Here's my take on Kobe. I was a college freshman when he was a rookie, and I remember him jacking up airballs with the game on the line, challenging MJ in the All-star game, and just being a cocky shit.
But, he was my cocky shit, because he brought some swagger and a competitive attitude back to a Lakers franchise that was fair-to-good in the years after the Bulls beat them in '91. Eddie Jones, Van Exel, and Ced Ceballos were OK, but it kind of sucked and it was a let-down after the Showtime years.
Peak Kobe had the athleticism of a well-above-average player, but the competitive drive of one of the all-time greats. This drive also meant he was a selfish asshole generally, and almost certainly raped at least one person criminally. I know a lot of people can't look past that, and to be honest, I don't blame those that do.
Those teams with him, Shaq, and Fisher, among others, will always be some of my favorite sports moments, both because of where I was with my relationship with sports, and because there was a time where you KNEW he would get the last shot, and it seemed like it always went in. I liked that he lost as much as he did (that Boston rout in the finals comes to mind), too. He really was a classic heel.
I will say, though, that should any of you non-LA fans ever be in a position where someone like Kobe puts on your team's uniform, you will spam videos in tribute as well, because having one of the all-time greats spend his entire career with your team and will it to new heights is one of the great benefits of being a sports fan.
FOR LIFE!!!