Kobe Bryant made the list of finalists to be added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year, officials announced Friday.
Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA champion, was in his first year of eligibility this year.
The other finalists named Friday include, three-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan, nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection Kevin Garnett and four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings.
Those selected for induction will be revealed in April at the NCAA men’s Final Four in Atlanta.
“When the nominees for the Class of 2020 were announced in December, we knew this class had the potential of being one of the most historic of all time,” Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a press release. “The untimely passing of Kobe Bryant has left us in a state of reflective mourning and we’re proud to honor his legacy while also recognizing seven other individuals who have meant so much to our game.”
During his 20-year NBA career, Bryant cemented himself as one of the greatest shooters in the game’s history. He finished his career after amassing 33,643 points, two NBA Finals MVP awards and one regular-season MVP honor.