Kobe Bryant is set to be inducted into Pro Basketball’s Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class. This follows a Saturday report from ESPN. Professional players become eligible for induction four seasons after their retirement.
Kobe’s last match as an active player was in 2016, meaning that he is being inducted on the same year he became eligible. On his last game, Kobe became the oldest star to score 50 points in a NBA game. His incredible performance gave Lakers a comeback victory.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this August. Other inductees for this year include Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.
Bryant is considered by many as one of the finest players to step foot on a NBA court. Here are some of his records and awards:
- 20 years as an one-club man for the L.A Lakers
- 5-time NBA Champion, two times which he was selected as the MVP
- One-time NBA Most Valuable Player
- 18-time NBA All-Star
- 33,643 scores – 4th in NBA history
- 48,637 minutes played – 6th in NBA history
With such stellar records, no one doubted that Bryant would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. What no one expected was that he would no longer be with us.
He was on a helicopter with 8 other people including his 13 year old daughter when a fatal accident killed all passengers. His sudden, tragic death shocked fans all around the globe. They were on their way to a youth basketball tournament.
Those who were close to Bryant expressed gratitude to the decision, and said that Kobe would have been exhilarated to hear the news. Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, told ESPN that it is a great honor and accomplishment for her late husband.
Jeanie Buss, owner of LA Lakers, also praised and remembered Bryant. Saying that no words could possibly describe how big Kobe was to the organization, Buss added that the it was Bryant’s absolute dedication and professionalism that truly made the Lakers a champion level team.
Former inductees also welcomed Bryant into their ranks. Legends such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson have all expressed their wholehearted endorsement of Bryant’s induction.
While Kobe may have left us, his records and dedication has now been enshrined with this induction. Are there any moments from Kobe’s career that you still remember? Share with us those stories in our comments, and be sure to follow us on Facebook for more news such as this one.
Replaced!