Why they rank here
The closest stylistic heir to Jordan and the defining competitor of his generation. Bryant won five championships — three alongside Shaquille O'Neal from 2000 to 2002, then two more as the unquestioned lead in 2009 and 2010, taking Finals MVP both times — and his 2008 MVP anchored a run of ten straight seasons on the All-NBA First Team. His 33,643 career points rank fourth all-time, and his scoring peaks were historic: 81 points against Toronto on January 22, 2006, the second-highest single game ever, within a season he finished at 35.4 points per game, and a 60-point farewell on 50 shots in his final game in April 2016. The two-way credentials are real — 12 All-Defensive selections, nine on the First Team — as are the 18 All-Star nods and two Olympic golds in 2008 and 2012, where he was the closer on the Redeem Team. Critics point to career 44.7 percent shooting and shot selection that analytics would never bless; supporters point to seven Finals, a 20-year single-franchise career, and the largest global following any player commanded between Jordan and LeBron.
Career profile
Each bar shows how this athlete compares with the strongest in our all-time list for that metric.
Head-to-head
Compare career numbers side by side.