Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka React To Kobe Bryant Being Elected Into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame

Dan Duangdao
3 Min Read
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was officially elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2020 on April 4.

With Bryant tragically passing along with his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven other passengers on January 26, the Lakers released a statement.

“No amount of words can fully describe what Kobe Bryant meant to the Los Angeles Lakers,” said Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to start her statement.

“Kobe was not only a proven winner and a champion, he gave everything he had to the game of basketball. His fierce competitiveness, work ethic and drive were unmatched. Those qualities helped Kobe lead us to five titles – and have now brought him to the Hall of Fame, where he will be enshrined with the greatest to have ever played the game. No one deserves it more.”

“Kobe was always one to downplay his professional accomplishments – MVPs, NBA championships, gold medals, Oscars, and on and on and on,” said Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka. “But all of us can trust that this Basketball Hall of Fame honor is one Kobe would, and will, deeply appreciate. The highest of congratulations to you, dear friend. This one is so well deserved — for all the hard work, sweat and toil. Now, a part of you will live in the Hall with the rest of the all-time greats, where your legend and spirit will continue to grow forever.”

Originally the No. 13 pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, a 17-year-old Bryant was eventually traded to the Lakers for Vlade Divac.

During Bryant’s 20 seasons with the Lakers, he won five NBA championships.

With the Lakers retiring Bryant’s Nos. 8 and 24 jerseys during the 2017-18 NBA season, his next stop was always Springfield once he became eligible.

Follow:
Dan Duangdao was the managing editor at Lakers Nation (2013-16, 2018-20). He is currently the founder at LA Sports Media, Lake Show, Raiders Nation, Rams Nation, Kings Nation, Galaxy Nation, and MMA Rumors. Born and raised in Southern California and a lifelong Los Angeles sports and mixed martial arts fan, his first NBA game was Kobe Bryant and the Lakers against the Golden State Warriors with Michael Jordan in attendance during the 1998-99 NBA season. He was previously a contributor at HOOPSWORLD (now Basketball Insiders) and an NBA editor at ClutchPoints. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @DanDuangdao.