Master P -- Ends Attack On Kobe Bryant ... 'He's One of the Greatest'

THE WAR IS OVER ... at least for now ... with Master P suspending his verbal attacks on Kobe Bryant -- and now he's actually PRAISING the guy.

P's been after Kobe for months -- ripping him for not helping Lamar Odom get back on the Lakers and then trashing his game, claiming he'd beat Kobe in a 1-on-1 game.

But today in NYC -- something we haven't heard from Master P before ... PRAISE FOR #24.

Not only did P compliment Bryant as "one of the greatest players in the world" ... but said even this crappy season can't overshadow what he's done in his career.