MASSACHUSETTS—Former NBA player Kobe Bryant will be inducted into Basketball’s Hall Of Fame. The former Los Angeles Lakers player, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, January 26, will be included in the 2020 class of nominees, which also includes Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. The Hall Of Fame ceremony and enshrinement will take place on August 29 in Springfield.
Bryant’s nomination was announced last December, although the official announcement of all nominees will be announced in April. The year 2020 marks the first year Bryant became eligible to be nominated as per the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s website,
“A player must be fully retired for four full seasons before being eligible for Enshrinement. He/she may then be considered for Enshrinement in the fifth year of retirement. Should a player come out of retirement for a short period of time, as defined by the BHOF, his/her case and eligibility for Enshrinement shall be reviewed on an individual basis.”
Bryant retired in 2016 with his final game taking place on April 13, where he scored a season-high 60 points against the Utah Jazz. The Lakers won that game 101–96. His final stats at the time of his retirement include being a five-time NBA champion, 11-time All-NBA first-team selection, 2008 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star and four-time All-Star MVP, in addition to having won gold medals with USA Basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics.
He was born in Philadelphia, but moved to Italy when he was 6 years old where his father played professional basketball after retiring from the NBA. Bryant grew up a Laker fan and later played for the team for 20 seasons.
On January 29, Bryant will be screened just like everyone else who has a chance at being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The finalists will be named in February during the NBA All-Star Weekend and the formal inductees will be announced at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four in April.
Bryant was one of nine people who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday in the city of Calabasas. His 13 year-old daughter, Gianna, was also killed in the crash. Bryant was 41. He leaves behind three daughters and his wife Vanessa Bryant.
