After another stellar regular-season performance for Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, the rising star suffered a devastating Achilles injury that has put his NBA career on hold for the moment, but hasn’t stopped him from expressing his opinion on an intriguing debate.
It is no secret that Tatum is a diehard Kobe Bryant fan, even though he plays for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ arch-rivals in Boston. The Celtics star worked out with Bryant before his passing and has idolized him for a long time, so it comes as no surprise that he holds the Lakers legend in high regard when it comes to listing his top-10 NBA players of all time.
Tatum Thinks 3 NBA Legends Stand Above The Rest
Along with making it abundantly clear that Bryant needs to be included in everyone’s all-time list of great NBA players, Tatum believes that if someone doesn’t have LeBron James and Michael Jordan also in their top five, then he finds it tough to listen to them.
“I will say anybody that don’t have MJ, LeBron, Kobe in their top 5, I have a hard time listening to… Them 3 are cemented in.”
(h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)
“I will say anybody that doesn’t have Mike, Bron and Kobe in their top five, I really have a hard time listening to them,” Tatum said on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast.
It’s safe to assume that many avid NBA fans and players who have played the game at the highest level have James and Jordan in their top five, but Bryant is where things get interesting, as some have differing opinions on the polarizing Hall of Famer.
Some believe it is a no-brainer that Bryant is in that conversation with arguably the two greatest players of all time, and others see the Lakers legend as much further down the list. Bleacher Report famously released its all-time ranking, with the late great shooting guard not even cracking the top 10, coming in at No. 11.
Although these debates will likely continue forever and evolve with players coming and going, it’s tough not to give Bryant his due for all that he accomplished while playing in a Lakers uniform for two decades.
Does Shaq Belong In The NBA All-Time Top Five?
GettyLos Angeles Lakers legends Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Shaquille O’Neal is another polarizing NBA legend, with many holding differing opinions on his Hall of Fame career and his standing among the all-time greats. O’Neal was an unstoppable force during his prime, as teams and players never really figured out how to contain him, given his size, speed, and skill, which were too tough to handle.
“You can,” Tatum said about putting O’Neal in the top five. “I think four and five are very interchangeable. I think those three are cemented.”
Despite O’Neal’s physical dominance, an argument could be made that he could’ve been even better if he had taken care of his body, which broke down quickly after winning a title playing alongside Dwyane Wade on the Miami Heat.
However, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and some iconic players of the past are viewed differently as time passes. Perfect examples of that are legends like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who at one time or another were likely staples in the top tier of all-time lists, with fans thinking it was unheard of to keep them out of the top five.
Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Names 3 NBA Legends That Must Be In Everyone’s Top 5