass a stellar five NBA championships, amongst other incredible individual laurels.
And having taken into consideration the gravity of his accomplishments, it’s no question that the Black Mamba deserves a seat at the head of the table. And Bryant’s former Olympic teammate, Kevin Durant has declared that Bean is a top two player of all time.
Kevin Durant puts Kobe Bryant just behind Michael Jordan
In a league that has witnessed a myriad of clinical scorers since its inception, arguably* the greatest authentic scorer in the history of the sport has had his say, while disclosing his opinions on Kobe Bryant, amongst other topics.
Kevin Durant once appeared on Jamal Crawford’s show, and it certainly made for an intriguing discussion. Amongst the topics mentioned, one that captivated the attention of the audience was Durant’s responses in a word association game.
Crawford queried Durant as to his thoughts on Bryant and the Slimreaper responded:
“Top Two”
Quite a bold statement from the two-time NBA champion, given that there have been a plethora of exceptional winners who have played in the NBA and defined an entire generation of athletes. Not to mention their paramount influence in revolutionizing the game.
Will the GOAT debate have a crystal-clear solution?
While there may be strong arguments presented for each athlete’s case regarding why they must be considered the consensus GOAT, a scenario as previously described will never come to fruition.
Between the three favorites in Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, one will never have a definite response as to who is the undisputed greatest.
Durant himself went on to brand LeBron James and Michael Jordan as the ‘Greatest’ and ‘GOAT’ respectively. While Durant’s intentions are obvious, it makes for a compelling story that the bridge between these icons isn’t as extensive as once believed.
And once you consider the stars of yesterday such as Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and so on and so forth, the gulf between these Trailblazers is marginal.
Thereby making it arduous even for fans to pick out an absolute answer. The only solution is to sit back and marvel at these incredible athletes and their magnificently decorated resumes.
