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Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant was surely smiling from above as his wife, Vanessa Bryant, delivered the Hall of Fame speech for him. After all, it was a speech that Kobe would certainly say himself.
On Saturday as she took the stage in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Vanessa gave a special shoutout to everyone who doubted her late husband–noting that the Lakers great would surely thank them for doing so as it fueled him to be the best every single day.
"(Kobe) would thank all (his doubters) for helping him get here. After all, he proved you wrong," Vanessa Bryant said with a smiling Michael Jordan behind her.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 15, 2021
That “he proved you wrong” part is truly Kobe-like. After all, everyone knows what Mamba Mentality is all about and how the approach drove Kobe Bryant to become one of the best players to ever grace the NBA hardwood.
Having doubters and critics is part of being an athlete. It's a competition after all. However, Kobe never let the negative talks get to him and instead used it to prove everyone wrong–which he succeeded in more ways than one. Five championships, two NBA Finals MVPs and one regular season MVP award are enough proof of that.
It's truly unfortunate not to see the Lakers legend be with Vanessa Bryant and the rest of his family and peers in the Hall of Fame. Nevertheless, his legacy and approach to the game will never be forgotten. He may have his fair share of doubter, but with his dedication, he turned those doubts to respect.
