NBA: Kobe Bryant posthumously inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’

Kobe Bryant

Los Angeles Legend Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter crash in January this year took the NBA world by a shock. Now amidst the season suspension, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett along with late Kobe Bryant have been inducted in the Hall of Fame this year. 

In addition, the Women NBA champion and the 10-time All-Star Tamika Catchings along with former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, former collegiate coach Eddie Sutton, Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, former women’s college basketball coach Barbara Stevens and former FIBA and IOC executive Patrick Baumann have also been enshrined in the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 

The trio of Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett and late Kobe Bryant have combined to win 11 NBA Championships in their career and also four MVP awards in their ornamental careers. 

“It’s an incredible accomplishment and honour, and we’re extremely proud of him. Obviously we wish that he was here with us to celebrate, but it’s definitely the peak of his NBA career and every accomplishment he had as an athlete was a stepping stone to be here. So we’re incredibly proud of him.” Bryant’s wife, Vanessa said. 

Bryant was nominated for the Hall of Fame, shortly after he and his daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash on January 26 earlier this, along with seven others on board. 

Duncan’s career also had a similarity that of Kobe’s as he spent 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, also winning the title five times in his career. That also included winning back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003. Duncan and Kobe met each other six times in the postseason matches in which Lakers lead the series four times. During their careers, both had been the backbone of the Western Conference for over a decade. That is why both have made it into the ‘Hall of Fame’ this year.