Shaq Leads Furious Backlash Over Kobe’s No. 11 Ranking
A new GOAT list from Bleacher Report just sparked one of the most heated debates in NBA history—Kobe Bryant was ranked No. 11, and fans aren’t having it.
Neither are the legends who played with him.
Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s longtime teammate and three-time co-champion, didn’t mince words. He called the ranking “criminal” in a blunt post on X, igniting a wave of outrage across the NBA community.
“Kobe at 11 is criminal,” Shaq posted on July 14.
And he wasn’t alone.
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Kenyon Martin and Matt Barnes Fire Back
Former NBA forward Kenyon Martin blamed the analytics-driven media for the disrespect.
“They put all the information in a computer… it’s unfortunate that Kobe’s not here to speak for himself,” Martin said, referring to Bryant’s tragic 2020 death.
Matt Barnes, another ex-teammate, believes the slander only began after Kobe passed away.
“To me, Kobe is the second greatest player of all time. Period,” Barnes said. “None of this weird talk was going on while he was here.”
He added that real hoopers know the truth, and that the opinions of former players carry more weight than talking heads on TV.
In Bleacher Report’s top 10, Bryant was listed behind Stephen Curry, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Shaq, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan.
The authors admitted Bryant’s exclusion from the top 10 was controversial, calling him “perhaps the most influential” player in NBA history.
“From a basketball-reputation perspective, no one’s impact on the game has actively spanned more generations,” they wrote.
What Kobe Thought of the GOAT Debate
Ironically, Bryant once said the whole “GOAT” argument doesn’t really matter.
In 2019, he told The Athletic:
“The question to ask is does it matter? No. What matters is winning championships… Bill Russell is the greatest.”
But later that year on The Late Late Show, he cheekily ranked himself above the two players most often mentioned in the GOAT race:
“I’m the best. Michael [Jordan] is second best. LeBron [James] is third best.”
Whether you agree or not, ranking Kobe Bryant outside the top 10 has touched a nerve in the basketball world. When Shaq, Barnes, and fans across the globe call it “criminal,” itt’s more than just debate — it’s about legacy, respect, and one of the game’s most beloved icons.
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