An NBA analyst is creating a debate after leaving Kobe outside his top 5 best

In the NBA world, every expert, analyst, and fan had their list of their top best basketball players of all time. Recently the ESPN commentator gave his list of who he considered to be the top five NBA players of all time. Whoever he left outside the top was going to create controversy, but to the surprise of everybody, he left out Kobe Bryant.

Smith has really good reasoning behind his decision. Still, Lakers fans are surprised to hear that Kobe Bryant isn´t considered in the top 5 of the best players. Stephen's list goes like this, without any surprise MJ takes the number one spot, Lakers LeBron James the number two, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the third, Bill Russell the fourth spot, and the fifth and final goes to iconic Lakers legend Magic Johnson. 

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The fifth and final spot going for Magic Johnson instead of Kobe Bryant, surprised more than one, as some other experts and fans consider Bryant to be the best between the two of them. Not for Smith, and with a good reason behind it.

Stephen A. Smith says it clearly: “Kobe doesn´t make the top five because he was measured against MJ, and MJ played the same position, had the same style of playing, MJ was number one. For me when I think about magic, even Kobe being a better individual, Kobe didn´t lead and galvanize to the degree Magic Johnson did…”

Other Players that Stephen A. Smith left out of his top five include Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant

While being influential in the modern NBA era, players like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O'Neal, and much more, didn´t make the cut for him. In the case of Curry and Durant, thinking with Stephen A. Smith's mindset is logical as both are playing in the LeBron James era, even having different positions and playing styles.