Stephen A. Smith has landed himself in hot water after giving out his top-5 NBA players of all-time.

Kobe Bryant played in the NBA for 20 years and in most of them, he was one of the best players in the league. When his career was over, he was a 5-time champion, 2-time NBA Finals MVP, 1-time NBA MVP, 15-time All-NBA team, and 12-time defensive team.

Bryant is arguably one of the best players to ever play in the NBA, but not good enough to make it on Stephen A. Smith’s top-5 list.

On his list, Smith included:

Michael Jordan.

LeBron James.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Bill Russell.

Magic Johnson.


Here’s his explanation as to why Kobe did not make his list:

“Kobe doesn’t make the top five because Kobe was measured against MJ and MJ played the same position, had the same style of playing, MJ was number one. So for me when I think about Magic, even though Kobe was a better individual talent, Kobe didn’t lead and galvanized to the degree that Magic did. Magic was the dude that got everybody else better, that got everybody else on their game. Kobe would drop 80 on you right, but Magic would accumulate 80 by having 20 points and 20 assists and making sure that this dude and that dude got fed, and it led to 5 championships and nine title appearances.”

Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup.

Joining Lorraine Kelly on Monday’s episode of the ITV show, the TV presenter, 43, also gave an health update after having two tumours removed from jaw.

Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood, in December after 10 years of marriage.

She has since made swipes at Jesse and moved on with TV director Elliot Hegarty, with the pair having been seen kissing during a recent night out.

Fearne has had a difficult few months after undergoing surgery to remove two benign tumours from her jawline, just days before her split with Jesse emerged.

She told host Lorraine: ‘It’s all very amicable and kids are doing great. I am in a very good place.’place.’

 

Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup

 

Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood , in December after 10 years of marriage (both pictured in February 2024)

Discussing her recent surgery, she added: ‘I feel very grateful to have completely recovered.

‘I feel really good. I have a lot of people reaching out who have had the same thing.’

Davina McCall, 56, announced in November she’d been diagnosed with a colloid cyst, a rare type of benign brain tumour, and has supported Fearne.

She continued: ‘Everyone needs a Davina. She’s been amazing, weird that we had the same health thing going on at the same time. She’s so calming and we speak every day. She is just the best

It comes after Fearne has seemingly made another thinly-veiled dig at her ex-husband as she gushed that she is the happiest she’s ever been in a positive update.

Speaking to Scott Mills on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, Fearne gushed that she is ‘really happy’ and is ‘springing out of bed in the morning ready for life’.

Scott, who has known Fearne for 25 years, said he has never seen her ‘more positive or happier’, prompting Fearne to agree and reply: ‘Yeah I feel great!’

She told how her health scare has changed her outlook and said she has been seeking comfort from Davina.

Joining Lorraine Kelly on Monday's episode of the ITV show, the TV presenter, 43, also gave an health update after having two tumours removed from jaw
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Joining Lorraine Kelly on Monday’s episode of the ITV show, the TV presenter, 43, also gave an health update after having two tumours removed from jaw