Whenever a Mount Rushmore among NBA players is made by basically anyone who has played, coached, or is simply a fan of NBA basketball, there is a more than likely chance that a member of the Los Angeles Lakers family is on this list. Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and the list of greats who have worn the purple and gold goes on.

Former Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball was no exception when asked about his Mount Rushmore, naming both LeBron and Shaq alongside Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry. But Kobe’s omission was notable and required an explanation.

Ball and his brother LiAngelo were guests on the Unapologetically Angel podcast with WNBA star Angel Reese and, following his Mount Rushmore, explained his decision to leave Bryant off his list:

“I love Kobe Bryant, but he was never the best player to me when I was watching him,” Ball said. “Just because he has the most mistakes ever, you know what I mean? I don’t know. But back to Curry – his resume, the way he changed the game – he is the best shooter of all time. Worn in the USA. There is nothing he hasn’t done and he has the evidence to back it up. So I don’t know.”

These lists are always subjective and based entirely on the preferences of each player. And make no mistake: Ball’s list includes four players who are more than deserving of selection. Many would disagree with the idea that Kobe was never the best player in the league, especially during his stints with the Lakers in the late 2000s. But there are some who prefer Shaq and Tim Duncan in the early 2000s and LeBron at the end of that decade.

Regardless of anyone else’s feelings, Bryant’s impact on the game of basketball is undeniable and he will forever be considered one of the greatest Lakers and best basketball players of all time.

Anthony Davis discusses what Dalton Knecht brings to the Lakers’ starting lineup

The current version of the Lakers is still working on getting the lineups and rotations right, and one recent move was to add rookie Dalton Knecht back into the starting lineup. The Lakers’ victory over the San Antonio Spurs paid immediate dividends and superstar Anthony Davis spoke about what Knecht brings to this group.

Davis immediately mentioned spacing due to Knecht’s elite shooting skills, noting that he can often attract two defenders who are worried about him as they run plays and set screens for him. And Knecht is good enough to take advantage of those moments too, with an underrated ability to attack the basket off the dribble or make the right pass.

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