Kobe Bryant: Badass or Jackass?

Peep the Black Mamba's track record and judge for yourself.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Kobe Bryant is that guy that you love to hate. He has the endorsements, the hardware, the stats, and plays for one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. Kobe knows he's one of the all-time greats and he acts like it. People hate that type of shit. They hate his success, his fetish for Michael Jordan, and his pity tattoo. No player in recent memory has been more polarizing. When he caught that rape case in Colorado, folks rejoiced, "that's good for his ass!" While others said it was another case of the system trying to keep the black man down.

On the flip side, people love his unwavering confidence, his supreme skill, his work ethic, and the ice that runs through his veins. Bryant's been loved, hated, and then loved again (thanks to LeBron). Why is it either or with him? That's what we're here to figure out: Is Kobe Bryant a badass or a jackass?

Badass: Straight Outta High School

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Jackass: His Growing Pains as a Rookie

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Badass: Winning the Slam Dunk Contest

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Jackass: His Rap Career

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Jackass: The Chris Childs Two Piece

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Badass: Wins 2002 NBA All-Star Game MVP

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Jackass: The Beef with His Parents

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Jackass: His Sexual Assault Case

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Badass: Drops 62 On Dallas in Three Quarters

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Jackass: Chasing Shaq Out of Town

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Badass: 81 Point Game vs. Toronto

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Jackass: Refused to Shoot in Playoffs to Prove His Point

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Badass: MVP Season

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Badass: His 2008 Gold Medal Game Performance

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Jackass: His Thirst for MJ's Legacy

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Badass: Wins a Ring—Sans Shaq

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Jackass: Going 6 for 24 in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals

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Badass: Joins the 30,000 Point Club

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Jackass: Sh*tting on Former Teammates

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Badass: His Clutch Performances

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Final Verdict: Badass

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