Hall of Fame: Bryant from the sky at the pantheon, Duncan and Garnett also in the spotlight

The good, the bad and the ugly. It is the poster for the 2020 promotion of the Hall of Fame, the basketball pantheon located in Springfield (Massachussetts). The good thing is Tim Duncan, the discreet pillar of this San Antonio team which won five titles in 15 years (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), the best strong winger in the history of basketball, " The Big Fundamental ", 15 times All Star and twice MVP of the regular season (2002, 2003). A monster of regularity, solidity, a leader like the machine orchestrated by Gregg Popovich, unless it is the reverse. With David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and other Kawhi Leonard at his side, the native of the Virgin Islands, now an assistant of "Pop" with the Spurs, will have represented an important part of this beginning of the 21st century on the orange planet . Straight out of high school in the NBA, Olympic champion in 2000 with Team USA, MVP in 2004 with Minnesota then champion with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in Boston in 2008, Kevin Garnett, it's the bully. No need to explain why ... A rock in defense, but not only.

Tomjanovich, heart of champion

Duncan, "KG", two players who, this Saturday, get their entrance ticket to the Hall of Fame without the slightest surprise. They will be officially inducted on August 29 in this 2020 vintage for the less prestigious. Rudy Tomjanovich is one of them too. Five times All Star as a player, he is the most distinguished coach, with Olympic gold in Sydney at the head of the US selection but also and above all two titles of NBA champion with Houston, in 1994 and 1995. "Never underestimate the heart of a champion," he said in 95. And that of Hakeem Olajuwon's Rockets was as big as that.

Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball @Hoophall Class of 2020, sources tell @ TheAthleticNBA @ Stadium. Formal announcements will be made on Saturday.

Wow! NBA sources: Former #Rockets Coach Rudy Tomjanovich elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

And the ugly? Kobe Bean Bryant. The one whose Michael Jordan does not hesitate to say that he "stole all (his) moves". A compliment more than a scratch. Picasso said: "Good artists copy, great artists steal". And the "Black Mamba" was a great artist. The closest thing to GOAT. Without doubt the second best rear of all time behind "His Airness". Three times champion with Shaquille O'Neal (2000 to 2002), two more times with Pau Gasol (2009, 2010), MVP in 2008, author of a match with 81 points (second total in history) and a third time best scorer in the history of the North American league (33,643 points, doubled by LeBron James since), twice Olympic champion (2008, 2012) and 18 times All Star. The man of a team, the Lakers (1996-2016). A mentor for young people, a cool-headed killer, a workaholic, as demanding with him as with others.

"When Kobe Bryant died, part of me died"

But of course, this ceremony on August 29 will have a bitter taste. For everyone. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and the other members of the 2020 class lead. Because Kobe Bryant will miss the call. He will watch it all from the heavens, he who died at the beginning of the year, at 42, in a helicopter accident that claimed the lives of nine people, including his daughter Gianna. A tragedy that has rocked the world of basketball and beyond. A wound still alive. "When Kobe Bryant died, part of me died," Jordan said in tears a few weeks after the drama. And when I look at this room, which I observe everyone, I see that a piece of you is dead too. Otherwise, you would not be there ... I promise you that from today, I will live with the memory of knowing that I had a little brother and that I tried to help him by all means possible. Please rest in peace little brother. ” As bitter as it will be, this ceremony at the end of August will also be a new opportunity to honor the memory of this immense player who "kept nothing under the sole" and "gave everything on the floor", as the underlines "MJ", a new opportunity to feel his presence, his aura, to say bravo and thank you.

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