Dude, MJ had a bit more cred on the "Streets" but he didn't get his endorsements from "street cred."
His stock won't rise because, guilty or innocent, this is NOT the kind of crime you get "cred" for.
HAs Kevin Garnett ever been charged with anything more than jaywalking? He has "cred." Criminality is not necessary for that thing. Tracy McGrady has similar cred and no criminal background in his recent past.
I certainly wasn't suggesting that the only way to get "street cred" was to commit violent crimes. The examples you listed are case in point. But I guarantee you that certain segments of the population not only don't care about Kobe's crime (if he in fact committed it), but actually
respect it. And this segment buys lots of shoes....
Do you think that the rapper "50 Cent" would be even a fraction as popular as he is if he didn't have the "cred" of a very violent past. Yeah, that's rap and this is basketball, but unfortunately the two seem to go togother these days. (A decent % of NBA stars fancy themselves rappers).