The Naismith Basketball Memorial Hall of Fame has announced that Michael Jordan will be the presenter for late Kobe Bryant at the 2020 Naismith Hall of Fame induction ceremony on May 15th.
#20HoopClass inductee Kobe Bryant will be presented by Michael Jordan. pic.twitter.com/RDmEVK7EsN
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 15, 2021
From one GOAT to another.
As many recall, Jordan and Bryant shared a close bond, and the Bulls legend spoke about that connection in an emotional speech during Bryant’s memorial service back in February of 2020: “Kobe was my dear friend. He was like a little brother. Everyone always wanted to talk about the comparisons between he and I. I just wanted to talk about Kobe,” Jordan told the audience at Staples Center.
The speech centered around the growing relationship the two developed, one that may have been founded on basketball but grew into so much more. Knowing what Jordan knows about Bryant’s life journey, and knowing what he knows about Bryant as a competitor, there is no question he sounds like the perfect person to present the fellow great with this award.
The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame also shared that Jordan will present Kim Mulkey, Baylor’s long-time Women’s Basketball coach and 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist with her induction. Mulkey has been the coach of the Bears since 2000 and is the first person in NCAA history to win a national title as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.
Rewatch Jordan’s heartfelt speech at Bryant’s Memorial below: