Allen Iverson lit up the league during his prime years in the NBA. He holds a lot of respect towards his opponents and a distinct few; he loves. Kobe Bryant was not only one of his fiercest competitors but also a dear friend. 

Iverson was as competitive as Kobe on-the-court. The 2001 MVP is referred to be Kobe’s inspiration behind sporting the basketball sleeve on his right hand.

Allen Iverson gave an interview to the ‘UNGUARDED’ in 2018. He was asked to give his opinion on the Michael Jordan vs LeBron James debate, which has been existing ever since James has been making his mark as a top individual performer. 

Iverson questions the exclusion of Kobe Bryant in the debate for the GOAT

Iverson had one major doubt in his mind about the debate. Where is Kobe Bryant? 

Although he admitted that he’s a big fan of LeBron James, Iverson feels that Kobe Bryant is right up there with the class of Jordan and James. 

Iverson indicated a void in the debate with his comments on Kobe Bryant’s exclusion. He said:

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“LeBron is great, first of all. When they talk about comparing him to Mike, I don’t understand how they don’t have the debate when it comes to Kobe. I don’t get it. What, you forgot or something? I really think they forgot. I really think they forgot the Mamba, man. Certified serial killer, man.”

The Hall of Famer has played against all three legends at different points in his career. He has witnessed all of them display their magic on the court. He strongly feels the need for Bryant to be right up there when they bring up the ‘GOAT.‘

One cannot disagree with AI on this matter. His comments are not a result of him and the Mamba playing together. They were opponents for several years in the NBA. Bryant has had a huge impact on the court as Iverson’s opponent, and vice-versa.

Kobe Bryant won five NBA titles in his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. This includes a historic three-peat which accomplished by Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in the early 2000s. Bryant stands as the fourth-highest point scorer in the NBA. He is only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and LeBron James.