Shaquille O’Neal isn’t holding back his feelings about where his former teammate landed on a major all-time ranking. When Bleacher Report dropped Kobe Bryant at No. 11 on their top 100 NBA players list, the Big Diesel had just two words that summed up what Lakers fans everywhere were thinking.
Why Did Shaquille O’Neal Call Kobe Bryant’s No. 11 Ranking Criminal?
Bleacher Report released its list of the “top 100 NBA players ever” on Monday, compiled by their team of NBA experts, writers, and editors. The rankings placed O’Neal at sixth while Bryant dropped to 11th, a gap that clearly didn’t sit well with Shaq.
The Hall of Fame center took to X to voice his displeasure with a blunt assessment that resonated across social media: “Kobe at 11 is criminal.”
Kobe at 11 is criminal
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) July 14, 2025
The ranking becomes even more puzzling when you consider Bleacher Report’s own words about Bryant. They acknowledged that “from a basketball-reputation perspective, no one’s impact on the game has actively spanned more generations.” That kind of praise would typically guarantee a top-10 spot, making their decision to rank him 11th all the more confusing.
The ten players ranked ahead of Bryant were Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Stephen Curry. While most of these names are undisputed legends, the inclusion of Curry ahead of Bryant has sparked the most debate.
Bleacher Report seemed to anticipate the controversy, noting that “Kobe’s top-10 status remains one of basketball’s most heated debates in 2025.” The reaction from O’Neal and fans online suggests they might have been looking for exactly this kind of engagement.
Bryant’s resume certainly makes a strong case for top-10 inclusion. The Black Mamba was a five-time champion, one-time MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection, 12-time All-Defense team member, and two-time scoring champion. His 20-year career with the Lakers produced averages of 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
How Has Shaq and Kobe’s Bond Evolved Since Their Playing Days?
The passionate defense of Bryant’s legacy shows how far the relationship between these former teammates has come. Bryant and O’Neal dominated the NBA together, winning three straight championships from 2000 to 2002. However, their partnership ended after the Lakers fell to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals.
Growing tension between the two superstars led to O’Neal’s trade to the Miami Heat. The big man captured another title with Miami in 2006, while Bryant added two more championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.
In the years that followed, both players matured and acknowledged their past conflicts. During a 2015 appearance on “The Big Podcast,” they publicly reconciled their differences.
“I just want people to know that I don’t hate you. I know you don’t hate me. I called it today a ‘work beef,’ which is what we had. I was young, you were young…” O’Neal explained during that conversation.
O’Neal’s respect for his former teammate became even more evident in June 2025 when he revealed his personal top ten players list on Netflix. In that ranking, he placed Bryant at No. 2, showing just how highly he values the Mamba’s contributions to basketball.
Since Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter crash in January 2020, along with his daughter Gigi and seven others, O’Neal has consistently championed his former teammate’s legacy. Whether it’s rankings, debates, or casual basketball discussions, Shaq makes sure Bryant’s name stays in the conversation where he believes it belongs.
