Wade says Kobe is among the top three in history

According to US sports media F/W reporter Nico Martinez. When Bleacher Report ranked Kobe at No. 11 in NBA all-time player list, it immediately sparked backlash, and Wade was not going to let it slip away. The Hall of Famer made it clear on his WY Network show: Kobe is more than just a top 10 player. He is in the top three. Anyone who is on the scene with him knows the reason.

"If you want to ask us basketball players who are playing against Kobe, we all talk about the top three," Wade said. "If you play Mamba, we're all talking about the top three. But someone's point of view never played against Kobe, he's only 11 years old, why should I be angry about something like this? I remember when Kobe was alive, when he played in the league, they had rankings... Kobe talked about this issue, like 'Who are these idiots?! I'm not saying that the people who do it are idiots... But when someone does something like this, Kobe will say, 'It's too stupid for me."

Kobe recently ranked 11th on the Bleacher Report's all-time player list. In a controversial decision, they placed him behind Larry Bird, Chamberlain and Curry among others. While this isn't uncommon for Kobe, it's enough to attract the attention of NBA legends like Wade and O'Neal, who mentioned the ranking in a post on X. Now, Wade seems to be speaking out to remind the world how special Kobe is and why he became the greatest player of all time after he belonged to Jordan and James. As a 5-time champion, 18-time All-Star, 2-time scoring champion and former MVP, Kobe's achievements are unique, and his impact on the game is undeniable. In addition to his fearless and confident way of playing, he is also known for his “Mamba mentality” (his signature obsession, discipline and fearless mindset), which helped him become the first to enter and the last to leave the team to train.

While his achievements may not be as far-reaching as Curry, his name is still popular among young and older athletes today. Additionally, Kobe played in the traditional era of NBA basketball, when three-pointers weren’t as common as we see today. Despite his strong physical fitness, he is able to thrive on both sides of the offense and defense, averaging 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists in his career for more than 20 years.

It can be said that the biggest factor that hinders Kobe is that he only has one MVP. The others in the top 10 have at least multiple MVP trophys, but Kobe is alone and has only one name. Still, Kobe brought something to the stadium that data cannot be measured, and only those who have played against it know how big its impact is.

When a Hall of Fame member and Kobe's close friend speaks so strongly, it reshapes the narrative. For players like Wade who share the stadium with Kobe and experience his competitive spirit firsthand, the debate has settled: Kobe is in the top three. Ranking may vary, but his influence – and the respect of those who fight him – speaks for it.