Kobe's response to ESPN's player ranking: 'They're a bunch of idiots'

Kobe Bryant isn't happy with ESPN's NBA player rankings, in which a panel of over 200 commentators and analysts ranked Bryant as the 40th best player for the upcoming season.

Bryant voiced his displeasure with ESPN to members of the media, jokingly dubbing ESPN's analysts as "a bunch of idiots," and saying that he doesn't pay any mind to arbitrary rankings:

ESPN's rankings are compiled by averaging scores from the panelists, who are asked to score each player on a scale of 1-10. Bryant's score averaged out to 7.06, which puts him in the company of Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (7.06) and Warriors guard Klay Thompson (7.08).

If Bryant were at full health, his ranking would likely be higher. Two season ago, in 2012-13, Bryant averaged 27.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and six assists. As a frame of reference, not a single player bested that statline last season.

However, Bryant is a mere mortal, and his age (36) combined with his recent injury history is not working in his favor. Bryant is coming off a devastating knee injury, which he sustained last season after rupturing his Achilles' the season prior.

(h/t Lakers Nation)