In a recent episode of “Gil’s Arena,” former NBA player Matt Barnes shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate about the greatest basketball players of all time. Barnes believes that while LeBron James is the greatest when considering both on and off-the-court contributions, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant surpass him when the discussion is strictly about basketball performance.
“I feel the three greatest players of all time are MJ, Kobe, and Bron,” Barnes stated. “You can position any of those three as you like, and I won’t challenge it. It’s curious to me that many in the media seem to overlook Kobe when discussing the top five or even top 10 players. The players who shared the court with him, either as teammates or rivals, truly understand his exceptional drive and killer instinct”.
Matt Barnes says Kobe is ahead of LeBron when it comes to strictly basketball
“On and off the court LeBron is the all-time GOAT but when it comes to basketball it’s Jordan, Kobe, then Bron…”
(🎥 @GilsArenaShow )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 23, 2025
Barnes emphasized that his ranking is not a knock on LeBron James, whom he considers “f***ing incredible” for his achievements both on and off the court. Barnes acknowledged LeBron’s flawless image, his ability to play alongside his son, and his future role as the owner of the Las Vegas franchise as remarkable accomplishments.
However, when it comes to pure basketball performance, Barnes places Jordan and Bryant ahead of James. Jordan’s illustrious career includes six championships, six Finals MVPs, five MVP awards, one Defensive Player of the Year title, and ten scoring titles. Kobe Bryant, known for his “Mamba Mentality,” won five titles, two Finals MVPs, one MVP, and two scoring titles over his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
