Why would this be controversial? Simply put, this honor has always been reserved for the top actors in Hollywood. The last person to have their hands cemented was Robert Duvall this past January, and I don't think anyone would have a problem with him receiving this honor.
Needless to say, Kobe is not an actor. Sure, he's one of the greats of basketball, but the furthest his resume extends is a six minute short film titled The Black Mamba, directed by Robert Rodriguez. One short film does not make one an established actor.
Perhaps it is meant to establish what Kobe has meant to the Los Angeles area since his arrival in 1996. There are other ways to do that though, and it did not feel like the right medium to do this. People seemed to enjoy the festivities, and having it coincide with All-Star weekend was a smart move.
At least the actor/athlete, Kobe Bryant was honored wasn't Shaq. Having Kazaam honored in the Theatre may have been hard to swallow.
