Brian Scalabrine on Kobe & Shaq (1/5/16)

[@kid100music3]

this conversation doesn't matter because at the end of the day Scalabrine is better than all of them

[@boog2paid]

True

[@MrClutch5150]

I make prank calls to radio programs. Play them on my page. You're no fun bro :(

[@maddmoney9342]

BETTER @ WHAT WARMING THE PINE THAT'S ABOUT IT Y'ALL TRIPPIN......

[@asdfghjkllkjhgfdsa8725]

Madd Money better at every facet of the game. Your hate is detestable

[@asdfghjkllkjhgfdsa8725]

Madd Money scal is partly responsible for the survival of the sport nigh the world

[@j.anderson4254]

Kobe did go to three straight Finals and won back to back titles without Shaq. Why do they always try to devalue Kobe by acting like he only won with Shaq.

[@rchamp247]

He only brings up that Kobe lost w/ the terrible rosters he had from 05-07. Completely ignored all the success Kobe had afterwards

[@Zoomyi]

Love this guy he is so humble he doesn't ever once say his own name even though we all know Scal is the GOAT

[@angrymobsters1599]

He has the right to criticize, his bar is set so high he can say what he wants he is the goat

[@Dre-xc2no]

Just watching Kobe in that 2001 playoff run, I absolutely think he would've beaten Iverson and the 76ers, WITHOUT Shaq. Kobe proved that he could win and be dominant without Shaq.

[@splashcity292]

Interviewer: best player you have ever played against Scal: Defintely ME

[@KAZ109]

Love scal but I strongly disagree with his take on Kobe on the fact of Kobe won back to back titles without shaq. Scal speaks like Kobe didn’t accomplish anything after shaq went to the heat. Let’s not forget, shaq won 1 without Kobe, Kobe won 2 without shaq

[@nickwilsonxc]

I remember when Scal stole the ball from Iverson, blocked Kobe, dunked on ShaQ, and then went back in time and hit a 3 at the buzzer in Jordan’s face. Good times.

Yeah. And all that was in the same game!

[@airforcecr7425]

Yeah that was his 100-point triple double, so noble of Scal not to break Wilt’s record, but to humbly tie it.

[@DAS63]

@@airforcecr7425 I remember that game. He purposefully stopped at 99 on assists and rebounds to avoid a triple triple out of respect for Wilt. What a legend!

[@nelsonaviles227]

Hey scal if you see this thank you for the pictures we took at got sole on Saturday very humble guy

[@geraldhaff6606]

Olajuwon is the most underrated played of all time

[@DavidMedic447]

Absolutely

[@lyalminchinton8825]

I don’t think so, he’s regarded by his peers as the best centre of the modern era. Maybe by casual observers of basketball.

[@9Ballr]

Kareem

[@dalcow1101]

He Is top 4 in his position of all time and maybe top 3.

[@74205gb]

Wrong. I am a big fan of the White Mamba but this take is just wrong. There is a reason that Shaq did not win until he did. He was surrounded by All-Star players in Orlando where he was swept out of the Finals. He had a pair of All-Star Guards when Kobe was drafted, yet could not win until Kobe began to mature just a bit as an NBA player. Kobe IS the Sauce. We will not let you forget. GOAT #MambaForever

[@RocStone]

💯

[@C.T-fl9sd]

Facts he a hater

[@oval291]

Wow the myth, the legend the man has spoken. This is gold,to hear the greatest break it down…..he is so humble, Shaq is not half the player Scal the great was yet he gave Shaq his flowers. Speaks volumes about the man.

[@paulocancio5870]

He is actually very knowledgeable of the game of basketball, anybody who saw shaq in his prime will actually agree 100% on this. Great take

[@forthehomies7043]

I agree for the Kobe part as well; Kobe is incredible and being top 15 is more than incredible - especially when you have guys like KD and Giannis and Westbrook

[@ziginaigra]

@Charles no u are shaq hater

[@SureFeelsGood]

Yeah, anyone being honest is a fool to not know shaq was a much more dominant player than magic, kobe, maybe even bird. I've got Curry #2 behind Jordan. Then bird or shaq.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

Where does Iverson rank all time?

[@ziginaigra]

@@nofurtherwest3474 high

[@hushus3943]

Totally agree with Scal here. People these days don't have any idea how dominant Shaq was in 2000. 30PPG, 4APG, 14RPG, and 3BPG....THAT'S INSANE!!! Anyone that says '06 Bryant was better should be banned from watching basketball for life.

[@Konphetty]

hus hus 06 Bryant is so overrated. That was an impressive season but as a Kobe fan that wasnt even his best season. His numbers looked good and his body was peaking but if you actually watched him he couldve done a lil bit more to buy in to the team concept of basketball. YES even with the roster he had he couldve done a bit more. Shaq was the number one focus of opposition teams in the 3peat era thats a fact. Not discrediting Kobe, he was a great second option but Shaq was the leader and 10x better Kobe was at their peaks.

[@kussdie8052]

Konphetty look at the centres shaq played against in the finals lmao

[@MrClutch5150]

hus hus 06 Kobe is better though :)

[@illusion_ja]

hus hus 06 kobe

[@asdfghjkllkjhgfdsa8725]

hus hus there are two ways this discussion pans out. The way I see it, we can look at peak greatness and sustained productivity as measuring sticks. Sustained productivity is no contest, shaqs prime lasted 9 years and then he wasn't a star any more. Kobe was a star every year he wasn't injured expect maybe his first two but he did come out of high school right? Not to make excuses but he was 19. I honestly don't know how old shaq was his rookie year and I'm not looking it up. Peak greatness is arguable cuz of shaqs rebounding, the only knock being as a big man he needed the ball delivered to him in the paint and kobe needed no help to score. I give the nod to kobe but like I said it's debatable. However, not many people will have shaq above kobe Im pretty sure.

[@SandbarFilmsStudios]

This guy bagging on Kobe is ridiculous!

[@DigitalOdyssey3001]

Scalabrine is dropping facts! Shaq was an absolute monster in his prime!!!

[@MyAb111]

Shaq was a 3 quarter player because of foul trouble, free throws, and hack a shaq. Kobe always took them took them to the promised land in the 4th.

[@C.T-fl9sd]

Thank you

[@omara1854]

I agree that Shaq's prime was unstoppable, and minus the free throws it was GOAT level scary. But to say Kobe will go down top 15-25 all time is crazy. Shaq is top 10 all time, and Kobe is very close as well.

[@arielhoring4596]

+Mike Epps so unstoppable, he lost in the first round.

[@arielhoring4596]

Mike Epps Cause the all time greats need help to get past the first round. smh

[@PresidentGuevara]

+Ariel Horing Michael Jordan would lose first round until Pippen showed up to the scene. Remember its a team sport.

[@comedian5264]

Kobe is not top ten

[@comedian5264]

***** he is, probably the best shooter/Passer all time

[@vonryancastillo3485]

If the goat talks everybody listen 💪🐐

[@blacxice]

That first take of Kobe…. Is why he’s the goat he has no weakness He’s the best basketball player ever not best nba player

[@zachg3069]

Man… have to completely disagree on his ranking of Kobe. No way he is 15-25

[@wooge3199]

When scal jumps in a pool the water gets scalabrine....he once went to the virgin islands...when he left they were simply the islands

[@brettf2]

Like how Scal gets past the stat obsession. Shaq made teams completely change their game plan and gave his guards easy mode.

[@jeffmichel4312]

I hated almost everything he was saying until he started talking about how good Shaq is. Now I almost agree w him but I still hate it. That’s how good shaq was kids.

[@kevinbunn7915]

The question about taking one guy for a year wasn't dissing Kobe. Shaq would be taken above anybody, period.

[@abdullahzackariah3642]

Shaq would suck in today's game though

[@theartofcompetition5965]

@@abdullahzackariah3642 haha funny

[@datboy7640]

Mannnnn Shaq would be on the bench.. Shaq biggest weakness was pick & roll defense.. Especially in the championship run.. The Spurs exposed this.. Today they’d pick & pop on the perimeter Shaq to death.. PLUS every team would go small & put him on the line every chance they got

[@nicholaslehmann1709]

If you think Shaq wouldn't be good in today's nba, you have never seen the man play. Who is stopping shaq down low, Rudy Gobert??? Get off 2k and watch some prime shaq games before making such blasphemous statements

[@datboy7640]

You’re speaking offensively.. I’m strictly talking defensively… He can’t guard a Myles turner who runs the floor & can shoot the three.. His size made him dominant.. His size would also make him a bigger liability today.. He already had his defensive struggles back then

[@kylebarnes5251]

1) Scalabrine 2)scalabrine 3) scalabrine Etc

[@TheRafaelBond]

People here disrespecting Scal. Scal is a legend. Dude has the right to speak his mind

[@addiecollins4188]

@ No shit

[@dustinhaas8538]

Holy shit an honest assessment of Kobe Bryant, wow is this some kind of alternative universe?

[@oneman9121]

His passing basically turned his career into something that it's not. Fans somehow feel the need to over-glorify his career. We all saw Kobe play, there's no need to do that. There's nothing wrong being ranked the 10th or 15th greatest of all time.

[@sugu8403]

I laughed hard at this comment because when I read it I said FINALLY THANK YOU I feel the same way bro

[@datboy7640]

So you can name 14 players better than Kobe??

[@sugu8403]

@@datboy7640 I have Kobe 11th best all time couldn’t name 14.

[@datboy7640]

A lot of greats couldn’t dominate today like they did in their era

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

Kobe literally took the Lakers to 3 Finals and 2 titles without Shaq. What did Iverson do without Shaq?

[@pputnam100]

Damn he's great. What good analysis

[@spoketybacon5733]

Kobe may fall in rankings in the future but we all know he deserves to be considered a top 10. He's one of the best players on both ends of the floor the game has ever seen.

[@SincereSentinel]

Agreed

[@BFCNick]

both sides of the ball yeah, but kind of like Kyrie he has to be unlocked with the right team, whereas shaq and the rest of the top 10 instantly made a team. Like anyone you need role players, but Kobe fell hard adrer the threepeat

[@KIDKorRupt24]

@@BFCNick cmon man. What did you expect him to do with chucky atkins Smush parker Stanislav medvendenko Chris mihm Ronny turiaf Deavon george Luke walton Brian cook Kwame brown You think any player in the top ten all time is taking this collection of players anywhere deep in the playoffs. I dont care if you have prime Jordan. If these are his teammates he is out in the first rnd.

[@BFCNick]

@@KIDKorRupt24 That's a sad list, I agree, but we gotta look at 2018 Lebron, 2004 steve nash, 1980 larry bird and magic...etc. I'm not saying Kobe couldn't pass, but at a certain point when Doug Collins had him running point Jordan was leading the league in assists. Kobe's scoring is quite possibly second to none, but as Scal talks about the rest of his game wasn't nearly that dynamic. Nash got a bunch of scrubs PAID, and if it wasn't for him we'd be talking about his team mates like the list of people you brought up. Top 15 ain't bad, but it's like Ray Allen says, Kobe needed 2 and half real players to really unlock him. Personally I think it's a little hard to make the list because Players like Hakeem instantly raised the floor, but also put a Cap on the offensive capabilities, whereas Kobe could take an already good team and elevate them to all time status. You could be right, Kobe could be top 10. Depends on your criteria, but, all respect to the sadness of the situation, he's being elevated to higher than he is because of his death. Of course that man would consider himself top 10, but he'd want it on his merits, not media sadness

[@TheKL04]

I don’t think we all know this. Or even think this. He’s just outside the top 10 in my list. Just like the 🐐 just said, Kobe gets credit for 5 rings, but the first 3 were gifts from shaq

[@quentinwooten30]

I wonder if dan Patrick was nervous about being next to the goat

[@brianscalaupe1846]

Kobe was recognized by Scalabrine...Good for Kobe

[@nanagyambibi7426]

Kobe is a top 10 player of alltime. He came the farthest and went the furthest. Yea Kobe was a celeb but he was the 11th guy on the bench when he first came in. Worked his way to become a starter. While Shaq was having an alltime year in 2000......the 2001 and 2002 chips are not won without Kobe Bryant.

[@watching789]

He won two titles without shaq. Shaq didn't win with penny. The first title shaq fouled out kobe took over

[@truthpill3874]

This don’t make since it hurts kobe career playing with shaq now everybody down play him because he played with shaq 🤦🏾‍♂️. They hate him because he wanted to get away from that and prove he’s great without him Kobe want two more ring without shaq and one with a broken finger on his shooting hand 15 all time 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@initialTRD]

scal forgot kobe won 2 chips after shaq

[@MisterCrookedNose]

Zactly

[@Xiaolongbaokid16]

The GOAT had spoken

[@wraithyoshidj6702]

He is Def up there with MJ

[@ftghb]

I'm interested in what his top 10 is. Seems like there would be a lot of big men in there. There aren't too many wing players who were true 2 way threats, who did it as long as kobe did it. Jordan and Lebron are really the only two wings who I would take over kobe, Prime vs. Prime. People forget Kobe was a lockdown, all-NBA level defender and he was dropping 30ppg back in 02-03

[@samig9032]

There would be a lot of big men in there... because most of the top players in NBA history are big men.

[@coletrickle154]

This interview with Michael Rappaport was great.

[@kobefactory]

😂😂😂

[@Kigoz4Life]

He's right tho. Playing with Shaq is like cheating.

[@jeffmichel4312]

@ fuk’n A bud that’s how good the warriors were! And they’re not done.

[@headstoned55]

Playing with Pippen, Rodman, Harper and Kukoc isnt? Saying Kobe is 15-25 is straight cap. You put Kobe in Jordans place and he wins 8 not 6

[@outlander234]

@@headstoned55 Seriously you gonna say Kobe is better than Jordan? Seriously??? Kobe himself said Jordan is GOAT and he copied everything he could from him. Kobe is on par with 95' Jordan but he is not on younger Jordan level he simply isnt, Jordan was freak of nature. So if we are comparing then by that logic Iverson is better than Kobe because Iverson went to the finals and gave that one loss to that Lakers team in 2001 without any star player so that makes him better?

[@headstoned55]

@@outlander234 holy fuck really bud? Yeah Jordan might be the greatest scorer of all time. But Kobe is the greatest talent to ever step on the floor. Ill tell you again, look at who Jordan played with in comparison to Kobe. You give Kobe Pippen and its fucking over bud. Jordan couldnt have reigned like he did without Pip and Phil. You know what Kobe didnt do?? He didnt ditch the league for 2 years cause he was burnt out.

[@outlander234]

@@headstoned55 Jordan is better in almost everything than Kobe. Better on defense, better athletically more hang time quicker, stronger, bigger hands, better jump shot better penetration, far more artistry in his execution. Only thing I would give Kobe is maybe handles because Mike really kept in clean with no show off of any kind.

[@CarCrazy24]

There goes any minimal respect I had for Scalabrine. What a junky take. What was Shaq winning all those years from 93-99 on stacked teams? All those years Shaq came into season out of shape from 01-04. He was an all time great, but seriously flawed and lazy. Kobe later went on to 3 straight finals and won 2 back to back in the much toughest west, and with no other top 75 players on his 08-10 teams. No other top player like MJ, Shaq, Magic etc could claim that.

[@tringuyen-dm4wp]

My top 5 players- 1. Scalabrine 2. retired Scalabrine 3. Jordan 4. Kareem 5. Lebron

[@TomiAdewoleAdetom]

Great stuff. Although Scal was wrong on Kobe's placement later on - he was also "sort of right", in a sense; he just didn't take his earlier analysis all the way home. Scal, himself, said that Kobe was one of the hardest working players ever. Kobe was very, very good around the time Scal was speaking about; he became very great about 3-5 years later or so. It isn't too easy to predict that. Even Kenny Smith said he knew that Jordan would be an All-Star way back at UNC (when Mike didn't have a handle, according to Kenny); but Kenny said there's no way he could've predicted that Mike would be the best to ever lace 'em up.

[@back2back379]

Scalabrine makes a really great point here, which is that Shaq was so dominant in his prime, you could've put him with any all star guard/wing player and they would've won championships. People say Shaq wouldn't have won without Kobe, but you could've put Shaq with Iverson, Mcgrady, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Reggie Miller, etc. and they would've won multiple championships. On the flip side, there's no other big man during that time you could've put with Kobe and he would've had those same results, not only because no other big man of that time was as dominant as Shaq, but also because that would've meant Kobe would likely have to face Shaq + another all star guard. In other words, Kobe needed prime Shaq, and prime Shaq just needed any all star level wing player.

[@rhrhdh]

ibr bak you’re wrong because Shaq didn’t win any rings before Kobe, also Kobe won 2 rings after shaq left. They both needed each other to get that 3peat

[@wizzjo1nt5]

He went to three straight finals and won back to back with Pau Gasol. Pathetic try.

[@back2back379]

@@wizzjo1nt5 that’s 2008-2010, I’m talking during Shaq’s prime. Or does the timeframe not matter? In that case, Kobe also got nowhere despite having Dwight Howard and Steve Nash and Pau Gasol.

[@wizzjo1nt5]

@@back2back379 Aaaand ur ignoroing context, typical.

[@back2back379]

@@wizzjo1nt5 aaaand that’s actually exactly what you did 🤡

[@Maximillian200HP]

Personally I think Kobe is top 10 IF you were to make you decisions based on position, IE 2 Centers, 2 Power Forwards, 2 Small Forwards, 2 Shooting Guards and 2 Point Guards. The top player overall list tends to be very center heavy since the game was dominated by big men for so much of its history. Kobe is practically unanimously considered the number 2 SG behind MJ so to me that makes him top 10.

[@AlanAnderson-n4p]

We’re talking top ten overall bruh

[@D-Smooth]

White Mamba speaking the truth

[@edkerry87]

Kobe is the backup 3 to MJ on the all time team

[@richardchingas5997]

since the NBA started, there has only been approximately 5,500 players! The world population is over 7 billion so just being a NBA PLAYER is rare! Being top 25 best players ever is crazy good!

[@No-turbo]

I don’t agree with all of it, but he explains his points better than most analysts.

[@peddlerofbombast6982]

Damn, Kobes death shoots him into the top 5, just watch.

[@ianrobinson4200]

You can make the argument, it's crazy not to have him in the top 10 though

[@sugu8403]

@@ianrobinson4200 no it isn’t in no order 1. Jordan 2. LeBron 3. Bird 4. Magic 5. Shaq 6. Olajuwon 7. Kareem 8. Wilt 9. Bill Russell 10. Duncan

[@ianrobinson4200]

@@sugu8403 Wilt over Bill Russell when Bill's teams beat him over and over in the 1960s?

[@sugu8403]

@@ianrobinson4200 ^ I literally said in no order

[@C.T-fl9sd]

@@sugu84032008 playoffs go watch Kobe>duncan

[@Hmmm_B]

Lmfaoooo Kobe was playing with Kwame Brown, Smush Parker, and Chris Mihm and he’s talking about him not winning right after Shaq left. This a load of trash. What rings did Shaq win before he played with Kobe? What titles did Shaq win before Kobe stepped into his own? What titles did Shaq win without DWade and what did he do after that? Shaq is the most dominant ever. Hands down. That one season point, sure. Again, he the most dominant ever. But go watch Game 7 of the 2000 WCF. Shaq’s prime. Go watch Game 7 of the 2002 WCF. Go see who the best player was during the 2001 WCF. Allen Iverson didn’t sniff what Kobe was defensively. You can’t insert any 2-guard into that position and the Lakers three-peat. There’s a reason no one has done it since. Put some respect on Kobe’s name and game.

[@ryanhudson4426]

Did he forget kobe won 2 championship without shaq and made it to 3 straight finals ?

[@miltonvonahnen6225]

With Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol

[@brettf2]

So true. Prime Shaq makes almost any team a title contender.

[@samig9032]

All the children in here are losing their minds because "Kobe is top 3 easy" or whatever. Actually do the math. Right off the top you've got Jordan, Kareem, Wilt, Russell, and LeBron. Then there's Shaq, Bird, Magic, Hakeem. If you consider Kobe to be the very first guy out of the rest (Oscar Robertson, Duncan, Barkley, McHale, Karl Malone, Moses Malone, Jerry West, Pippen, Durk, Durant, Curry, Nique, Isiah T, Stockton, DWade...) then that'd be "only" 10th all-time. But that's incredibly high praise. Better than Karl Malone, Oscar, Duncan... that's rarefied air.

[@Enigma71559]

NO WAY LeBron is top five all-time! Look who you have him with. MJ, Kareem, Wilt and Russell?!! Not even close.

[@sheyarjames4904]

@@Enigma71559 Wilt and Russell are better than Lebron ? Care to explain how ? You didn't even watch them play, all you got is stats and achievements, if you are arguing that Russell is better because of 11 rings then he is best of all time, better than Jordan too, if you argue that Wilt is better because of his individual stats then again, he immediately becomes the greatest of all time because no other player has put up similar numbers to his...

[@lyalminchinton8825]

@@sheyarjames4904 you make a valid point, I see Lebron and Wilt as similar in that they both where/are so physically gifted as basketballers. Wilt was bigger stronger faster than everyone else in the league , the same way Lebron is bigger ,stronger,faster then all other guard/wing players.

[@johnnikollaj496]

I completely agree with Scal. His complete works give the history lessons of his career. That being said, yes he carried lower tier players but it took Shaq and Horry and the others to bring a him rings and later on it was Gasol and Odom. He's not that god tier level player people try to make him out to be.

[@kevinbunn7915]

He wasnt at that level because he needed other good players with him to win? Yeah I guess that's true lol

[@johnnikollaj496]

@@kevinbunn7915 My guy...can you honestly say if you threw Kobe on a bad team that the team would dramatically improve? For example....Chris Paul can. I'm not saying isn't he isn't great but let's be real here...he's not top 10.

[@1994Trill]

Worst sports take of all time. Jordan lost in the first round several times. Many times he made it to the playoffs with his team winning less than 40 games. He never won anything until Pippen arrived. Never even made it to the finals. He played with several Hall of Fame players.

[@karlsimonian1424]

15 to 25 ??????

[@RaMraM-zm1el]

I think the only hole in Scals argument is, yes Shaq was a dominant stature in the late 90s and the 2000s but he did not maximized his potential to be great than Kobe. Yes the argument on drafting pick between Kobe and Shaq the answer will always be Shaq because of raw power and potential but in terms in whole body of work Kobe would be a better choice.

[@samig9032]

But why does whether Shaq "maximized his potential" matter? If you're Brian Scalabrine, and you're in a game on the court, and you have an assignment to box out Shaq or help on Kobe, in that moment it's not about storylines or whatever. It's about the difficulty of the assignment. They could live with the SG taking fadeaways, some go in and some don't. Meanwhile, defending Shaq was literally impossible for these guys.

[@ryanhudson4426]

He is fucking crazy!!!!

[@BigShotBeans]

Said by a true Celtic

[@junhesu3383]

“I’m closer to lebron than you are to me” - the goat Scal

[@michlo3393]

Dan Patrick: "I think Kareem is the most underrated player in the history of the game." Elgin Baylor: "i tHiNk kArEeM iS tHe mOsT uNdErRaTeD pLaYeR iN tHe hIsToRy oF tHe gAmE."

[@benostiguy7215]

That is the most accurate analysis of Kobe I ever heard. Great player-an all time great-but not top 10.

[@benostiguy7215]

Ten players ahead of Kobe (in no particular order): MJ, Kareem, The Dream, Magic, Wilt, Shaq, Duncan, Bird, LeBron, Bill Russell. Kobe is top 20, probably top 15, but I wouldn’t pick him ahead of these legends, especially because he modeled his game after Jordan, and Jordan did it better. Reasonable people can disagree, but my bias is towards team players who make the people around them better. Kobe was a killer 1:1, and he could do it all at a high level, but he took a lot of bad shots, had a low shooting percentage many years, and was terrible to his teammates during camp and practice. Nobody worked harder, or was more competitive, but I would take at least ten people ahead of him because of his impact on the team. I’m sure you think I’m wrong-which is fine-there is no objective right answer to this question… but yeah, I would gamble on any of my ten in their prime over prime Kobe. No hate, just preference.

[@benostiguy7215]

@Charles Cool! I’m not saying he isn’t great. He’s an all-time great by many measures, including mine. He just doesn’t make my top 10. Each year that young players continue to develop he will slip further down for me, too… as will others in my list above. I will never rank Kobe ahead of MJ, and soon names like Curry, Durant, and Lonzo Ball will enter the conversation… hahaha! Just kidding about Ball… 😂

[@lyalminchinton8825]

@Charles your dreaming, Hakeem took a bunch of bench players and some veteran s and won a chip, all time leader in blocks , and Kobe asked hakeem to help him improve his footwork. Think about it A GUARD asking a centre for footwork advice/ improvement. His the best centre of the Modern era and most NBA guys who played in that era would take Hakeem over Kobe. No disrespect to Kobe an all time great and hall of famer.

[@MotoM1234]

Scally Is right about Shaq in terms of at his peak, top 5 easy. He missed a lot of games every year which hurts him in the all-time rankings especially when compared to Hakeem, Kareem, Kobe, Duncan..

[@ronaldlewis6985]

Per Kobes point, he didn't take being g in shape seriously. As Rodman said Shaq should have average 20 rebounds a game easy.

[@DemiochMD]

I dont know why this recommended today but even though Scal is right about Shaq making things easier for Kobe...Kobe still won 2 rings without Shaq. Kobe is top 15 all time. Not 15-25.

[@Crawfish411]

BS was a stone cold killer. The original White Mamba.

[@talkingbroccoli]

I love me some Iverson but he's not on the same level as Kobe. Kobe showed what he could do when he was the main attraction and his 35 PPG was better than any scoring season that Iverson ever had. That and Iverson was a gambling defender but Kobe was an actual stopper. Longevity, injuries, consistency. Kobe was just a better player and I don't think it's really even that close. The fact he only got the 1 MVP is another reason the voting process is a joke.

[@gunprojects5398]

He should have mentioned how the only reason people think Kobe's one of the greatest ever is because he did a lot of mean stares after scoring..

[@jftvrwk]

I love the who'd you draft in their prime question!

[@donaldpriola1807]

Scal made some valid points. I do, however wonder what the hell would have happened to the league if Shaq had a 15-foot jumper. Good lord. Kobe's FG percentage was pretty low (as was Iverson's) for such elite players. Part of it is that Kobe felt like he had to do everything when that wasn't always true. Jordan's FG percentage was 49.7.

[@koreanm3]

I love this guy.

[@IsHeARealOneVadaRealMC]

Brian, you trippin. When Shaq left and Kobe was in LA he dragged the Lakers to the 7 seed twice and they would have had home court if they were in the East. And his stats were insane. Stop disrespecting the Bean. Kobe is top 3 in my opinion. That said, I respect the all time draft point that he made

[@bitcoin4life]

He dragged them to the seventh seed? So they went from an all time great dynasty to middle of the pack without shaq. Which other possible top ten player of all time would see a team fall to the 7th seed while in their prime and not riddled by injury?

[@MRMORTONIII]

That last minute is pure gold

[@TheJohnw5902]

Look at shaq playoff record from 95-99

[@DJCertified_PDG]

Kobe won 2 more rings without Shaq....

[@outlander234]

Iverson and Shaq... Never thought about it but I think thats an orgasmic duo and better one. Think about it Iverson went to the finals without any star player so with Shaq he would have dominated the league like no other.

[@C.T-fl9sd]

@kanajingly8957and any all star big could of dominated with kobe

[@richardvenckus7190]

Well after hearing this I know why he's only averaged 3points his entire career.

[@dynamicvoltage9765]

that's only taking into account the first minute of the first quarter.

[@joeyvillarreal761]

When he said kobe ain't on that level that's when I lost ya

[@limmyjimmy6782]

The goat brian scalabrine

[@coleb9410]

Aged like milk. Kobe is universally agreed to be top 15 and largely considered top 10.

[@criticalmass613]

I could listen to Scalabrine talk bball all day

[@flxgld7096]

Brian is *"Completely QUALIFIED"* to give his take

[@chrissalcido7410]

I dont want to argue with the GOAT but kobe definitely top 15. you cant say shaq wouldn't have won without kobe tho, cause while he was on the magic he did just as great but wasnt alone able to bring them a championship. he needed kobe about as much as kobe needed shaq

[@wooge3199]

They needed scalabrine

[@Livinamontage]

I respect everything that’s was discussed here.

[@TRON0314]

15-20 all time. What a hot take.

[@christianhenry4173]

Again Kobe is an all time great. He did things most NBA players didn't do now I agree Kobe hasn't had a better career resume.

[@scottyalmightyz2869]

christian henry Kobe also dealt with injuries that made him miss seasons

[@christianhenry4173]

@kanajingly8957 read LeBrons stats now please. Lebron is number 2 behind kobe in missed shots of all times, more field goal attempts, more turnovers and lowest 3pt and free throw percentages. You can't just low-ball Kobe like that anymore

[@christophermendoza1641]

Love to listen to the Mamba talk hoops.

[@andrecarter3578]

not once did he mention defense

[@SincereSentinel]

Kobe will be ranked higher, if people still have eyes and brains in the future.

[@MotoM1234]

Shaq just sat too many games out... when he played he was as dominant as anyone...

[@badboy95ca]

Scalabrine for MVP!

[@thatdude-xj4qe]

Bruh his words dont make any sense though..hes talkin bout Kobe with Shaq..but magic had jabbar, worthy, cooper scott..bird had mchale and parrish, jordan played with pippen, kukoc, rodman..they all played with talent

[@jamesglenn465]

How dare they call this guy the White Mamba

[@rmattwill]

This dude is crazy.

[@annamarieness3222]

+Ryan Smith how so? he made great arguments. the only thing i dont agree with him is saying kobe's at around 15-25.

[@arielhoring4596]

+Mike Epps lol Shaq and Penny were not in their primes. they were both in their early 20s. lol go read a book.

[@arielhoring4596]

Shaq was 22!!!! also What great player in the modern era has won a title at 24 or 25 as the best player on the team? The answer is nobody. Prime is usually 27-32

[@rmattwill]

+Ariel Horing dwade in 2006.

[@arielhoring4596]

Either way Shaq was 22!!! You're right though about wade. Also Duncan in 1999. Those players weren't in their true prime yet regardless. Duncans true prime started in 2003 and Wades started in 2009.

[@etommy13]

LOL @ Kobe being 15-25...dude is on crack. Kobe is top 10 without question. He is pretending Kobe won without Shaq.

[@hyrsk1552]

He makes sense

[@Konphetty]

Whoa I didnt know Scal was pretty smart in terms of NBA history and doesnt buy into the hype. But I wouldnt say Kobes 15-25 hes around 10-15

[@Pingaheimer]

@Charles can't kobe is def top 10

[@mikehammer1777]

Scal is really disrespecting Kobe. Kobe won 2 without Shaq man, but okay...he is entitled to his opinion.

[@pureuncutlakers1010]

Scal is telling the truth about Kobe and I am a die hard Laker fan since 1984. Kobe had some very bad years for being one of the best every, I mean non playoff years. And he was a volume shooter for the last 5 years of his career.

[@joesmith3098]

I certainly I agree, my respect has grown for Kobe endlessly after watching the league since he retired. Kobe never changed the bar or moved goal post on what is was to be the goat. He wanted it, he worked for it, just didn't quite get there. Never said otherwise, he certainly wasn't remotely afraid or ever thought anyone he played against was on his level but he also was a student of the game. With that being said, I think Kobe's mistake was he basically mimicked what Jordan did in the mid to late 80's in his own career. Kobe gave away his best years filling stat sheets instead of winning ring's. I think he may have wanted a bit to much to get out from under Shaq's shadow, show his true ability. Jordan could get 30pts just running the offense, he usually got 50 when the rest of the team struggled or " He took it personally!" Lol. Once Jordan figured out how to win, the 90's he really didn't loose again. Kobe is great, Lebron does alot of things well..but most basketball fans with real knowledge understand that isn't a real conversation except TV ratings. I don't think Lebron has passed Kobe really yet. Much less the whole list of obvious others Magic, Bird etc..

[@glitzandgratitude1170]

Man, he is right though

[@dynamicvoltage9765]

Scal is right. People have this romanticized view of Kobe. I wonder if they even watched him play or they just watched the highlights. He was a VERY mediocre shooter (would be VERY below average in today's NBA). But people only remember the big shots. He took so many bad shots. He could shoot you out of the game pretty quick. He had to have good players around him. He couldn't carry a team on his back the way others have. Now you put a guy like Kobe with 2 other good players and yeah, that's a great team - but you can say that about any other superstar.

[@nicholas5wepriceeggwe138]

No we remember 5 rings outta 7 trieds my guy, u play too win the game

[@C.T-fl9sd]

lol you Ii said he wasn’t a good shooter stfu lol