Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The three players have 11 championships and four MVP awards between them

Kobe won five NBA championships during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, which began when he was drafted straight after high school in 1996. He led the league in scoring twice, was selected to the All-Star game 18 times, and was named league MVP in the 2007-2008 season. His life was tragically cut short earlier this year when he died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter and seven other people.

“It’s an incredible accomplishment and honor, and we’re extremely proud of [Kobe],” Vanessa Bryant, Bryant’s widow, told ESPN. “Obviously, we wish he was here with us to celebrate. It’s definitely the peak of his NBA career, and every accomplishment he had as an athlete was a stepping stone to be here. We’re incredibly proud of him.”

Garnett was also drafted out of high school by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1995. He spent 12 years in Minnesota before he was traded to the Boston Celtics, where he won his first NBA title in 2008. Garnett earned 15 all-star selections during his 21-year career. He was named MVP in 2003-04 and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2007-08.

Duncan helped the San Antonio Spurs win five NBA championships, earned 15 all-star selections, and was named MVP twice during his career. The big man led the Spurs to the playoffs in 19 straight seasons before retiring in 2016. He is the only player in NBA history to have more than 1,000 wins with the same team. Duncan now works for the team as an assistant coach on Gregg Popovich’s staff.

The induction ceremony is scheduled for August 29.

Photo: Getty Images

About Kyle Santillian

Real 106.1 · Cleveland’s REAL Hip-Hop & R&B