Vanessa Bryant delivered a touching speech at Kobe Bryant’s Hall of Fame induction today as Michael Jordan looked on.
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Today marks the culmination of Kobe’s basketball journey as he officially makes the Hall of Fame with his rivals. Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett headline one of the greatest Hall of Fame classes ever, alongside the Black Mamba.
Kobe tragically passed away with his daughter Gianna in a helicopter clash at the start of 2020. The basketball world plunged into a sorrow that it had never felt before.
Bryant felt like a family member to many of us. The memory of him competing on the basketball court is still enough to cause goosebumps in many of us. The Black Mamba epitomized the ultimate competitor, both on and off the court.
Vanessa Bryant thanks Kobe’s haters as Michael Jordan looks on
The proceedings of the evening were understandably quite emotional as Michael Jordan ushered Vanessa Bryant to the stage.
Vanessa gave one of the most memorable and touching Hall of Fame acceptance speeches of all time on the Mamba’s behalf. Among the best moments of her speech was that of Vanessa thanking Kobe’s doubters:
“I do know that he would thank everyone that helped him get here, including the people that doubted him, and the people that worked against him and told him he couldn’t attain his goals. He would thank all of them for motivating him to be here. After all, he proved you wrong.”
If you look at the clip, you can see how Jordan flashes a grin at this point of her speech. Vanessa Bryant knew that a Jordanesque touch was definitely needed for a man who’s been praised as a remix version of His Airness.
