“Please don’t ask me about silly stuff like that” – When Kobe Bryant didn’t waste his breath after ESPN ranked him No. 93 in his finals season originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Often referred considered as the closest player to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant had an illustrious career playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Inspiring several generations with his “Mamba Mentality” mantra, the 6’6″ guard remains a reference point when measuring greatness in the NBA.
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Delivering five championships, repping the Purple and Gold, Kobe remained an eternal student of the game’s fundamentals. Dominating the 2000s decade, the Lakers guard set a new precedent regarding his work ethic and competitive zeal to succeed.
Clinching his fifth title in 2010, Kobe’s game began showing signs of decline, with age and injuries catching up to him. The two-time Finals MVP’s diminishing productivity, coupled with his ball-dominant nature, made the situation more complex for the Lakers’ management.
Heading into the 2015-16 season, which also turned out to be his retirement tour, Kobe was ranked at No. 93 by ESPN. Taking offense, fans rallied behind Bryant. When asked about it, the two-time scoring champion was nothing but all smiles.
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“Yeah, I heard a couple of them. I don’t need to defend that (ranking). Nobody does, really. Please don’t ask me about silly stuff like that,” said Kobe when discussing his ranking.
As stated in the ESPN report, for the 2015 edition, 101 members of the ESPN Forecast panel (analysts, writers, researchers, editors, etc.) predicted how much each NBA player would contribute to his team’s ability to win games, factoring in both his quality of play and minutes played. The panel, founded in 2008, has been ranking NBA players since the lockout of 2011.
Throwing shade the previous season
Kobe’s nonchalant approach wasn’t the case in the 2014-15 season when the eighteen-time All-Star didn’t mince his words. Expressing his dismay over being ranked No. 40, Bryant had the following to say, “I’ve known for a long time (that) they’re a bunch of idiots.”
Using adjectives like “Silly” and “Laughable” against the media giant’s grading system. Breaking down his numbers that year, the Lakers veteran played only 35 games due to a torn rotator cuff. Nonetheless, he averaged the following stat line: 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
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The complexities around Bryant
As a true basketball icon, Kobe has achieved almost every accolade in the book. The former MVP was as multi-dimensional as it gets, which is evident from his 15 All-NBA and 12 All-Defensive Team selections.
Despite all the accolades, the Lakers’ superstar also received his fair share of criticism, especially when it came to his offensive style. He was often labeled as too individualistic — a high-usage guard who didn’t always prioritize ball movement or team flow.
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As the NBA began shifting toward pace-and-space systems and efficiency-first metrics in the early 2010s, Kobe’s shot selection and volume-heavy approach were frequently called into question.
But what set the Black Mamba apart was his unmatched confidence and the ability to respond with performances that silenced most of his critics — at least while his body still allowed it. As injuries piled up and the game evolved further away from his brand of basketball, that ability faded — but the mindset never did.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.