David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday night, with Vanessa Bryant delivering a speech that reminded everyone of the legend’s impact on the world.

More than a year after Bryant and eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash, the NBA legend officially joined basketball immortality with two of the most important people in his life there on his behalf.

The NBA was forced to postpone inducting its 2020 Hall of Fame class due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But at long last, the basketball world had its night to remember Kobe on Saturday.

Sports world applauds Vanessa Bryant’s speech for Kobe Bryant

Vanessa Bryant took the stage, with Michael Jordan at her side, delivering a speech that reminded everyone about Kobe’s path to stardom and the man he was away from the court. On an emotional night, she even found a way to make everyone laugh.

In her husband’s memory, Vanessa made sure to show appreciation for all of the people who helped shake Kobe’s life and career.

As she spoke about Kobe’s role as a father and his drive to inspire others, many watching at home couldn’t help but marvel at Vanessa’s strength and courage in such a difficult moment.

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