Yes, but in that season he started to play really selfishly, trying to get his own stats. Team got frustrated, he got hurt sat out like 13 games. Watched the team play without him and saw stuff, came back in and the team went ballistic.
That was also Kobe's greatest run of his career (including the '06 season). Until the Finals, where they just milked Shaq against Philly, Kobe was completely unguardable in every way. Picked every team apart, including a historically great San Antonio defense.
Obviously, Kobe can't do that anymore, but he showed trust in guys like Horry and Fish that season, why not now? Come in, play more of a team game, trust the talent around him (Kobe has more top end talent now than in '01), and win that way.