A bonafide ALPHA, IMO top 15 player all time. Easily among the best SGs all time.
Closest player to Jordan, as far as style and ability...basically same instincts as Michael...perhaps not same ability to make others around him better, but even in that regard he focused on his role.
Elite defender, elite scorer, pain in BOS rear-end.
Kobe is an ultimate source of laughter and joy for me, too (His pained expressions as BOS took LA out back to the shed for butt-whippings in 2008 Finals will FOREVER be a source of constant joy and reflection for me).
As for 2009-10? Not so much.
Would've LOVED for the KG-Ray-Paul and Kobe-Pau-Bynum era to continue for a few more years. BOS and LA will not be able to renew that rivalry for some time.
I wish Kobe Bean Bryant well as he prepares to leave the game. I hope he considers staying longer, as long as he's competitive. Once his kind is gone the game won't be that fun to me anymore.
He was/is the Ultimate Villain and seems to relish that role.