Kobe Bryant Not in Shaquille O’Neal’s All-Time Top 5 NBA Favorites List

Shaquille O'Neal listed his top five favorite NBA players of all time and his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Kobe Bryant did not make the cut. Before reports start claiming that O'Neal and Bryant are feuding, the 43-year-old big guy explained each one of his picks.

"Bill Russell won 11 championships. Charles Barkley is my guy, but I like Karl Malone. Then there's the guy who made me who I am -- Dr. J [Julius Erving]. I've got Michael [Jordan] at the two. Then, I'm going to go with the big guard with Magic Johnson at the one," O'Neal said in an interview with The Times-Picayune of New Orleans. "I see a problem with answering these questions. A lot of people get their feelings hurt. Then some of you guys [reporters] be trying to start trouble, like Shaq leaving Kobe [Bryant] off. Then it's Shaq and Kobe. But that's my top five for playing reasons and what they did. Russell doesn't have high [statistical] numbers, but with 11 championships, nobody is beating that."

Even though O'Neal did not include Bryant, 37, on his list, he still gave Bryant a little piece of career advice in regards to retirement.

''If you still got something, you should go because once it's done you can't get it back,'' O'Neal said. ''If I hadn't got hurt I would have went on and played my last season to try and break Wilt Chamberlain's scoring record. But it's different for a guard because they got control -- 'I'm going to shoot this time.' For big guys, it is kind of hard. You've got to labor down.''

Bryant is entering the 20th season of his NBA career (O'Neal retired at his 19th season). He has been the subject of retirement rumors especially since he has been suffering from injuries these past two seasons.

The five-time NBA champion has stated before that he will not decide on his future until after this season.