Lakers’ Shaq, Kobe Underrated in Top-25 Players of 21st Century List
Los Angeles Lakers legends Shaquille O’Neal, AKA Shaq, and Kobe Bryant have been ranked No. 7 and No. 4, respectively, in The Athletic’s new list of top-25 players of the 21st century.
The list — selected by a panel of 43 writers, podcasters and editors — ranked current Lakers forward LeBron James at No. 1, followed by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry at No. 2 and San Antonio Spurs icon Tim Duncan at No. 3.
While Bryant came in at No. 4, three-time Denver Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokic and two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant rounded off the top six, followed by Shaq, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade.
Needless to say, the list immediately sparked outrage among Lakers fans who watched Shaq and Kobe run roughshod over the league at the start of the 21st century.
Controversial List Causes Uproar
One knowledgeable fan felt it was outrageous to rank Jokic and Curry, two players with a combined zero All-Defensive selections, over Bryant and O’Neal.
“Let me be very, very clear: anyone choosing Steph and Jokic over Kobe and Shaq for a best of 7 series is getting smoked,” wrote Spike L.
While Bryant ranks second all-time in All-Defensive selections (12) and third in All-NBA nods (15), O’Neal made three All-Defensive Second Teams besides 14 All-NBA Teams in his illustrious career. Granted, a few of those were in the 1990s, but both players enjoyed their greatest coups after the turn of the century.
Another fan felt the two Lakers legends were being penalized for their seasons in the 1990s, despite capturing a combined nine NBA titles in the 21st century.
“I assume Shaq and Kobe are penalized as their seasons in the 90’s don’t count?” asked Jim- C in the comments section of The Athletic’s list.
T-Mac, Dame Time Snubbed
The Athletic acknowledged that it was a difficult task finalizing the top-25 list, given how much the game has changed just in the past five years, let alone 25.
They also acknowledged the notable snubs of two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and Damian Lillard.
“Our list reflects the metamorphosis of the game; we still have bigs who dominated close to the basket, the way it was done back in the day,” read the article. “But there are also numerous guards and wings that reconfigured the geometry of the game, forever, with their range and volume.”
The full list can be found below:
1. LeBron James
2. Stephen Curry
3. Tim Duncan
4. Kobe Bryant
5. Nikola Jokic
6. Kevin Durant
7. Shaquille O’Neal
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo
9. Dirk Nowitzki
10. Dwyane Wade
11. Kevin Garnett
12. Kawhi Leonard
13. Chris Paul
14. James Harden
15. Steve Nash
16. Russell Westbrook
17. Allen Iverson
18. Dwight Howard
19. Luka Doncic
20. Paul Pierce
21. Anthony Davis
22. Jason Kidd
23. Jayson Tatum
24. Carmelo Anthony
25. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
THE VALLEY Season 3 Is Officially in Production — Darker, Messier, and More Dangerous Than Ever
Bravo fans, buckle up: the cameras are rolling again in the San Fernando Valley.
According to insiders close to the cast, the new season is shaping up to be a pressure cooker of betrayal, shocking secrets, and relationship implosions that could permanently fracture friendships. “This season is going to push people to their limits,” one insider teased. “The betrayals cut deeper, the drama is darker, and the stakes are higher than anything fans have seen before.”
Fans who tuned in for the first two seasons know The Valley took the Pump Rules formula—friends navigating love, family, and ambition—and raised the tension by focusing on exes, co-parenting struggles, and new romances tangled with old rivalries. Season 3, however, is being billed as a game-changer. Bravo execs have hinted at major cast shake-ups, dangerous confrontations, and “truth bombs” that could leave no one unscathed.
Speculation is already running wild on social media about who will “stand” and who will “fall.” With Brittany Cartwright navigating her fresh start post-Jax, Kristen Doute adjusting to married life with Luke Broderick and their new baby, and Jax Taylor never far from chaos, the dynamics are primed to explode. Rumors suggest at least one shocking betrayal will blindside the entire friend group, setting off a chain reaction that could redefine the series.
Bravo fans have wasted no time lighting up Twitter and Instagram with theories. “If Season 3 is really darker, my money’s on a friendship breakup we’ll never recover from,” one fan posted. Another added, “The Valley is giving Vanderpump Rules Season 2 energy… and I live for it.”
Of course, Bravo is keeping most plot details under wraps, but producers have teased that nothing—and no one—is safe. “Don’t look away,” a network insider said. “Because if you do, you might miss the moment that changes everything.”
For longtime Vanderpump Rules fans, The Valley has quickly become Bravo’s next must-watch guilty pleasure. And if the early buzz is to be believed, Season 3 will be the wildest ride yet.
So who will rise, who will fall, and which shocking secrets will finally come to light? One thing’s for sure: when it comes to Bravo, the truth always finds a way out.
