5 NBA superstars that will never surpass Kobe Bryant all-time

1) Stephen Curry

Speaking of Stephen Curry, there's no one else who has brought more joy and excitement in the game of basketball in his generation other than the "Baby Faced Assassin." A leader who orchestrated a dynasty in the Bay Area, helping lead the Warriors four titles in eight seasons with five consecutive trips to the Finals (2014-2019).

The greatest shooter of all time... It's not even a question, as the only player to convert on over 3,000+ career-made threes. No one has revolutionized the game more than Curry, who changed the game with his uncanny ability to move without the ball.

His unparalleled marksmanship from beyond the arc, and volume paired with efficiency from off the dribble, spot up, or off the screen. He brings a joyous kid feel to the game that no other superstar in the league can replicate, as all kids want to be able to shoot like the "Golden Boy" from Golden State.

Curry made all the teams and players coming up become more skilled, which ushered in an era of skilled bigs we see today, such as Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and Karl Anthony-Towns. These guys are all highly skilled, can stretch the floor, and do everything offensively. That's the Curry effect. Many questioned if Curry could win again with Durant after his departure, critiquing that he hadn't won a Finals MVP despite his three titles at the time.

Curry hushed all naysayers in 2022. Perhaps that year, a small ball team won the title by defeating Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Celtics in six games. Those finals included an epic Game 4 performance and his signature "Night Night" celebration. That final cemented his legacy as one of the 12 greatest players of all time, perhaps even the top 10.

Curry's impact and place amongst the immortals are unquestionable and cemented. He's up there with Bryant in terms of influence in basketball history as an icon. The only thing that hurts Curry compared to Bryant is the defensive end, where he's not a liability like he was earlier in his career, actually becoming a solid defender throughout his prime.

Despite being solid, he's never been a lockdown; all-defensive player Bryant was at points in his career, which is what separates Bryant from Curry, as well as having five titles and two Finals MVPs, which are both more than Curry.