His career has survived rape allegations, a public feud with his popular star teammate, too many injuries to count, a public falling-out that led his Hall of Fame coach to retire to a cabin in the wilderness and the widely publicized use of a homophobic slur. But despite all of these obstacles, Kobe Bryant recorded his 28,597th NBA point Monday night, passing Shaquille O’Neal for fifth on the all-time scoring list.

Kobe has remained relevant — and somewhat likable — in the public eye and has achieved this level of success because of one key personality trait he shares with the likes of Michael Jordan and Pete Rose: his tenacity.

Kobe’s drive to win is evident each time he steps on the floor, even at the ripe old age of 33. This seems to be the only constant over the span of his long career. Bryant has changed his number and all but one of his teammates and has gone through a recent divorce, but the way he plays the game has stayed the same. That’s why Kobe has amassed five championship rings across two very separate eras as a player.

When watching Kobe play, it’s difficult to remember the past he’s left behind. Nobody thinks about his alleged rape incident or the fact that his former coach wrote a book explaining how terrible life with Kobe was. Nobody remembers that amidst the investigation of his behavior, he tried to implicate his teammate, Shaq, as someone who frequented prostitutes.

Instead, we see a broken-down 33-year-old who leads his team in minutes and points, trying his hardest to win each night in a league often chastised for its lack of hustle. It’s this work ethic that allows Kobe to transcend his failings to reach a level of play that is comparable only to Michael Jordan’s.

In that manner, Bryant and Jordan are similar figures. Both boast impressive postseason records, both demand the ball when the game is on the line and achieve stunning results, both are viewed as the models for success in their respective eras and both weathered criticism and scandal on their roads to success.

It’s fitting that during the season in which Kobe reached the top five for career points, Michael Jordan claimed Bryant as the only player worthy of comparison to “His Airness.” While both took heat for marital infidelity, they each responded by playing the game of basketball as it is meant to be played.

Both players left a negative impression on many teammates, as former sidekick Scottie Pippen recently critiqued Jordan, and Shaq has rapped about Kobe’s failures as recently as 2008. However, the two stars’ style of play doesn’t necessarily lend to very many friends, just results.

But while neither has many allies, but their results are undeniable. Bryant will never walk away from the game as a “nice guy,” but his drive has allowed him to transcend his potentially bad reputation and achieve the accolades he deserves. His wins and scoring records thankfully overshadow his off-the-court actions.

Although books have been written describing his selfishness in the face of the downfall of the Lakers dynasty of the early 2000s, Bryant will retire amid fanfare. Like Pete Rose and Michael Jordan before him, Kobe’s focus on basketball and the intensity and focus he brought to the court have helped him escape the criticism that plagued him along the way.

Regardless of his actions, Bryant will be known throughout history as a winner, and that’s all he’s ever wanted.

Corey Blaine is a junior in the McDonough School of Business. THE BLEACHER SEATS appears every Friday.