Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant was inducted posthumously into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday half of a star-studded group that additionally included Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. Bryant was inducted as half of the Class of 2020, virtually 16 months after he and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna had been killed in a helicopter crash together with seven others in southern California. Bryant’s spouse, Vanessa Bryant, took the rostrum Saturday to talk movingly about his love for basketball, his household, his teammates and his followers. “You did it. You are within the Hall of Fame now. You are a real champion, not simply an MVP. You are an all-time nice,” Vanessa said.
San Antonio Spurs star Duncan, Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics big man Garnett, two-time NBA champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich and WNBA legend Tamika Catchings were among those also inducted on Saturday night.
The delayed enshrinement stretched over two days at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, with Vanessa Bryant and Kobe’s oldest daughter, Natalia, accepting Bryant’s Hall of Fame jacket and ring on Friday night.
Bryant and the others were voted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class, but the formal induction ceremony was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There will never be anyone like Kobe,” Vanessa stated. “Kobe was one of a sort. He was particular. He was humble – off the court docket – however larger than life.”
Vanessa was helped to the stage by NBA legend Michael Jordan, who acted as a presenter for Kobe and three-time NCAA champion coach Kim Mulkey.
“He and Gigi deserved to be here to witness this. Gigi would have been so proud of her dad getting into the Hall of Fame,” Vanessa stated.
Like Kobe, Garnett went straight out of highschool to the NBA. Garnett talked of his respect and admiration for each Duncan and Kobe.
“I recognize you,” Garnett said to Duncan from the stage. “It’s an honor to go into the hall with you, bro. You and Kob.”
Garnett performed 21 seasons for Minnesota, Boston and Brooklyn, averaging 17.8 factors and 10.0 rebounds per recreation.
“My solely remorse with Minnesota is that I didn’t get to convey a championship,” Garnett said. “But like I said, I look forward to rebuilding Minneapolis.”
Duncan had an instantaneous impression within the NBA, successful the rookie of the yr award. His first NBA title got here only one yr after that.
‘Most nervous’
“This is probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life,” the retiring Duncan said. “Been through finals, game sevens, this is officially the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve been pacing in my room all day.”
In 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan averaged 19.0 factors, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and a pair of.2 blocks per recreation.
Catchings overcame a quantity of obstacles main as much as her stellar basketball profession.
“Basketball selected me, a clumsy, lanky, introverted tomboy, born with a listening to incapacity, a speech obstacle, and a will to beat obstacles, dream huge and to alter the world,” Catchings stated.
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