Kobe... Still an Enigma at 30

Never in the history of the great game of basketball has there been a player who draws tremendous devotion from his admirers and almost an equal amount of hate from the non-fans. Hence, the term "kobe-haters".  A cursory look at other sports would reveal that there are no "Ronaldinho-haters" in soccer, "A-Rod Haters" in baseball, or "Nadal haters' in tennis,  even from the their non-fans.

Let us be clear about this. This has nothing to do with his basketball talents- Kobe has demonstrated that he has superior talents.  This is not about his misadventures outside the basketball court - many have done much worse. This is not about his competitive fierceness - Michael Jordan arguably is at the top of the heap.  This is not about his wanting to be the best - isn't this a legitimate goal for any sportman?

Kobe is at the homestretch of an illustrious hall-of-fame career many NBA players could only dream of.  The brash young high-schooler who gate-crashed his way to the NBA twelve years ago is now an unlikely elder-statesman at 30. There are still a few pages in his resume to fill. Another MVP award? Another NBA Championship?  He has made amends with the great Shacquille O'Neal. He has made peace with a press that was not always cozy with him. It is not too unrealistic to opine that he has probably converted some "Kobe-haters" to unbiased fans. 

All these and yet his legacy to this game is as hazy as ever.  When Kobe finally hangs up his sneakers and the basketball Gods install him on the pantheon of the all-time greats,  which Kobe will we remember?