Of course he's not. I was just pointing out he didn't get the credit he deserves. People will remember guys like Reggie Miller, Ray Allen etc being in that next tier but never mention Mitch. He was just as good if not better.
Clyde and Durant are wrong era. So are Hakeem and mj Should be Dirk, Garnett, Duncan, Shaq with LeBron
I believe he was asked about the top players he faced, not the top players of his era, so I think these were the players he had the toughest time with. Drexler was past his prime, but he retired avg 18 a game. He still had a game and his length probably bothered Kobe. I'd have to assume that his inexperience played a role in him having a tough time against great vets like Dream, Clyde, and MJ. Kobe may have faced talent that was better later on, because they were in their prime, but Kobe was better then. He was better equipped to handle them.
Fun, but they had no post season success. Mitch was even better individually as a King, but those teams also weren't good. He still scored at high level in his mid 30s with the Wizards, but again..bad teams. He's better than Klay Thompson.
His game has tapered off so his mouth is opening wider and he is talking a lot of bull to get the media excited. Dude loves Rondo. I totally wouldn't pick him to be GM
Clyde was the hammer of truth around the rim. Watching that highlight brought it back a little, what a savage beast.
Why does he say... And interestingly, Clyde Drexler? The only thing interesting about it is that he didn't really play in Kobe's era but neither did Hakeem and MJ. Outside of that, Clyde is a deserving name on anyone's list. Douche.
As usual, Kobe tried to act old school to include some old school players where he is not an old school player.
Here's an LA Times article that seems to imply that Kobe was stating the 5 best players he's faced. He also mentions the top five teams he's faced : http://www.latimes.com/sports/laker...ers-kobe-bryant-opponents-20151221-story.html Excerpt follows : __________________________________ Kobe Bryant revealed the top five players he has faced in his career, and at least one came as a surprise. The players are: Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and ... Clyde Drexler? Indeed, Drexler was picked ahead of Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett, among others. Shaquille O'Neal also wasn't mentioned, but neither were any of Bryant's former teammates. Bryant acknowledged it was "tough for me" to even narrow down the list. "I came in the league when there were still so many great players playing -- John Stockton was still playing, Clyde Drexler was still playing, Gary Payton, Anfernee Hardaway," he said on a conference call Monday set up by the NBA with international reporters. "Top five players is a little tough for me." He said the top five teams he has faced are San Antonio, Sacramento in the early 2000s, Boston in 2008, Detroit in 2004 and Chicago when he came into the league in 1996.
Kobe should have named Shack, Barkley, Miller, Kenny, and Webber so it wouldn't be too awkward when he eventually joins the TNT panel for those NBA Open Court series.
