DeMar DeRozan and 5 other NBA players who hate opinions
By Dan Israeli
1. Kobe Bryant
Ok internet, set your cringe triggering to 10.
No player invites more all-out quarreling than Kobe Bryant, whether it’s over his placement among the all-time greats or his year-to-year value as an NBA superstar. The conversation hit DEFCON 1 when ESPN had the audacity to rank the Black Mamba No. 93 on its 2015 yearly list.
Now Kobe didn’t necessarily criticize ESPN for the 2015 list, but he did have a very Kobe response if you are physically capable or reading between the lines.
“I don’t need to defend that [ranking]. Nobody does, really,” Bryant said. “Please don’t ask me about silly stuff like that.”
Of course, when Kobe was asked about his ESPN ranking of 40th in 2014, he responded by calling the company “a bunch of idiots.” So if it wasn’t clear in 2015, it was abundantly clear the previous year what Kobe thought about his declining status on annual lists.
Was the ranking justified: In both cases, 2014 and 2015, probably yes? Kobe became an efficiency nightmare in his final two years, shooting well below 40 percent from the field in both seasons. Injuries and rest also cut out 63 games in those last two years. Still Kobe is Kobe and if he gets honorary All-Star placement, then why not honorary arbitrary list placement? The people want to know.