I think when you look at it Kobe can legitamately be called a top 5 player of all time. I rank players by a combination of these things
Skill set/Ability
Accolades/Championships
Playoff Performance
Longevity
Peak/Prime
Statistics
1. Skillset, Kobe is arguably the most skilled basketball player ever, if he's not he's right in the mix with Jordan And Bird. He's easily a top 5 scorer of all time and a case can be made at his best he's the greatest. No other player has his all around skill at scoring the basketball. From one of the GOAT midrange games, great 3 point shot, the ability to make a shot from anywhere on the court, ability to get to the rim at will in his atheltic prime, and Elite post game. Pretty much the perfect scorer.
Also one of the best non PG playmakers ever and has had to shoulder both the Scoring and playmaking load for his teams throughout his career leading elite offenses many times with limited talent around him(2006/2007) and one of the worst PG's in the League
Defensively he's slipped and has been flat out lazy but in his prime was one of the best perimeter defenders in league, just an excellent man defender. Which gave coaches flexibility to put him on the other teams best scorer in key games and stretches. Perfect example of this was the last 2 games of the OKC series in 2010. In game 5 Westbrook shot 4-13, and then 7-20 in game 6. He shot 32-48 the first 4 games and didn't shoot under 50% while being guarded by fisher. Kobe's D saved a first round upset. One of the best rebounding guards ever, it should be noted that in the 40 games shaq missed from 00-03 Kobe averaged 7 boards a game. He's played with good big men in his career which has suppressed his rebounds in a way.
2. Accolades, No one really matches or bests him in this regard aside from Mike/Kareem/Russell. 10 time All NBA 1st team/9X defensive 1st team/15 time all star/League MVP/2 Time Finals MVP/2 time Scoring Champion
3. Championships/Rings. Kobe has 5 titles/7 finals appearances while playing in arguably the toughest WCF ever for his prime. Only Jordan/Magic/Kareem/Russell have more rings as a star, and only Jordan/Russell/Shaq/Bird/Duncan have more titles as the undisputed best player.
4. Playoff Performance. One of the best playoff performers ever, only guys I would put over him in his prime are Hakeem/Jordan/Magic. Every one else he's either clearly better or arguably better.
Prime Kobe playoffs(2001-2010)
28.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 45 FG%, 55 TS%
Peak Kobe(2008-2010) 30/6/6/2 on 47 FG%/ 57 TS. 3 straight Finals Back to Back titles
Playoff record : Kobe 99-11' 28-7 80%/HCA Record Kobe: 27-2/ 5-2 Finals Record
5. Longevity, Only matched by Malone/Kareem at this point. Still a top 5 player 17 years in the league and having arguably the best season ever for a player his age.
6. Statistics: As a starter 27 PPG/5PG/5APG 46% 56%TS. 3rd highest PPG ever as a Starter
When you take everything into account the only guys I can put clearly ahead of him are Mike and Kareem. People say magic but Kobe was a better scorer and vastly superior defensively. They both have the same number of titles as the best player(Magic became the Lakers number one option in 87') And Kobe has the same number of titles overall. Not even taking into context the talent disparity and the Terrible west magic played in. People will say Duncan, But Kobe was a clearly better offensive player,better playoff performer, owned him in the playoffs, and has sustained superstar status for longer in the league. People will say shaq but Kobe had way more success without him then vice versa, with much worse teammates etc(Penny/Kobe/Wade>Gasol)
It makes for Good Debate tho
