It is very difficult to establish a top 10 of the best players who have played in the NBA. Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are the usual suspects on those lists. However, according to former NBA champion Kenny Smith, James just makes his list at number 10 and Kobe doesn’t appear at all.
“LeBron is in my top 10 (of all time) BUT he is the # 10 … Kobe is not in my top 10.” @TheJetOnTNT isn’t bringing LeBron or Kobe in any way near the top of the all-time list.
Episode: https://t.co/gq3yj65s1U pic.twitter.com/GIHmXIakni
– Sports complexes (@ComplexSports) July 7, 2020
As he speaks in the load management podcast, Smith explains his choice. “It is much easier to score now which makes it difficult to judge children’s ability” Smith said of the modern game. “Why is it so easy to score. I was a good scorer, I wasn’t even a great scorer. I had an average of 17 points per game and I think my highest was 18. In that year I probably would have had an average of 26 points [now]”.
Are there nine better players than LeBron James?
Jet said its list included other players such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson and Nate Archibald. His list was clearly dominated by players of his era or earlier, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James were the most recent players. As he said, he believes the players on his list played at a time when it was more difficult to score.
But despite how difficult it was before, scoring over 30,000 career points is not an insufficient result, whatever the time. It is not the only criterion, but when you count the four MVPs won by LeBron and its three rings, it is a possibly impressive curriculum. Kobe has won five rings, led the league to score twice, won an MVP and was probably robbed more.
Smith’s argument for Nate Archibald’s inclusion was to lead the league in points and assist in one season. But he just had four seasons in which he averaged over 24 points per game compared to LeBron who scored at least 25 points per game in 16 of the 17 years he played. The only season he averaged below that was his beginner season.
At the end of the day, everyone has the right to their own opinion. While LeBron and Kobe lose Smith’s top 5, there are many people who would like them without hesitation.
