'What a moment': Vanessa Bryant tears up in 'beautiful' Kobe tribute
Vanessa Bryant was joined on stage by Michael Jordan as she finished her speech in a beautiful tribute to her late husband Kobe Bryant as he was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame on the weekend.
Bryant was formally inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball of Fame, as Vanessa noted that she avoided praising the former Los Angeles Lakers star in public.
HUGE: A-Rod's staggering move in $1.5 billion NBA bombshell
'AWFUL NEWS': Basketball rocked by terrible tragedy
'DISRESPECT': Ash Barty dragged into ugly Liz Cambage controversy
She regularly heard thousands of fans and other people heaping praise on the five-time NBA champion, 18-time NBA All-Star and 2007-08 MVP.
"Someone had to bring him back to reality," Vanessa Bryant said.
"Right now, I'm sure he's laughing in heaven because I'm about to praise him in public for his accomplishments on one of the most public stages."
Fans regularly changed "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe," which was often heard throughout his illustrious career.
Vanessa was also wearing a purple dress, which was matching the traditional LA Lakers colour.
The NBA world went crazy over the tribute as host, and NBA legend, Jordan joined Vanessa on stage as she teared up towards the end of her speech.
Vanessa Bryant's message for Kobe at the end of her Hall of Fame speech 💜💛
"I love you forever and always Kobe Bean Bryant." pic.twitter.com/5pSkrNxMkX— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 16, 2021
A look back at Kobe Bryant's Hall of Fame career 🏆
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/O3GxGypETP— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 15, 2021
Congratulations to my dear friend, the late great, Kobe Bryant, his wife Vanessa, his daughters Natalia, Gigi, Bianka and Capri, his parents Joe and Pam, and the entire Bryant family on Kobe’s much deserved induction into the NBA Hall of Fame!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 15, 2021
"It was a beautiful thing to see Vanessa put the jacket on his daughter, on his eldest, yesterday. ... It's a celebration for another Laker great."
—LeBron on Kobe Bryant and the Hall of Fame ceremony tonight pic.twitter.com/xt8osqvOY1— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 15, 2021
What a moment. ✊
Vanessa Bryant and Michael Jordan present Kobe Bryant into @hoophall. pic.twitter.com/uVPWYOa64x— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 16, 2021
What a beautiful and powerful Hall of Fame speech by such a strong woman, Vanessa Bryant, who began to choke up only on her final three words: "Kobe ... Bean ... Bryant."
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 15, 2021
Vanessa's speech was the highlight of the ceremony in Connecticut, in which Kobe Bryant was one of the nine members of the 2020 Hall of Fame class.
NBA Hall of Fame delayed due to Covid-19
The 2021 Hall of Fame class, with Australian Opals superstar Lauren Jackson among the nominees for induction, is slated to be announced on Sunday.
NBA legends Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett were among the other inductees in the 2020 class.
Among those inducted on Saturday were NBA player and coach Rudy Tomjanovich and star women's player Tamika Catchings.
The induction ceremony was delayed a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kobe Bryant died at age 41 on January 26, 2020, in a helicopter crash in Southern California.
His 13-year-daughter Gianna also died in the crash as did seven others, including the pilot.
Kobe Bryant was presented by Michael Jordan, a player he looked up to as a child.
with AAP
Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.