Kobe Bryant Elected To Basketball Hall Of Fame

Kobe Bryant will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fam in Springfield, Massachusetts. Kobe, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and six others will be remembered as basketball legends.

The announcement was delayed from the NCAA’s Final Four weekend in Atlanta due to the coronavirus outbreak. This happened two months after the Black Mamba lost his life in a helicopter crash in Calabasas.

In her interview with ESPN, Vanessa Bryant talked about the great honor and her husband’s success.

“We wish that he was here with us to celebrate but it’s definitely the peak of his NBA career and every accomplishment that he had as an athlete was a stepping stone to be here. So we’re incredibly proud of him, and there’s some solace in knowing that he was probably going to be part of the 2020 Hall of Fame class.”

According to John Doleva, the president and CEO of the Hall of Fame, Kobe’s class was one of the best classes the basketball world has ever seen.

“In 2020, the basketball community has suffered the unimaginable loss of iconic figures Commissioner David Stern and Kobe Bryant, as well as the game itself due to COVID-19,” Doleva said. “We have also banded together like never before in appreciation of the game and those who have made it the uniting force it is today.”

The NBA honors Kobe Bryant

Bryant, Duncan and Garnett made 48 NBA All-Star game appearances together. That’s the best record a trio who retired in the same campaign has ever made. These superstars are inducted alongside basketball coaches Eddie Sutton, Rudy Tomjanovich, Kim Mulkey, and Barbara Stevens. WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings and French basketball executive Patrick Baumann belong to the same group.

The world will never forget Kobe and his impeccable career. His death shocked every basketball fan. It’s hard to imagine the Staples Center without the great Kobe. He was an icon and many young players look up to him. Matching his numbers is a great accomplishment for every player out there.

“He was one of the greatest competitors who stepped on the court and made sure his impact was felt on both sides of the ball,” the Hall of Fame said of Bryant.

Kobe won’t come back, but his legacy will keep living. His Lakers players will keep it alive. Rest in peace, Mamba!