Former Houston Rockets guard Steve Francis played only nine seasons in the NBA. Still, because he caught the start of the millennium, he was among the NBA stars who had the opportunity to play against Michael Jordan , Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
With first-hand experience against the three players many consider to be the best ever, the three-time NBA All-Star was asked by EZ Street on the Live From the District Podcast his opinion on the never-ending greatest player of all-time debate in basketball.
"To me, of course, propaganda sells a lot," began Francis. "And I heard a lot of people say LeBron or Michael Jordan. But again man, Kobe Bryant was just so polished that he's not left out of the top two players conversation in my book."
No one was better in the fourth quarter than MJ
Francis entered the NBA via the 1999 NBA Draft as the Vancouver Grizzlies' No.2 overall pick. However, his first year in the NBA was the first without Mike since The Last Dance, but a 38-year-old MJ returned to play for the Washington Wizards in 2002 and 2003.
During Francis' rookie year, Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to the first of three straight NBA titles, so he caught 'The Black Mamba' in his prime. In 2003, the Cavs drafted LeBron , so the Franchise also got to see how the young 'King' operated. However, according to Steve, there was no better player in taking over the fourth quarter than MJ.
"But at the end of that game, who's going to look like, 'Alright, I'm really about to own this fourth quarter, I'm not going to pass, I'm gonna make the play to make sure we win six championships,' and I haven't seen it done like the way that Michael Jordan has done. LeBron is probably one of the most talented athletes, both physically in basketball and football. But I just couldn't put him over Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant in my book," he added.
Related: "That guy put in the work" - Phil Jackson said his proudest Kobe Bryant moment was when he defended his teammate on Jimmy Kimmel
Iverson also put Kobe ahead of LeBron
Francis' take on the GOAT debate is similar to that of Philadelphia 76ers Hall of Famer Allen Iverson . A.I. was the top overall pick of the 1996 NBA Draft, where Kobe was selected, and he, too, played against Mike, Kob, and Bron. According to Iverson, KB was the most competitive player, not named Jordan.
"I've never seen nobody as competitive as him but Mike," Iverson said . "Like, when people talk about your favorite players or the best players in the world, I say Mike, and I say, Kobe, you know what I mean? And then everybody else."
Kobe's Los Angeles running mate, Shaq, has consistently campaigned for the inclusion of The Mamba in the GOAT discussion. Well, O'Neal now has both Iverson and Francis to back him up in that conversation.
Related: "He gave me that look" - Steve Francis told Kobe Bryant to miss the free throws to allow Michael Jordan to win his final All-Star Game
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