Shaquille O’Neal leaves LeBron James outside of the top two in his all-time NBA players list in favor of his former teammate, Kobe Bryant.
Shaquille O’Neal has unveiled his top 10 NBA players of all time in a Netflix feature — and his choices have already stirred up debate.
The Hall of Famer surprised many fans by ranking Kobe Bryant above LeBron James while also leaving himself out of the conversation entirely.
Shaquille O’Neal puts Kobe Bryant above LeBron James in all-time list
Shaquille O’Neal’s list starts with Michael Jordan at number one, followed by Kobe Bryant in second and LeBron James in third.
The rest of his order includes Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, and Julius Erving.
Putting Bryant ahead of James caught immediate attention. Some might question why O’Neal, who won three championships alongside Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers, picked his former teammate over the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
O’Neal also chose not to include himself in his rankings. “I don’t put myself in lists,” he said. “I already know where I stand.”
The decision added a humble touch to his selections, even as the list reignited old debates among fans and analysts.
Fans react as Shaquille O’Neal’s list sparks GOAT debate again
The biggest surprise from Shaquille O’Neal’s top 10 wasn’t who made the list, but the order — with LeBron James ranked below both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
His choices reflect how personal relationships and shared championship memories can shape how former players view greatness.
While many rank LeBron as a top-two player, O’Neal’s list leaned more on legacy and titles, aligning with a more traditional view of dominance and success.
As expected, the debate continues across social media and sports shows. O’Neal’s message, though, was simple: greatness isn’t just about numbers — and for him, Bryant’s mentality and impact still stand apart from the rest.
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