The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2020 class, and it was no surprise that three All-Stars headlined the group of eight inductees.
Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett are the biggest names being inducted into the Hall of Fame at this year’s ceremony, which is scheduled to take place Aug. 29 in Springfield, Mass.
Duncan, a 15-time All-Star with the San Antonio Spurs, said, “It’s kind of the end of the journey here. It was an incredible career that I enjoyed so much. To call it a dream come true isn’t doing it any justice, because I never dreamt I would be at this point.
“I played the game, enjoyed the game, loved what I did, and to be here now with the guys I will be put in the Hall of Fame with is just an amazing class.”
Garnett was a 15-time All-Star and won one NBA title during his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets.
“It’s the culmination,” Garnett told ESPN during Saturday’s broadcast. “It’s the culmination, man. You put countless hours into this. You dedicate yourself to a craft. You take no days off. You play through injuries. You play through demise. You play through obstacles. You give no excuses for anything. You learn, you build.
“This is the culmination. All those hours, this is what you do it for, right here. For me, to be called a Hall of Famer, is everything.”
Late Legend
Bryant was a five-time NBA champion and made 18 All-Star teams during his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He passed away in a helicopter accident Jan. 26 that also claimed the life of his daughter, Gianna. Seven others lost their lives in the accident as well.
“No amount of words can fully describe what Kobe Bryant meant to the Los Angeles Lakers,” Lakers controlling owner and president Jeanie Buss said in a 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.”
Tamika Catchings ranks first in steals and third in points and rebounds in WNBA history. Catchings also won a title at the University of Tennessee in 1998.
“I think honestly just what (coach) Pat (Summit) has meant,” Catchings said on being the first player in the storied history of the Lady Vols to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. “To be able to follow her lead and follow in her footsteps.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to go to the University of Tennessee was to play for the best coach and play alongside some amazing players. I’m just really thankful and grateful that I got the chance to go to the University of Tennessee and to be the first (Hall of Famer).”
Patrick Baumann, Kim Mulkey, Barbara Stevens, Eddie Sutton, and Rudy Tomjanovich are also being inducted.
