There will be a big Chicago presence at next month’s Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.
Michael Jordan will present new Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, and Isiah Thomas will present Kevin Garnett at the event in Springfield, Massachusetts. Jordan will also present Baylor women’s coach Kim Mulkey.
The late former Los Angeles Lakers star once called Jordan a “big brother” and said that “because we see things in a similar way in terms of our competitive spirit or fire or whatever the case may be, there’s an understanding that we have—a connection that we have.” Jordan called Bryant a “little brother” in a statement after Bryant’s death last year.
#20HoopClass inductee Kobe Bryant will be presented by Michael Jordan. pic.twitter.com/RDmEVK7EsN
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 15, 2021
The hall waived its normal waiting period to induct Bryant with this year’s class.
Thomas and Garnett are both Chicago high school basketball legends. Thomas played at St. Joseph and Garnett starred at Farragut before becoming NBA legends.
Mulkey is a three-time national championship coach at Baylor.
The 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees and Presenters:
Patrick Baumann, presented by Russ Granik (’13), Vlade Divac (’19)
Kobe Bryant, presented by Michael Jordan (’09)
Tamika Catchings, presented by Alonzo Mourning (’14), Dawn Staley (’13)
Tim Duncan, presented by David Robinson (’09)
Kevin Garnett, presented by Isiah Thomas (’00)
Kim Mulkey, presented by Michael Jordan (’09)
Barbara Stevens, presented by Geno Auriemma (’06), Muffet McGraw (’17)
Eddie Sutton, presented by John Calipari (’15), Bill Self (’17), Sidney Moncrief (’19)
Rudy Tomjanovich, presented by Calvin Murphy (’93), Hakeem Olajuwon (’08)
