On the contrary, it couldn't have been more obvious that he was both told and resented being subjugated to Shaq's play-part of the team concept that was a big part of the riff. In other words, being part of a team that won championships wasn't satisfying.
Now he's finally center stage and the team's nowhere close to what it was. Which cave in Afghanistan were you living in that you didn't know this?
I watch almost every televised Laker game and have for years. I've been a fan since the days of Norm Nixon, Jamal Wilkes, and Bob McAdoo. What was obvious to me when watching the Lakers during their last title run was they would not have won without Kobe, Shaq, AND Phil. And it was Kobe who often carried the team in the 4th quarter, because Shaq couldn't hit his free throws. It was Kobe who was the best defender on the team and who generally led the team in assists.
And just fyi, selfish players don't play defense.
Kobe is center stage on an injury-riddled team that currently isn't good enough to bring home a title.