It’s official. Kobe Bryant will receive the highest honor in basketball by being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year, according to The Athletic.
“Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball @Hoophall Class of 2020, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Formal announcements will be made on Saturday.”
In January, Bryant was tragically killed in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others, including the pilot. The crash is still being investigated, but authorities believe that the foggy conditions in the area attributed to the crash.
Bryant was drafted into the NBA in 1996 with the Charlotte Hornets. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers before the start of the 96-97 season. He helped lead the Lakers to five championships and won three straight NBA titles from 1999 to 2002 alongside Shaquille O’Neal. In 2009 and 2010, he won two championship rings alongside Pau Gasol.
He concluded his career as an “18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA team, 12-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection, two time NBA Finals MVP and the 2008 NBA MVP,” according to Fox News.
The 2020 class of nominees were announced back in December. The nominees included Bryant, Duncan, Garnett, Muggsy Bogues and Tim Hardaway.
Fans have taken to Twitter to share how heartbroken they are knowing that they won’t be able to hear Bryant’s Hall of Fame speech.
One fan tweeted, “we won’t get to hear Kobe’s HOF speech. 2020 is the worst year I can remember and we’re not even halfway through it.”
Another fan tweeted, “Grew up watching these legends. Gonna be tough watching this ceremony. I really, really wanted to hear Kobe’s HOF speech. Still miss him, man. Still unreal.”
Congrats to these men on this huge accomplishment. R.I.P. Kobe Bryant.