Who is the NBA's GOAT? 🐐 Stephen A., Shannon Sharpe and Tim Legler debate 👀 | First Take

Finally, I've been watching First Take for years waiting for them to ask this question. This is the first time this has been brought up on ESPN I think.

Bro I’m so tired of this debate every day 😂😂😂

What a unique topic of discussion.
Truly original segment.
Very impressed.

“He’s the best player in the game is just that simple. There nothing that Kobe Bryant can’t do. He will defend your best player, he will shoot from the perimeter, he will get all in your mug. He is the most complete basketball player in the game today, bar none. He has a assassin mentality. ” — STEPHEN A. SMITH

There are many RECENT players (who have played against Lebron and Kobe) who are taking Kobe over LeBron.

Come on ESPN and First Take its hard to re-write history, when there are videos.

Im not saying that Kobe is the G.O.A.T but the notation that NO ONE not even their own on air personality has NEVER made G.O.A.T comparisons or put Kobe over LeBron at some point, is flat out wrong and blasphemous

Here we go again 😂🤦🏽‍♂️

Trevor Ariza was saying that Kobe is his favourite player but Jordan is the GOAT. What’s so hard to understand about that

I would say in the early 2000s Kobe got cheated out of at least 2 Mvps

It’s funny because before Lebron won his 3rd championship in 2016, Shannon didn’t even bring his name up it was always Kobe vs Jordan

I got Kobe over Lebron

The Kobe disrespect is CRAZY

All these nba players been saying Kobe. The disrespect is crazy smh

I’m a LBJ fan, but I acknowledge MJ as the GOAT. LBJ will be all time in missed shots, TOs, and final losses. MJ was the far better scorer, defender, leader, competitor, and winner.

THE HIGHLY UNDERAPPRECIATED KOBE BRYANT :

Lebron James was 0-4 in the Finals without a top 75 teammate, did win a ring with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love after a Draymond Green suspension.

Michael Jordan never made the Finals without a top 75 teammate.

Larry Bird never made the Finals without a top 75 teammate.

Wilt never won the Finals without a top 75 teammate.

Shaq never won a Finals without a top 75 teammate.

Magic Johnson never made the Finals without a top 75 teammate.

Kareem never made the Finals without a top 75 teammate.

Oscar Robertson made the Finals without a top 75 teammate.

In Kobe's 5 championship runs, 85% of the teams he faced were 50 win teams !

The rest of the guys in ESPN's top 10

meanwhile:

Michael: 67%

LeBron: 50%

Kareem: 43%

Magic: 50%

Wilt: 50%

Bill: 56%

Larry: 55%

Tim: 65%

Oscar: 0%

Furthermore Kobe’s beat more 50 win playoff teams in his career (25) than any other player in NBA history.

In Summary, Kobe carried his team to 3 straight Finals against the toughest playoff competition in NBA history, winning 2 straight Championships without a top 75 teammate, beating a superteam while injured, and was the closer in the first 3 peat in which he dominated key series in the playoffs vs. the toughest opponents including the Spurs, Blazers, Kings, not to mention taking over on command any time needed ie. vs. Pacers in 2000, game 7 vs. Blazers, in 2000, etc.

Kobe’s legacy will be defined by one of a kind skillset, scoring, defense, clutch, which all lead to winning.

Jordan was 9 times all defensive first at the same time as scoring champ. That really shows how much of a beast he was on both ends.
Also steals champ at the same time as scoring champ.
Something that never gets mentioned. Jordan is top 5 in both totals and per game averages in both scoring and steals. Some players maybe both for one stat but not 2.
Jordan took it to another level in the finals especially the first 3.
91-- average 11.4 assists per game highest for anyone not Magic.
92 - - average an impressive 42% for 3s and in game 1 shot six 3s in a half which was a record for 18 years until Ray Allen the only person to shoot more in a half
93-- average 41 points per game highest ever.

Kobe is my GOAT, doesn't have to be everyone else's and it really is that simple. Shame on Tim Leger tho, saying he never heard anyone say Kobe is hella crazy, someone should call him out for that one.

There’s no debate. 6-0 in finals vs 4-10. So we giving participation awards now? SMH.

Anyone else remember a few years back when Shannon had this question asked on Undisputed and he said Kareem? 🤣🤣

MJ has a better PER, offensive net rating, defensive net rating, box plus minus, win shares per 48min, 2 more championships, 2 more finals MVPS, 1 more regular season MVP, 10x scoring champ, 9x 1st team defense, 1x defensive player of the year. All around better.

MJ is the only player to win MVP/Finals MVP/Championship/scoring title, and be first team all defense in the same season. However he did it 4x! MJ is the GOAT.

I hate the Kobe played with Shaq narrative , because Shaq would only have 1 ring if it wasn’t for Kobe. Lebron teamed up with 2 of the top 7 players in the league at that moment and drastically shifted the competition in the East. Gotta give Kobe more respect for winning 2 more rings without a top 75 teammate. Lebron has always had at least 2 top 30 players each ring he’s won.