Kobe Bryant’s absence from any GOAT list seems unthinkable. One of the greatest scorers, winners, and basketball minds to ever grace the court, Bryant was tragically taken from us far too soon in one of sports’ darkest days in recent memory.
When Bleacher Report left him out of their top 10 list, it created a massive stir throughout the basketball world. Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade strongly disagreed with the ranking, placing Bryant third on his own list.
Why Does Dwyane Wade Place Kobe Bryant in the Top Three?
Controversially, Bleacher Report ranked Bryant outside the top 10 of the 100 greatest NBA players of all time. Sometimes these lists are designed to create conversation, and this certainly has. However, leaving Bryant out of the top 10 feels highly questionable given his legendary career.
We all remember when sports icons who transcended their games played their final contests. Derek Jeter drove in the winning run in his final at-bat, fittingly in a Yankees vs. Red Sox game. Tom Brady threw for over 350 yards in his final game. Michael Jordan retired a hero. Bryant’s final game was an awe-inspiring display of individual greatness, dropping 60 points in front of an amazed Lakers crowd.
9 years ago today: Kobe Bryant scores 60 points in his final NBA game
There will never be another
pic.twitter.com/RivnmSzde4— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) April 13, 2025
Talk about a storybook ending for one of the sport’s GOATs. Bryant walked off as one of the greatest, rising to the occasion and putting on a show that channeled his prime years. The performance truly embodied the greatness that he displayed throughout his career.
While some may downplay Bryant’s greatness for their own reasons, his excellence isn’t lost on those who truly knew him and competed against him. His peers understand what made him special in ways that statistics alone cannot capture.
What Did Wade Say About the Bleacher Report Rankings?
Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade, ranked 23rd all-time on the same list and recently honored with a statue, strongly criticized the rankings. Wade went as far as to say Bryant belonged in the top three greatest players of all time, not just the top 10.
“If you want to ask us hoopers who played against Kob, all of us are going to talk top three [of all time]…if you played against Mamba,” Wade said.
Dwyane Wade goes off on the fact that Bleacher Report had Kobe Bryant ranked outside of the Top 10
“If you want to ask us hoopers who played against Kob, all of us are going to talk top three [of all time]… from someone’s opinion that’s never played a game of basketball at… pic.twitter.com/hUpCOq0Dou
— Wy Network by Dwyane Wade (@wynetwork) July 23, 2025
Wade also revealed how he and Bryant were unbothered by anyone who ranked Bryant low on these types of lists. “Kobe addressed it like, who is these idiots?” Wade recalled.
“From someone’s opinion that’s never played a game of basketball at the level we play it at, having him at 11, why am I up in arms about something like that?” Wade continued.
Wade’s perspective carries significant weight. As someone who battled against Bryant throughout their careers and earned his own place among the game’s elite, his assessment comes from direct experience competing at the highest level.
What Makes Bryant’s Legacy Undeniable?
Bryant’s case for the top three rests on both statistical excellence and intangible greatness. His 33,643 career points rank fourth all-time, while his 18 All-Star appearances, 15 All-NBA selections, and five NBA championships with the Lakers dynasty speak to sustained excellence.
Beyond the numbers, Bryant embodied the “Mamba mentality” he coined. This mindset transformed him into one of the most ruthless winners any sport has ever seen, particularly in the brightest moments when championships were on the line.
Twenty years after his first game, when he walked off the court hobbled by various late-career injuries yet still managed to drop 60 points like a victorious gladiator exiting the Colosseum, that performance epitomized the “Mamba mentality.” It perfectly captured why Bryant deserves recognition among the top three players in basketball history.
