Up there as possible GOAT.
RIP
Absolutely crazy. He was congratulating LeBron just last night. One of those headlines I had to read over 3-4 times before it set in.
He was probably the best player in the world when I was growing up. Even as a Celtics fan, I can’t remember a more fun game to watch then his final game against the Jazz. Damn. RIP.
I kept checking sites not wanting it to be true. I’m still in shock. One of the best to play r.i.p Kobe. You will be missed. 
For a second I totally thought the original poster was being a jack ass, but that is really sad. Shame. He was one of the best.
Life is so random.
I can see why you thought that from the comment I made 3 hours ago in the heel v heel thread.
So Crazy timing Lebron just passed Kobe last night in Philadelphia where Kobe was born for 3rd all time in NBA Points. Staples Center was going to be crazy on Tuesday night in a Clippers vs Lakers match up now with this. Tim and Sid just this week did a whole segment on Kobe and the 81 point game he had against the Toronto Raptors this past week as it was the 14 year anniversary of it on Wednesday. January 22 2006.
RIP to Kobe and those other souls in the helicopter!
Even as someone who never paid much attention to basketball, the news shocked me. One of those people whose name transcended the environment where they made their name. His daughter along with a few other people were on board as well. Don’t know if their identities have been confirmed or not. RIP to them all.
Kobe Bean Bryant is easily a Top-10 all-time player (probably Top-5, and an argument can be made for Top-3).
A fierce competitor who helped change the game of basketball, a complicated pop-culture figure who was equally loved & hated, a complex man who was doing his best to grow & make the world around him better, and a caring dad who will be missed by his friends & family.
R.I.P. to “The Black Mamba”. 
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We took My youngest son to the hospital last night so I haven’t processed this but I’m still numb to the news.
Kobe was everything to me - I was a laker fan and I only got raptor season tickets to see Kobe. I went to every laker game with my jersey other than the one day I proposed to me wife.
I still wear my Kobe shoes and jersey when I play pickup ball.
This one is real hard. He was my favourite athlete after Gretzky (which was more as a child) and he’s almost the same age as me.
I can’t imagine the horror of the mast few secs knowing you are going to crash with your young daughter next to you.
There will never be another one like him
I’m gutted about this news. I didn’t want to believe it for several hours. I have been a life long Lakers fan. Life makes no sense . Saturday the world was celebrating LeBron passing his record and next morning him,his daughter and others are gone. Appreciate the people you love everyone.
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I live in Dallas and am a big Mavericks fan. I thought it was a really classy move by Mark Cuban to retire Kobe’s number for the Mavericks. Especially since as a player Kobe was one of the most hated opponents in Dallas and beat the Mavs more times than I can count.
But there is no denying what a great player he was and what he meant to the League. Especially in Los Angeles.
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Dirk had a very nice post as well on his Twitter as did Luca. Classy bunch of guys.
I’m still in shock. This one hit me hard and I’ve never been a Lakers fan.
Wow, too 3?
Sometimes I make my list and he’s barely top 10.
Top three is hard since you probably need to put Jordan, Russell, Wilt, magic, and Kareem above him at minimum.
However how you rank him, Bird, Lebron, Duncan and Shaq is subjective depending on How you value titles vs stats
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I have Duncan and LeBron ahead all day
Bird probably not
Right now my list is
- Jordan
- LeBron
- Kareem
- Magic
- Bird
- Duncan
- Kobe
- Shaq
- Wilt/Russell (tie)
- Oscar Robertson
Just missed: Dr. J., Steph Curry, Hakeem, David Robinson, Barkley, Jerry West.
I’ve got Kobe at 7, but I can definitely see an argument for Top-5, and if you’re an NBA fan slightly younger than me (25=35), I can see you elevating KBB to your Top-3. 
Im very close on this. Love seeing Kareem so high. Some people have him way back.
This may come off rude, but I don’t mean it in that way, it’s just a question I’m curious about…
I’d like to know how you guys come up with your top 10, 5 or whatever.
In my personal opinion, you can’t have players in there, that you didn’t get to watch play live. I’m not a basketball fan, so I’ll use hockey as my example. I grew up and my dad was a hardcore Boston Bruins fan. Bobby Orr was his guy and I’ve seen clips and old games replayed and I know he was great. I do believe he was probably the greatest of all time and I say that having seen most of Gretzkys career.
However, if I’m making a top 10, I can’t possibly put Bobby Orr in there, because I never got the chance to watch him on a game by game basis and see how he affected the game and made those around him better.
Yeah it’s hard.
I’m a big hockey guy too and in the same boat. I’ve seen Orr highlights and I can see stats. A defensemen leading the league in scoring. Insane.
Then I’ve seen Gretzky play and he was magistic. I’ve seen Lemieux have perhaps the most skill ever but be derailed bc of health issues.
I’ve never seen a pure goal scorer like Ovi - he can score from anywhere.
So how can I rank Orr up there when I haven’t seen him?
It’s hard. You use stats and extrapolate. But you have a very good point
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