Bleacher Report Ranks the Top 10 NBA Players Ever, With One Major Snub

Reaction

While it’s not a bad list, one glaring omission stands out: the late Kobe Bryant. Despite winning five NBA championships and scoring 33,643 career points -- among numerous other accolades -- Bryant somehow didn’t make the top 10. As great as Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry were (and are), there’s a strong case to be made that one of them should've made way for the Black Mamba. Either way, it's sure to spark plenty of debate.

2. LeBron James

Playing Career: 2003-Present

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Career History: Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-2010, 2014-2018), Miami Heat (2010-2014), Los Angeles Lakers (2018-Present).

Accolades:

- NBA's All-Time Leading Scorer (42,184)

- 4x NBA Champion

- 4x NBA Finals MVP

- 4x NBA Most Valuable Player

- 21x All-Star

- 3x NBA All-Star Game MVP

- 13x All-NBA First Team

- 5x NBA All-Defensive First Team

- NBA Rookie of the Year

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Playing Career: 1969-1989

Position: Center

Career History: Milwaukee Bucks (1969-1975), Los Angeles Lakers (1975-1989)

Accolades:

- 6x NBA Champion

- 2x NBA Finals MVP

- 6x NBA Most Valuable Player

- 2nd All-Time in Career Points (38, 387)

- 19x NBA All-Star

- 10x All-NBA First Team

- 5x NBA All-Defensive First Team

- 2x NBA Scoring Champion

- 4x NBA Blocks Leader

- NBA Rookie of the Year

- Basketball Hall of Fame

4. Magic Johnson

Playing Career: 1979-1991, 1996

Position: Point Guard

Career History: Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991, 1996)

Accolades:

- 5x NBA Champion

- 3x NBA Finals MVP

- 3x NBA Most Valuable Player

- 12x NBA All-Star

- 2x NBA All-Star Game MVP

- 9x All-NBA First Team

- 4x NBA Assists Leader

- 2x NBA Steals Leader

- 7th All-Time in Career Assists (10, 141)

- Basketball Hall of Fame

5. Bill Russell

Playing Career: 1956-1969

Position: Center

Career History: Boston Celtics (1956-1969)

Accolades:

- 11x NBA Champion

- 5x NBA Most Valuable Player

- 12x NBA All-Star

- NBA All-Star Game MVP

- 3x All-NBA First Team

- NBA All Defensive First-Team

- 4x Rebounding Champion

- 2nd All-Time in Career Rebounds

- No. 6 Jersey Retired League Wide

- Basketball Hall of Fame

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6. Shaquille O'Neal

Playing Career: 1992-2011

Position: Center

Career History: Orlando Magic (1992-1996), Los Angeles Lakers (1996-2004), Miami Heat (2004-2008), Phoenix Suns (2008-2009), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-2010), Boston Celtics (2010-2011) 

Accolades: 

- 4x NBA Champion

- 3x NBA Finals MVP

- NBA Most Valuable Player

- 15x NBA All-Star

- 3x NBA All-Star Game MVP

- 8x All-NBA First Team

- NBA Rookie of the Year

- 2x NBA Scoring Champion 

- 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team

- 9th All-Time in Career Points (28,596)

- Basketball Hall of Fame

7. Tim Duncan

Playing Career: 1997-2016

Position: Power Forward

Career History: San Antonio Spurs (1997-2016)

Accolades:

- 5x NBA Champion

- 3x NBA Finals MVP

- 2x NBA Most Valuable Player

- 15x NBA All-Star

- NBA All-Star Game co-MVP

- 10x All-NBA First Team

- 8x NBA All-Defensive First Team

- Rookie of the Year

- Basketball Hall of Fame

8. Larry Bird

Playing Career: 1979-1992

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Career History: Boston Celtics (1979-1992)

Accolades: 

- 3x NBA Champion

- 2x NBA Finals MVP

- 3x NBA Most Valuable Player

- 12x NBA All-Star

- NBA All-Star Game MVP

- 9x All-NBA First Team

- 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team

- NBA Rookie of the Year

- Basketball Hall of Fame

9. Wilt Chamberlain

Playing Career: 1959-1973

Position: Center

Career History: Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959-1965), Philadelphia 76ers (1965-1968), Los Angeles Lakers (1968-1973)

Accolades:

- 1st All-Time in Career Rebounds (23,924)

- 2x NBA Champion

- NBA Finals MVP

- 4x NBA Most Valuable Player

- 13x NBA All-Star

- NBA All-Star Game MVP

- 7x All-NBA First Team

- 2x NBA All-Defensive First Team

- 7x NBA Scoring Champion

- 7th All-Time in Career Points (31,419)

- 11x NBA Rebounding Champion

- NBA Rookie of the Year

- Basketball Hall of Fame

10. Stephen Curry

Playing Career: 2009-Present

Position: Point Guard

Career History: Golden State Warriors (2009-Present)

Accolades:

- 1st All-Time in Career Made Threes (4,058)

- 4x NBA Champion

- NBA Finals MVP

- 2x NBA Most Valuable Player

- 11x NBA All-Star

- 2x NBA All-Star Game MVP

- 4x All-NBA First Team

- 2x NBA Scoring Champion 

Reaction

While it’s not a bad list, one glaring omission stands out: the late Kobe Bryant. Despite winning five NBA championships and scoring 33,643 career points -- among numerous other accolades -- Bryant somehow didn’t make the top 10. As great as Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry were (and are), there’s a strong case to be made that one of them should've made way for the Black Mamba. Either way, it's sure to spark plenty of debate.