Kobe Bryant had the coldest response when asked if he was putting himself in list of top five NBA players ever

Kobe Bryant is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, although he never saw it that way himself.

During his long career with the LA Lakers, Bryant won the NBA championship on five occasions between 2000 and 2010.

Like Michael Jordan, who won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, Bryant played as a shooting guard.

In that position, many regard Bryant second only to the Bulls icon.

Bryant was open on how he based his game on Jordan’s. His three-point shooting was a particular highly honed skill of Bryant’s game.

It has been said, that in that capacity, Bryant was a little ahead of Jordan.

With such praise for the former Lakers man, it is interesting hearing him list his own suggested all-time top five of NBA players.

Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan during an NBA game. Image: Getty

Naturally, Bryant went for 'MJ' in there, along with five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson at point.

He also chose former Boston Celtics man Larry Bird, who was a great rival of Johnson’s Lakers. Bill Russell - also of the Celtics, but in the 1960s, was another pick. He then said Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won as many NBA titles as Jordan and was a teammate of Johnson throughout the eighties.

When asked if Bryant was in there as number six, he was very clear on his stature in the game.

"No, I’m nowhere near that stuff, man. You’ve still got Jerry West, you’ve got Oscar Robertson, Walt Frazier, Bob Pettit, the list goes on and on," he said.

The quote shows that despite Bryant’s achievements in the game he remained humble when assessing his own ability in the overall standing of it.

Today, many do cite Bryant as a great, not just in his ability, but his attitude towards the game.