Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history for 75th anniversary

Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 10 – Kobe Bryant

Career: 1996 – 2016

Achievements: Five-time champion; 2007-08 MVP; All-NBA (15x); All-Star (18x); All-Defense (12x); Finals MVP (2x); Scoring champion (2x); Fourth in career points; 17th in career steals

The late Kobe Bryant was pivotal for the sport of basketball. In the wake of Michael Jordan’s generation passing into retirement, the league needed marketable stars, and Kobe Bryant became exactly that. Children went from wanting to “be like Mike” to shouting “Kobe!” as they tossed nerf balls at tiny hoops (adults did the same tossing wads of paper at the trash can). He was proof of concept for drafting high school players, he was a cold-blooded killer, and playing for the league’s marquee franchise didn’t hurt either.

Bryant’s scoring ability was incredible from day one. He could break anyone down one-on-one, finding their weakness and then attacking it again and again. Defensive role players made a career for themselves by showing they could hang with Kobe for even a few possessions. He could get off his shot from anywhere, sometimes with a hand literally blocking his eyes, and hit a dagger in their face.

The impact Bryant had on the league, the respect he has from players, coaches and fans alike, the way he poured into the next generation — all of those things matter and are why he is ranked here at 10. He fought through injuries to maintain a level of scoring prowess throughout his 20-year career, and he ranks fourth in career scoring. Bryant will be missed, and his legacy will never be forgotten.