Kobe's playoff averages during 2000-2002 3-peat: 25.3 PPG (on 45 FG%), 5.7 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG
He was 21-23 years old during this run. And had to share the ball with a behemouth of a man who is considered unanimous top 10 player of all-time. 25/6/5 don't look like the stats of a guy who rode someone's coattails to a championship. ***cough D-Wade*** The only legitimate season you could say Kobe was a second fiddle was 99-00. 21.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.4 APG. Those are sidekick numbers. A damn good one but sidekick D-Wade type numbers. Kobe's stats during 2001 and 2002 were not second fiddle, sidekick numbers. They were SUPERSTAR #1 option type stats.
2001 Playoffs: 29.4 PPG (on 47 FG%), 7.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG
2002 Playoffs: 26.6 PPG (on 43 FG%), 5.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG
2002 FINALS: 26.8 PPG (on 51 FG%), 5.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Kobe's number during the 2001 playoffs were as good if not better than LeBron's playoffs numbers from last year. And Kobe's numbers during the 2002 finals were comprable to LeBron's in last years finals.
LeBron 2013 Playoffs: 25.9 PPG (on 49 FG%), 8.4 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG
LeBron 2013 FINALS: 25.3 PPG (on 45 FG%), 10.9 RPG, 7.0 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG
If Kobe's 2001 and 2002 rings don't count, then neither does LeBron or pretty much anyone not named Jordan ever. Kobe was just as important to those rings as Shaq. And moreso in the Western Conference playoffs where the title was really decided in all 3 of those seasons. Only reason Shaq racked up all the finals MVPs is because the Eastern conference matchups suited him cause they had no one who could guard him.
only ring you could say Kobe didn't earn as much as Shaq was 2000. and even then, it was his performance in game 7 against Portland that ultimately won them the ring.