When it comes to basketball’s greatest players, Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t hold back his opinions.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend recently stepped up to defend his former teammate Kobe Bryant, with whom he won three championships, arguing that the Black Mamba gets unfairly overlooked in GOAT conversations that typically focus on Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Why Does Shaquille O’Neal Think Kobe Bryant Belongs in GOAT Conversations?
Speaking on the “Straight Game” podcast, O’Neal expressed his frustration with how the basketball world discusses its greatest players.
“I get frustrated when people talk about the GOATs of the game and don’t mention Kobe Bryant,” he said. “I don’t care who you pick, whether it’s Michael, LeBron, or Kobe, but just mention all the names. They just passed him up and went from Mike to LeBron, and they left him out. I would like to hear the recipients in there and then let the people pick.”
O’Neal’s argument centers on Bryant’s similarity to Jordan, widely considered the standard for basketball greatness. “He’s a carbon copy of Mike, and Mike is the greatest, so he has to be there,” O’Neal added. “But LeBron has done some things, too.”
Shaq: “I get frustrated when people talk about the GOATs of the game and don’t mention Kobe Bryant.”
(via @straightgamepod) pic.twitter.com/EiOt17Jyw5
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 23, 2025
What Makes Dennis Rodman’s Support Even More Significant?
O’Neal found support from an unexpected source: Dennis Rodman, Jordan’s former Chicago Bulls teammate. Despite proclaiming Jordan as the GOAT, Rodman emphasized that people forget about Bryant’s impact on the game.
Per BET, Rodman remarked, “Guess what? People forgot about that one guy. That one guy, that’s called Kobe Bryant. People forget about him. They talk about everybody else. They don’t talk about Kobe for some reason.”
This backing from Jordan’s championship teammate adds weight to the argument that Bryant deserves recognition alongside the usual GOAT candidates.
Dennis Rodman says Jordan is the GOAT, Completely disregards Lebron and mentions Kobe 😂😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/VlJlun8ZA1
— TheTruth (@Thetruth8240) August 17, 2025
Bryant’s resume certainly supports these arguments. The late Lakers icon captured five NBA championships, earned MVP recognition, made 18 NBA All-Star appearances, secured 12 All-Defense selections, and claimed two scoring titles. Beyond the accolades, his legendary ‘Mamba Mentality’ continues influencing the next generation of players.
Over the years, former players, analysts, and sections of fans who believe Bryant deserves mention in the same conversation as Jordan and James have joined O’Neal and Rodman. The debate continues as basketball fans weigh championship success, individual excellence, and cultural impact when determining their greatest player of all time.
Meanwhile, Bryant’s legacy will get additional spotlight through Warner Bros.’ upcoming biopic. Titled ‘With the 8th Pick’, the film will focus on how the Lakers’ superstar entered the NBA through the 1996 draft. Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen wrote the script for the project.
