[JUBILANT: Kobe Bryant, who has been criticised as a team destroyer who hogs the ball on court, silenced his critics when he led the Los Angeles Lakers to their 15th NBA title on Sunday.]

ANALYSIS BY CHIA HAN KEONG

OF ALL the National Basketball Association global superstars, Kobe Bryant remains the most enigmatic of all.

His skills are unquestionable, as is his unquenchable desire to win. Yet, the Los Angeles Lakers icon has polarised basketball fans around the world.

Many accuse him of being the epitome of "me-first" basketball - a "team destroyer" who hogs the ball and refuses to involve his teammates.

There was also the rape charge against him in 2003 which was eventually dropped, but it became a permanent black mark.

Yet, just as many defend him as a shining example of a professional player whose work ethic is admired around the league, and who is unafraid to carry the team on his shoulders when the going gets tough.

On Sunday, he silenced many of his critics as he led the Lakers to their 15th NBA title, beating the overmatched Orlando Magic 99-86 for a 4-1 Finals series victory.

Throughout the five-game series, the 30-year-old showed that he is far from the team destroyer than his detractors make him out to be.

In fact, he often sacrificed scoring opportunities, feeding incisive passes to his formidable teammates like Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to score.

During timeouts, he could be seen urging his teammates not to slack off, even instructing them on tactical ploys.

In winning this title, his fourth overall and first without former sidekick Shaquille O'Neal, Bryant has erased much criticism of his career.

"It finally felt like a big old monkey was off my back," he said.

"It felt so good to be able to have this moment. For this moment to be here and to reflect back on the season and everything that you've been through, it's top of the list, man."

Indeed, he is truly a team leader now, and this title lifts him up to be among the pantheon of greatest NBA players.

Is he the greatest? Not quite.

But he still has a few more good years to go. Here are my top 10 NBA basketballers of all time:

1. MICHAEL JORDAN: The undisputed king of the hill. With six NBA titles and an impeccable track record, Jordan is the ultimate basketballer and the benchmark which Bryant is unlikely to surpass.

2. BILL RUSSELL: While his record 11 titles were won in an era with a smaller talent pool, the Boston Celtics icon defines team ethics with his stellar defence and leadership.

3. (TIED) MAGIC JOHNSON, LARRY BIRD: Forever entwined, these 1980s superstars used their exceptional basketball nous to lift their teams to multiple titles, and formed a rivalry that drove the NBA to global prominence.

5. KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR: Six-time champion whose 20-year career is filled with scoring records. Also pioneered that unforgettable, unstoppable shot - the Skyhook.

6. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: For someone who weighs 147kg, he is an astonishingly quick giant.

Unstoppable when he feels like it, like when he won his four titles.

7. KOBE BRYANT: He won his first three titles as O'Neal's brilliant sidekick, then suffered in the doldrums when O'Neal left the Lakers. But this year's NBA title confirms his maturity as leader.

8. WILT CHAMBERLAIN: Dominant giant who once scored 100 points in a game.

But, too often, he overshadowed his teammates until late in his career, when he finally won a title in 1972.

9. TIM DUNCAN: You rarely see him dunk, but he will find the angles and trajectories to beat his opponents. The cerebral one also has four titles.

10. JERRY WEST: The original "Mr Clutch", he makes the toughest shots at the most critical moments. Almost destined not to win the title until his final year in 1972, when the Lakers star finally broke through with Chamberlain.

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