Former NBA guard Stephen Jackson, who played against both Bryant and James during their careers, has pointed instead to the intangible sense of fear Bryant instilled in opponents. He is really trying to embarrass you," Jackson said, describing an intensity he suggested set Bryant apart regardless of raw statistical comparisons. Why Some Analysts Say Bryant Is Overrated in the DiscussionNot everyone agrees that Bryant should automatically rank above James, ring count aside. "If we're going stack-for-stack player – to me: MJ, Kobe, and then LeBron," Miller said, while acknowledging the exercise remains inherently subjective. "Everybody right now is trying to pick between Michael and LeBron as who the best player ever is, but Kobe was an animal," Boozer said.