“Didn’t Magic Johnson play with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?” Tracy McGrady calls out people who say Kobe Bryant isn’t on top-5 all-time list just because he played with Shaquille O’Neal

Some sports analysts have not included Kobe Bryant in their top 5 NBA players of all time list.

“Didn’t Magic Johnson play with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?” Tracy McGrady calls out people who say Kobe Bryant isn’t on top-5 all-time list just because he played with Shaquille O’Neal

Tracy McGrady feels that Shaquille O'Neal's presence should not mean Kobe Bryant is not a top 5 player in NBA history

The late Kobe Bryant left behind a legacy of greatness in the 20 years he played in the NBA. Being the focal point of the Los Angeles Lakers, he won five NBA championships during that time. 

However, some consider Shaquille O’Neal and his dominant performances to be the reason for those first three championships. Close friend Tracy McGrady thinks it is unfair to leave Bryant out of the top 5 due to that reason.

YouTube video

Speaking on his Instagram Live session, former All-Star Tracy McGrady talked about Kobe Bryant as a top-5 player in NBA history. He retorted to the claim that Shaquille O’Neal‘s impact affected Bryant’s legacy. 

FS Video
They say Kobe ain't top 5? And guess what they say, the reason why he's not top 5. Oh, because he played with Shaq. Didn’t Magic Johnson play with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was the all-time leading scorer? They so disrespectful when it comes to Bean. You ask anybody that has played against Michael Jordan and played against Kobe Bean Bryant. They would tell you Bean is top 5.
Tracy McGrady said

McGrady asserted that just because O’Neal was his teammate, it does not take away the fact that Kobe Bryant was not a top-5 player. All who played against Bryant would agree with McGrady.

The backdrop of this is that although analysts acknowledge Kobe Bryant‘s contributions to the game, they feel he was not the main focus of the Lakers team during the first three championships. They felt the presence of Shaquille O’Neal meant that Bryant was the second choice of the Lakers. Effectively displacing him off their top-5 lists.

However, McGrady feels that the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s game was such that even if O’Neal was there, his impact was felt much more in the game of basketball. Opponents feared when they went up against the former league MVP.

Kobe Bryant’s legacy goes beyond any Top 5 list

What analysts think is completely based on their logic. No matter how much anyone argues, they cannot take away the fact that Kobe Bryant’s legacy goes beyond any top-five list. 

His impact on the game of basketball and other sports leaves more of an imprint on his legacy than those lists. Such was his effect that anybody across the globe wanted to be like Bryant.

Not only as a basketball player but as his focus on various things in life. His Mamba Mentality became part of folklore across the world, both when he was alive, and even more after his death. Many people get motivated by the tales of dedication and discipline Bryant was famous for. Add to all of this, his personality both on and off the court.

People tuned in to watch him when he played. However, after he retired, people would clamor onto any news feed about him and his infectious smile. That is how Bryant’s legacy has gone beyond anyone’s basketball top-five list.

In case you missed: