Kobe Bryant, the former Los Angeles Lakers star whose death last month continues to cast a pall over the NBA, is among eight finalists announced Friday for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Bryant, who was 41, retired from the NBA in 2016 after spending his entire 20-year playing career with the Lakers. He won five championship, was an 18-time All-Star and was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008. A dynamic and hypercompetitive player, he also helped the league fill the void that was left by Michael Jordan’s retirement.
Former NBA stars Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett will join Bryant on the ballot, while Tamika Catchings, a 10-time WNBA.