Ranking the 10 Best NBA Players Since Michael Jordan

9 of 11

February 20, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts to a technical could called against him during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Kobe Bryant
1996-Present, Los Angeles Lakers, Drafted 13th
5x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 1x NBA MVP, 16x All-Star, 11x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 9x NBA All-Defensive Team, 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 2x NBA Scoring Champion

Career Statistics: 25.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, FG% 45.2%
Advanced Statistics: Career Win Shares 173.2, Career VORP 69.8, WS/48 .179, TS% 55.4

The self anointed Black Mamba is the second best shooting guard of all time, behind only Michael Jordan.

Kobe was, is and probably will forever be the most polarizing player on this list (which is saying something considering the list contains Shaq and Iverson), somehow concurrently beloved and loathed throughout the NBA.

Kobe has won multiple titles with two very different versions of the Lakers. First as possibly the most qualified “Robin” ever during the Shaq threepeat, then two more as unquestionably Batman.

Kobe probably has arguably the second best career of anyone on this list behind Duncan, yet despite all the claims to greatness Kobe has only been MVP of the league once and only won two scoring titles during his 18 year career, he sits 14th in Career Win Shares.

Undoubtedly the weight of his career statistics will weigh over time due to his remarkable longevity and usage rates, but as far as I am concerned, and I know this will get me labelled as a “hater”, Kobe is the third best since Jordan.

Next: No.2