‘It’s an honor’: Class of 2020 enshrined

Vanessa Bryant took Michael Jordan’s hand and walked down from the stage, a familiar chant breaking out throughout the arena as she made her way back to her seat.

“Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!” the crowd shouted.

With that, he was — officially, finally — a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Kobe Bryant is in the Hall now, along with contemporaries Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, headliners of a group of nine who got their delayed and longawaited enshrinement on May 15, more than a year after being announced as the Hall’s Class of 2020.

“Right now, I’m sure he’s laughing in heaven, because I’m about to praise him in public,” Vanessa Bryant said.

And she did, her purple dress matching the traditional Los Angeles Lakers color, capping the night by giving the speech that her husband was not here to deliver.

“There will never be anyone like Kobe,” Vanessa Bryant said. “Kobe was one of a kind. He was special. He was humble — off the court — but bigger than life.”

Bryant, Duncan and Garnett were joined in the class by three-time NCAA champion coach Kim Mulkey, two-time NBA champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings, three-time Final Four coach Eddie Sutton, 1,000game winner Barbara Stevens and longtime FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann.

“I appreciate you,” Garnett said to Duncan from the stage. “It’s an honor to go into the hall with you, bro. You and Kob.”

Duncan stayed true to who he is: modest and humble, on a day where his Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich, missed a game to see his enshrinement.

“This is the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life,” Duncan said as he began his speech. “Been through finals, Game 7’s, this is officially the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve been pacing in my room all day, so let’s see what we get.”

As usual, he delivered in the clutch.

And the other speeches didn’t disappoint.

The Hall of Fame has a 10-minute countdown clock on the prompter that speakers used to assist with their remarks. Catchings blew past that with ease, going several minutes past in an emotional address that covered her many challenges.

“Basketball chose me, an awkward, lanky, introverted tomboy, born with a hearing disability, a speech impediment, and a will to overcome obstacles, dream big and to change the world,” Catchings said.

Mulkey talked about her roots, coming from a small town in Louisiana and getting to the Hall of Fame — marveling that she was presented for induction by Jordan, who held the same role for Bryant.

“Michael, I’m incredibly honored,” Mulkey said. “I guess the last time we stood this close we were walking out of the ‘84 Olympics and we were a hell of a lot younger lookin’ and probably a lot skinnier. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The totality of the accomplishments of the Hall class are staggering.

Bryant, Garnett, Duncan and Catchings combined for 58 All-Star appearances. Mulkey, Tomjanovich, Sutton and Stevens combined for more than 3,000 coaching wins. Baumann is widely lauded for his efforts in getting 3x3 basketball added to the Olympic program.

“My life turned out better than my wildest dreams,” Tomjanovich said, his voice cracking.

NBA championships, WNBA championships, national championships, Olympic gold medals, MVP awards, the class had some of everything.

“We’re Hall of Famers, guys,” Mulkey shouted. “WE’RE HALL OF FAMERS.”

KATHY WILLENS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The late Kobe Bryant and others who have died, are honored as Ne-Yo sings “Incredible” during the Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement May 15 in Uncasville, Conn.