Kobe Bryant named his all-time starting 5 and fans loved humble reason he didn’t include himself
Kobe Bryant inspired millions all over the globe over a stellar 20-year career. The devoted Los Angeles Laker won five NBA Championships, an MVP award, two Finals MVPs, and was named an All-Star 18 times. Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal won three consecutive titlesGetty Lakers great Magic Johnson and mercurial talent Allen Iverson both named Black Mamba in their all-time line-ups. But the legend himself refused to do so in a display of humility which only enhances the late icon’s greatness. He sat down with ESPN’s Neil Everett in 2009 — before securing the final two rings to seal his legacy — and put together his line-up. “Magic at the point,” he said. “MJ [Michael Jordan] at the two. Larry Bird at the three. Bill Russell at the four. “This is tough. Wilt [Chamberlain] at the five. I’m struggling because Kareem [Abdual-Jabbar] and Wilt are neck and neck.” Magic, Jordan, Bird, Russell, and Wilt. Not a bad five. There were some notable absentees — dominant center Shaquille O’Neal may have expected a nod after winning three straight titles with Kobe. Big Diesel included Bryant in his own starting five alongside Johnson, Jordan, LeBron James, and himself. Everett asked Bryant if he would at least be the sixth man in the team. “No, I’m nowhere near that stuff,” he said. “You still got Jerry West. You still got Oscar Robertson. You still got Walt Frazier. You still got Bob Pettit. The list goes on and on.” Kobe also picked his all-time Lakers roster and continued the theme of overlooking his own achievements. Kobe and MJ had a thrilling rivalry as their careers intersectedGETTY LeBron and Black Mamba went at it in All-Star gamesGetty Magic, West, Elgin Baylor, Abdul-Jabbar, and Chamberlain were the Hall of Famer’s selections. Bryant’s modesty was in stark contrast to his on-court persona, where he had self-belief oozing from every pore. Two years after the interview, Dwight Howard revealed how Kobe had given him his ‘welcome to the league’ moment. After forgoing college and declaring for the 2004 NBA Draft, he was selected by the Orlando Magic. Soon later, the high school superstar was given a harsh dose of the realities of life as a pro. “Kobe, he dunked on me. That’s when I realized I was still a rookie. NBA's Greatest Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone 10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals “I tried to just stand there. I was thinking he was gonna shoot a jump shot. “He came down the lane and dunked it so hard, and it was just like, ‘boom!’ “And I don’t remember hearing nothing else, but ‘boom’, and then I heard, ‘Oh, wow!’ “The whole crowd was in awe, and I was like, man, I just got dunked on. And that’s like the first time I ever been dunked on in my whole life. “I got clowned, not just by my teammates, but my family and my friends. “I could go to the mall and I would see a guy asking for an autograph, but he’d have a shirt that got a picture of me getting dunked on by Kobe. And that’s not a good feeling.”
Kobe Bryant inspired millions all over the globe over a stellar 20-year career.
The devoted Los Angeles Laker won five NBA Championships, an MVP award, two Finals MVPs, and was named an All-Star 18 times.
Lakers great Magic Johnson and mercurial talent Allen Iverson both named Black Mamba in their all-time line-ups.
But the legend himself refused to do so in a display of humility which only enhances the late icon’s greatness.
He sat down with ESPN’s Neil Everett in 2009 — before securing the final two rings to seal his legacy — and put together his line-up.
“Magic at the point,” he said. “MJ [Michael Jordan] at the two. Larry Bird at the three. Bill Russell at the four.
“This is tough. Wilt [Chamberlain] at the five. I’m struggling because Kareem [Abdual-Jabbar] and Wilt are neck and neck.”
Magic, Jordan, Bird, Russell, and Wilt. Not a bad five.
There were some notable absentees — dominant center Shaquille O’Neal may have expected a nod after winning three straight titles with Kobe.
Big Diesel included Bryant in his own starting five alongside Johnson, Jordan, LeBron James, and himself.
Everett asked Bryant if he would at least be the sixth man in the team.
“No, I’m nowhere near that stuff,” he said. “You still got Jerry West. You still got Oscar Robertson. You still got Walt Frazier. You still got Bob Pettit. The list goes on and on.”
Kobe also picked his all-time Lakers roster and continued the theme of overlooking his own achievements.
Magic, West, Elgin Baylor, Abdul-Jabbar, and Chamberlain were the Hall of Famer’s selections.
Bryant’s modesty was in stark contrast to his on-court persona, where he had self-belief oozing from every pore.
Two years after the interview, Dwight Howard revealed how Kobe had given him his ‘welcome to the league’ moment.
After forgoing college and declaring for the 2004 NBA Draft, he was selected by the Orlando Magic.
Soon later, the high school superstar was given a harsh dose of the realities of life as a pro.
“Kobe, he dunked on me. That’s when I realized I was still a rookie.
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Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama
Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone
10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus
Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals
“I tried to just stand there. I was thinking he was gonna shoot a jump shot.
“He came down the lane and dunked it so hard, and it was just like, ‘boom!’
“And I don’t remember hearing nothing else, but ‘boom’, and then I heard, ‘Oh, wow!’
“The whole crowd was in awe, and I was like, man, I just got dunked on. And that’s like the first time I ever been dunked on in my whole life.
“I got clowned, not just by my teammates, but my family and my friends.
“I could go to the mall and I would see a guy asking for an autograph, but he’d have a shirt that got a picture of me getting dunked on by Kobe. And that’s not a good feeling.”
