McGrady: 'Disrespectful' to Say Lakers Icon Kobe Bryant Isn't Top 5 NBA Player Ever

Former NBA star Tracy McGrady is not impressed by arguments that Kobe Bryant should not be ranked as one of the top five NBA players of all time.

"They so disrespectful when it comes to Bean, bro," McGrady said in a Wednesday Instagram post. "They talking about he ain't better than MJ... He's the closest thing to MJ."

"Who else is close to MJ? Ain't nobody else close to MJ. So how was he excluded out of this conversation if he's close to MJ, and MJ is the greatest of all time? Help me understand that."

McGrady, who spent 15 seasons with six NBA teams between 1997 and 2012, played 21 games against Bryant in his career, according to StatMuse.

He dismissed the idea that Bryant's career was any less impressive because he played alongside Hall of Famers like Shaquille O'Neal.

"You ask anybody who's played against Michael Jordan, and played against Kobe Bean Bryant, in that era, they will tell you, Bean is top five all-time," McGrady said.

McGrady isn't the only player who believes Bryant deserves a place among the league's all-time top five. Rip Hamilton and Jamal Crawford left comments agreeing with the post.

Bryant's legacy has certainly been cemented in Los Angeles, where the Lakers on Thursday night are unveiling a bronze statue of Bryant outside Crypto.com Arena. He will be the eighth player honored on a plaza that also includes statues of O'Neal, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.