NBA legend Kobe Bryant was officially inducted into the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. His wife, Vanessa Bryant, tearfully expressed her appreciation during a video conference with ESPN.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment and honor, and we’re extremely proud of him,” said Vanessa. “Obviously, 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.”
Bryant’s life was not in vain. He impacted the game of basketball and inspired the fans who watched from the stands and TV screens. The Los Angeles Lakers player had an indisputably phenomenal career filled with greatness-building trials and triumphs and no one can take that away from him.
Throughout 20 seasons with the Lakers, he’s scored 33,643 career points, had six career 60-point games, was NBA Champion five times over and an All-Star player 18 times. So there.
“The most important thing in life is how your career moves and touches those around you and how it carries forward to the next generation,” said Bryant about his 20-year career. “That’s what makes true greatness.”
Other inductees in the 2020 class included Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Tamika Catchings.
Watch the emotional ESPN tribute to Kobe below:
This so real that’s why u can’t quit gotta push through the tough times