Kobe Bryant calls ESPN voters who ranked him No. 40 ‘idiots’

Last season, a panel of ESPN voters ranked Kobe Bryant the 25th-best player in the NBA.

Kobe defenders everywhere howled. How could you?! He’s an all-time great! Count the ringzzzzz!

Turns out, Kobe was one of the most overrated players in the rankings, which run 1-500.

He missed 76 games and struggled in the six he played.

So, this year, ESPN’s voters have adjusted their perception of Kobe, dropping him to No. 40.

Kobe, via Bill Oram of the Orange County Register:

“I’ve known for a long time they’re a bunch of idiots,” Bryant said.

“Honestly, all jokes aside, it really doesn’t bother me too much,” he said. “I’m going to do what I do regardless. And God willing I can stay healthy and if I wind up proving a lot of people wrong in the process that will just wind up being collateral damage.”

Kobe is one of the highest-variance players in the league. When healthy, he’s clearly in the top 10.

He just hasn’t stayed healthy lately – and I’m not counting on a 36-year-old to reverse that trend.

I expect Kobe to stay on the court more than six game this season, but if he’s playing through injury and declining athleticism, he won’t be as affective as he once was.

Though it’s FAR from a guarantee, I predict Kobe fails to live up to his No. 40 ranking this season. It’s just foolish to bet so heavily on a player so old with Kobe’s injury history, even if he has Kobe’s resolve.

Yup, those ESPN voters are “a bunch of idiots.”