While it was not going to be the celebration we all envisioned, Lakers fans could plan on seeing Kobe Bryant posthumously enshrined into the Naismith Hall of Fame later this summer. Unfortunately, they will have to wait a bit longer, as according to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, the ceremony will be put on hold amidst the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and instead scheduled for 2021.
Bryant was to be joined by peers and rivals Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett as well as WNBA star and childhood friend Tamika Catchings. The Los Angeles Lakers icon had a stories 20-year career in LA, cementing himself as one of the greatest players both in franchise and league history.
According to Jerry Colangelo, who is the chairman of the board of governors for the Hall of Fame, there is no set date yet for the rescheduled ceremony though they are planning for the first quarter of the year. Additionally, Colangelo says that despite both ceremonies being held in 2021, the events for the 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fame classes will be separate.
While disappointing that we have to wait just that much longer to see Kobe honored, this is obviously the right call. Hopefully by then, everything will be cleared up enough to have a true ceremony worthy of everyone being enshrined.
