One discussion that has the potential to continue for decades without reaching a befitting conclusion is the NBA GOAT debate. A few names always pop up regardless of which individual is asked about their picks.
The legends are none other than the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant , and LeBron James . Over the years, many players and analysts have picked their GOAT among the three, with MJ being the most consistent choice, at least for the older generation.
Recently, NBA insider Shams Charania was asked about his pick for the greatest basketball player ever. As expected, Charania dodged the question with a stoic response to what the GOAT actually is.
" So for me, growing up, like when MJ won his six championships, I was four years old," Charania said . "It's hard for me to watch the YouTube videos and watch the game videos like it's an experience. I feel like the greatest of all time is an experience. For me growing up, Kobe was someone that I watched very closely."
Charania reveals how Kobe impacted his life
Although the renowned insider didn't really give an answer to his GOAT pick, he did reveal how the late Los Angeles Lakers legend left an everlasting impact on his life.
"The Mamba Mentality," Shams added. "The Killer Instinct. I feel like some of those attributes, I felt like as a young minority parents from a Pakistani background, felt like I could apply some of that in my daily life. You know, the killer mentality and just go get it every single day. So, for me, that was something I gravitated toward."
Charania gave a half-answer to the question as he further explained how the likes of LeBron have changed his opinion on the debate. At the end of the day, Shams doesn't have a single GOAT, but he most likely relates to the theory of an individual player impacting their respective era.
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Does Kobe belong in the GOAT debate?
Bryant spent 20 years in the NBA, winning five championships with the Lakers. However, for years, many didn't include the Mamba in the GOAT debate because the late legend mirrored his game after Jordan .
When we examine Kobe's resume, we see that he had a stellar career, and there aren't many players who can match his achievements. The Basketball Hall of Famer was an 18x NBA All-Star, 15x All-NBA, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 2008 NBA MVP, 12x All-Defensive, and 2x NBA Scoring Champion.
In addition, Bryant was one of the most polarizing players during the prime of his NBA career. The five-time NBA champion had a huge fanbase that wasn't limited to the USA. Following his tragic passing in 2020 due to a helicopter crash, many have given Bryant his flowers and now view him as a legitimate candidate to be considered one of the GOATs.
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