Raiders star chooses Kobe Bryant over LeBron James in GOAT debate

The Las Vegas Raiders moved from Oakland to Los Angeles in 1982 and played in the City of Angels through the 1994 NFL season. While it has now been nearly 30 years since they left, the Southland is still filled with many Raiders fans.

Many of those Los Angeles-based Raiders fans, of course, are also backers of the Los Angeles Lakers. Therefore, those who grew up falling in love with the late great Kobe Bryant will surely be heartened by a comment made by Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby.

Crosby, a three-time Pro Bowler, was asked on "The OGs Podcast" who he thinks the greatest NBA player of all time is. He said it is Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, but he also said that for his greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) list, he's taking Bryant over LeBron James (at 4:33).

“My GOAT list, I’m taking Kobe over LeBron. I think LeBron, like I respect his greatness, like he is top three no question. But if it really comes down to it, like in my opinion, you got Game 7 on the line. I am taking MJ, I am taking Kobe, if I want to win a title. That’s just my opinion.”

Bryant's baseline production was a little lower than that of James and some of basketball's other all-time greats. However, his peaks and spikes were likely higher than those of anyone else. He famously scored 81 points in a January 2006 game, and a few weeks prior to that, he went for 62 points through three quarters while outscoring the Dallas Mavericks, who went to the NBA Finals that year, by one point all by himself.

The lasting memory of Bryant was watching him do whatever it took to win games in crunch time, whether it meant getting buckets, getting to the free throw line, finding open teammates or even making defensive plays. Late NBA coach Dr. Jack Ramsay once told the Los Angeles Times that, to him, Bryant was the greatest closer in league history.

Of course, that iron-clad will to win resulted in five NBA championships, not to mention two Olympic gold medals, for the Black Mamba.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Raiders star chooses Kobe Bryant over LeBron James in GOAT debate