Vanessa Bryant Comments on Leaked Nike Shoes Honoring Gigi; Hopes They Weren't Sold
Jun 3, 2021
UNCASVILLE, CT - MAY 15: Enshrinee Vanessa Bryant addresses the guests during the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on May 15, 2021 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Leaked images of a Nike shoe honoring Gigi Bryant weren't approved by Vanessa Bryant, who said she designed the shoe but decided against selling the shoes.
After an Instagram user posted an image of the shoes and claimed they will be released this summer, Vanessa Bryant issued a statement on the social-media platform saying they "are NOT approved for sale" and she hopes they don't get sold by Nike:
"I do not know how someone else has their hands on shoes I designed in honor of my daughter, Gigi, and we don't. I hope these shoes did not get sold. ... If someone can share how they have these shoes in their possession, that would be great because my daughters and I don’t have any of Gigi’s MAMBACITA shoes."
Bryant noted she worked on the design of the Mambacita shoe, including selecting the colors, inside pattern and a No. 2 in honor of Gigi's basketball jersey.
However, when Vanessa and the Bryant estate elected not to renew their contract with Nike in April, she also decided not to sell the sneakers and they "were not approved to be made in the first place."
Per ESPN's Nick DePaula, Vanessa and the Bryant estate didn't re-sign with Nike because of frustration with the apparel company "limiting the availability of Kobe products during his retirement and after his January 2020 death in a helicopter crash."
DePaula added the estate was also frustrated with the lack of kids' sizes for Kobe's signature sneakers.
Kobe Bryant originally signed a contract with Nike in 2003 after spending the first six seasons of his NBA career with Adidas. The Los Angeles Lakers legend signed a five-year extension with Nike in 2016 shortly after the announcement of his retirement.
Kobe and Gigi Bryant were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Jan. 26, 2020.
Isaiah Thomas Talks Kobe Bryant Giving Him His 'Welcome to the NBA' Moment
May 27, 2021
Former Washington guard Isaiah Thomas taps his fist to his heart as he is introduced during a ceremony retiring his jersey at halftime during an NCAA college basketball game against Colorado Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, in Seattle. The Tacoma, Wash., native led the Huskies to three consecutive conference championships, and finished his three years with 1,721 career points, now eighth in all-time in scoring for men at the school. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
NBA veteran Isaiah Thomas described his "welcome to the NBA" moment and the role Kobe Bryant played in it during an interview this week.
Appearing on All The Smoke with former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, IT recalled being tasked with guarding Kobe in his first NBA regular-season game (beginning at the 31:28 mark).
Thomas, who was the final pick of the 2011 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, said head coach Paul Westphal had made a rule during the preseason banning any player on the roster from backing down Thomas since it usually resulted in a turnover.
Because of that defensive skill, Westphal put Thomas on Kobe in his first game as a rookie, and the Los Angeles Lakers legend went to work.
Thomas noted that the Lakers ran three consecutive iso plays to Kobe, with Bryant knocking down two of the three shots.
Of that moment, Thomas said: "The first shot he hit, I'm sprinting down the court just laughing like, 'Damn, I'm here.' It was the first time in my life where someone scored on me and I was smiling and happy about it because that was my favorite player."
While Kobe schooled Thomas and scored a game-high 29 points, Thomas and the Kings got the last laugh in that game, as they won 100-91.
Bryant would go on to play four more seasons after that before retiring, while Thomas has two All-Star nods in 10 NBA seasons.
Kobe, who is a Hall of Famer and one of the all-time greats, tragically died last year in a helicopter crash at age 41.
While Bryant is gone, his memory will always live on thanks in large part to the fact that so many players have Kobe stories like this one.
Vanessa Bryant's Attorney Responds to 'Full-Scale Attack' Filing from LA County
May 25, 2021
Presenter Michael Jordan kisses Vanessa Bryant on the head after Bryant spoke on behalf of her late husband, Kobe Bryant, after Bryant was enshrined as part of the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame class Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
An attorney representing Vanessa Bryant accused Los Angeles County of waging a "full-scale attack" in its attempt to get a lawsuit filed against the county dismissed.
Bryant is suing Los Angeles County for negligence and invasion of privacy after deputies took pictures of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe and Gianna Bryant, along with seven others, and then allegedly showed them to people privately.
In March, Vanessa Bryant shared the names of the deputies accused of disseminating the photographs. Los Angeles County said Bryant shared posts "recklessly" on social media and potentially put deputies in danger of harassment.
The county's filing, which was made public last week, also categorizes Bryant's desire for more time to continue gathering evidence as a "fishing expedition."
Bryant’s attorney, Luis Li, dismissed the concerns of the county in the counter filing.
“The discomfort and distress she has suffered from government personnel using graphic photos of her deceased loved ones as gossip fodder is very real,” said the filing. “The County’s downplaying of what happened only confirms that Mrs. Bryant cannot trust the County’s internal investigations and must complete an investigation of her own.”
Bryant's investigation has found 66 county employees possess "relevant knowledge of the misconduct" and at least 18 employees took or shared improper photographs of the crash.
“After one Sheriff’s deputy alone took between 25 and 100 photos of the scene and at least two (county fire) personnel snapped even more photos focused on the victims’ remains, the photos quickly made their way into the hands of numerous County employees who had no involvement in investigating the accident, including a trainee monitoring the entry to a trailhead, a video-game buddy, and (a county fire) media relations officer,” the filing said.
Bryant is seeking unspecified damages in her lawsuit.
Kobe Bryant's Game-Worn Lakers Rookie Jersey Sells for $3.7M at Auction
May 23, 2021
Los Angeles Laker guard Kobe Bryant (8) passes to a teammate under the basket as Houston Rockets, Sam Mack looks on during the first half at the Forum in Inglewood, California on Friday, March 7, 1997. (AP Photo/E. J. Flynn)
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant earned a little more than $1 million as a rookie in the NBA. One jersey he wore during that season nearly quadrupled that number on its own.
A game-worn and autographed Bryant jersey from 1996-97 fetched nearly $3.7 million through Goldin Auctions. According to the listing, the jersey was photo-matched to seven of Bryant's games and a preseason photoshoot in which he took part:
Final Sale Price: $3,690,000
An all-time record for any basketball jersey. An all-time record for any Kobe Bryant item. pic.twitter.com/7VUnahOH2h
Because of that, Goldin Auctions speculated this may have been one of the first Lakers jerseys Bryant ever wore.
The Lakers pulled off what proved to be one of the greatest trades in NBA history when they sent Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for Bryant, the No. 13 pick in the 1996 draft.
The Hall of Famer had a nondescript start to his career, averaging 7.6 points and 1.3 assists in 71 appearances, though he did win the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest:
Bryant's profile really started to rise in his second year, when he made the first of 18 All-Star appearances. Fans didn't know it at the time, but the 1998 All-Star Game proved to be a symbolic changing of the guard from Michael Jordan to Bryant:
Sunday's transaction is a testament to Bryant's enduring popularity well after his retirement in 2016 and following his untimely death in January 2020.
Former Lakers Star Pau Gasol Congratulates Kobe Bryant on 2020 Hall of Fame Induction
May 16, 2021
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, is congratulated by forward Pau Gasol, of Spain, after he scored during the second half of their NBA basketball game, Friday, April 5, 2013, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 86-84. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Pau Gasol was in attendance to watch former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant get inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.
He offered his congratulations, saying, "We all wished you and Gigi were here brother, celebrating your unparalleled career and receiving such an amazing honor. We all love you and miss you more than words can express. #HallOfFame #YouDidit #YourTribe #Family #ClassOf2020"
Gasol and Bryant played together in Los Angeles from 2007-08 through 2013-14 and won back-to-back championships together. They also reached another NBA Finals as Bryant carved out another chapter of his illustrious legacy.
Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Saturday's ceremony was an emotional one, as his wife Vanessa Bryant gave a powerful speech alongside Michael Jordan.
"Congratulations, baby. All of your hard work and dedication paid off," she said. "You did it. You are in the Hall of Fame now."
UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT - MAY 15: Vanessa Bryant speaks on behalf of Class of 2020 inductee, Kobe Bryant alongside presenter Michael Jordan during the 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 15, 2021 in Uncasville, Connecticut. Kobe Bryant tragically died in a California helicopter crash on Jan 26, 2020. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Vanessa Bryant delivered a stirring, emotional and powerful speech to present her late husband, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, for enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The entire 12-minute speech can be found below:
Bryant presented her husband alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan. She covered numerous topics, including the significant physical toll he endured to play through pain:
There were moments of levity, like when Vanessa Bryant imagined how Kobe Bryant would act at the ceremony:
Vanessa Bryant on Kobe watching her hall of fame speech from Heaven: “I can see him now with arms folded with a huge grin saying, ‘Isn’t this some shit.’”😂 pic.twitter.com/87Kj4N5vJv
There were also many emotional moments, like when Vanessa Bryant mentioned how her late daughter, Gianna, would react upon seeing her father enshrined.
"Gigi would be so proud to watch her daddy get enshrined into the basketball Hall of Fame" - Vanessa Bryant
"You did it. You're in the Hall of Fame now. You're a true champ. You're not just an MVP. You're an all-time great. I'm so proud of you. I love you forever and always. Kobe Bean Bryant."
Kobe Bryant was one of nine new members inducted into the Hall of Fame class of 2020 on Saturday.
His career included 18 All-Star Game appearances, five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, 15 All-NBA team nods, the 2007-08 regular-season NBA MVP and many more accolades.
Top Moments from Kobe, KG, Duncan and 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Induction
May 16, 2021
Kevin Garnett puts his hand on his heart during a speech during the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
The much-anticipated class of 2020 was finally enshrined in a ceremony at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Boasting arguably the most star-studded enshrinees in history, the nine-person class was headlined by Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan. They were joined by Tamika Catchings, Eddie Sutton, Rudy Tomjanovich, Kim Mulkey, Barbara Stevens and Patrick Baumann.
All eyes were going to be on Bryant in this ceremony. The Los Angeles Lakers icon was voted into the Hall of Fame two months after his death in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020.
Bryant's widow, Vanessa, took the stage to speak on his behalf.
“There will never be anyone like Kobe," Vanessa said. "He was one of a kind. ... Kobe’s personal stats speak for themself. Kobe never took shortcuts when it came to basketball."
“Congratulations baby, all of your hard work and dedication paid off. You did it, you are in the Hall of Fame now.” - Vanessa Bryant #20HoopClass
Natalia Bryant, Kobe and Vanessa's oldest daughter, wore her father's Hall of Fame jacket and ring as part of the ceremony ahead of the enshrinement:
Natalia Bryant wears her father Kobe Bryant’s Hall of Fame jacket and ring received in a ceremony ahead of this weekend’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony where Kobe will be posthumously honoured 🕊🤍 https://t.co/QrkjTcuezdpic.twitter.com/26T3Q7u40F
Known for his stoic demeanor on the basketball court, Duncan allowed himself to open up while delivering his speech. The San Antonio Spurs legend started by paying tribute to his parents:
"My mom and my dad...a combined zero basketball knowledge. But they taught me more about the game than anyone else. " - Tim Duncan #20HoopClasspic.twitter.com/nU1hUNyG6O
After Garnett's tribute during his speech, Duncan returned the favor in honoring his fellow superstars and the teammates who helped him achieve so much success:
“You are at your best when you face the best. Thank you to the late Kobe Bryant and KG. You brought the best out of me.” - Tim Duncan #20HoopClass
Stevens is one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history. She retired in June at the age of 66 after a 43-year career that included a 34-season stint at Bentley in Division II.
In 2018, Stevens became the fifth coach in college basketball history to reach the 1,000-win mark. She was named the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year award five times and the 2013-14 Division II national title.
“My greatest honor was you called me coach. You excelled on the court, in the classroom and community. I share this incredible honor with all of you.” - Barbara Stevens #20HoopClass
“Thank you to the Hall of Fame for recognizing there are successful coaches at every level and acknowledging me as one of them.” - Barbara Stevens #20HoopClass
Sutton went 806-239 in 37 seasons as a head coach at five different schools. He became the first coach to lead four different programs to the NCAA tournament. The Oklahoma State alum went to the Final Four three different times, including twice at his alma mater in 1995 and 2004.
One month after the Hall of Fame announcement last year, Sutton died at the age of 84 on May 23. His son, Sean Sutton, spoke on his father's behalf at the ceremony.
“My dad loved every coaching stop from Tulsa Central High School to Oklahoma State. ... My dad’s life had hills and valleys. He did not run from it. He faced it head on," Sutton said.
After one of the greatest careers of any player in WNBA history, Catchings joined the ranks of basketball's immortals on Saturday. The Indiana Fever legend was named an All-Star in 10 of her 15 seasons, was named MVP in 2011 and Finals MVP in 2012.
Catchings used her speech to share a story about how she found her way by playing basketball.
Tamika Catchings ... wow.
"Basketball chose me, an awkward, lanky, introverted tomboy, born with a hearing disability, a speech impediment, and a will to overcome obstacles, dream big and to change the world."
Like Bryant and Sutton, Baumann was a posthumous inductee in this year's class. He died from a heart attack in 2018 at the age of 51.
From 1994 until his death, Baumann worked as a FIBA executive. He was promoted to secretary general of the organization in 2003 and helped grow the sport's youth sector and helped launch 3x3 basketball.
Tomjanovich's name was synonymous with Houston Rockets basketball for 34 seasons between his time as a player and coach. He was originally drafted by the franchise in 1971 when they were still based in San Diego.
"As a young boy...I dreamed of one day getting to the NBA.
After today, I can say that my life turned out better than my wildest dreams."
After an 11-year playing career that included five All-Star appearances, Tomjanovich transitioned into the coaching ranks. He spent 10 seasons as an assistant under Bill Fitch and Don Chaney, the Michigan alum was named head coach in February 1992.
Tomjanovich is the Rockets' all-time leader with 503 wins and 51 playoff victories. He led the franchise to back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995.
“I owe so much to the game of basketball, it has given me a very rich life. It has given me great relationship and memories.” - Rudy Tomjanovich #20HoopClass
Mulkey, who is getting settled in her new job as LSU women's basketball head coach after 21 seasons at Baylor, has long been regarded as one of the best college coaches.
Prior to Mulkey's hiring in 2000, the Bears never made the NCAA women's tournament. They made the tournament 18 times during her run, winning three national titles and becoming the first men's or women's team to finish a season 40-0 when they did it in 2011-12.
“All of us being honored tonight understand we are only here because of one of life’s greatest honors. We get the credit when it should be shared with so many others.” - Kim Mulkey #20HoopClass
“No coach stands here without great players. They believed in me, embraced me and allowed me to push them beyond where they thought they could go.” - Kim Mulkey #20HoopClass
Bryant, Duncan and Garnett were three of the biggest stars of their generation. They combined to win 11 championships during their playing days.
Catchings, Mulkey and Stevens have been instrumental in raising the profile of women's basketball around the world.
Sutton and Tomjanovich have resumes that can match any coach from their eras. Baumann helped transform basketball into a global game that is played professionally in 213 countries around the world.
Even though it took longer than expected to hold the ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 class finally got its much-deserved moment of glory.
Lakers' LeBron James Says He's Happy to Be Part of Kobe Bryant's Legacy
May 15, 2021
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) goes up high to dunk the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Following the Los Angeles Lakers' 122-115 win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, LeBron James discussed Kobe Bryant's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet asked James about Bryant's induction, and the Lakers superstar responded with the following (beginning at the 1:29 mark):
"It's a celebration for another Laker great, and I'm just happy to be a part of his legacy." @KingJames spoke with @LakersReporter about Kobe Bryant's Hall of Fame induction and how his ankle felt in his return to the lineup. pic.twitter.com/8LAgCljUhP
"It's a beautiful time for the Lakers," LeBron said. "Like I said, it's a celebration for another Laker great, and I'm just happy to be a part of his legacy."
Bryant will be immortalized as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, along with several other legends, including longtime San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan and former Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett.
Kobe, who was one of the greatest players in NBA history, died last year at age 41 in a helicopter crash. Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant. also died in the crash.
James said Kobe and Gianna will be "looking down" and watching the enshrinement ceremony. Kobe's widow, Vanessa Bryant, put the Hall of Fame jacket on their eldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, Friday during the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala:
Natalia Bryant put on the Hall of Fame jacket to honor her dad, Kobe 🙏
LeBron also credited Bryant by saying he "set the tone for this organization for 20 years."
During Kobe's two decades with the Lakers, he achieved some special accomplishments, including winning five NBA championships.
Bryant was also an 18-time All-Star, two-time NBA Finals MVP, two-time NBA scoring champion and one-time NBA MVP.
For his career, Kobe averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game over 1,346 contests, all of which were played in purple and gold.
With 33,643 career points, Bryant sits fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and LeBron.
James has followed in Bryant's footsteps, as he helped lead the Lakers to a championship last season, and is looking to repeat this season, which is something Kobe managed to do three times in his career.
The Surprisingly Compelling GOAT Case for Tim Duncan
May 15, 2021
FILE - In this June 15, 2014, file photo, San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) celebrates after Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals in San Antonio. Duncan announced his retirement on Monday, July 11, 2016, after 19 seasons, five championships, two MVP awards and 15 All-Star appearances. It marks the end of an era for the Spurs and the NBA. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Excluding Shaquille O'Neal's brief stint with Boston, the Celtics boast two candidates for the greatest basketball player of all time: Bill Russell and Larry Bird. That list would have been three had the 1997 NBA draft lottery gone as expected.
After a 15-67 season, the Celtics were seemingly fated to land their next franchise player in Hall of Fame inductee Tim Duncan.
"You could practically hear the entire Celtics organization groan as it was announced that Boston hadn't won the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, even though it had had the best odds of any team (36 percent) to win the right to select Wake Forest center Tim Duncan, the best player in college basketball," Michael Holley of the Boston Globe wrote May 19, 1997.
Instead, the San Antonio Spurs (20-62) had the fortune of drafting first and selecting Duncan. The team had been a disaster in 1996-97, with then-seven-time All-Star David Robinson missing all but six games with a back injury. But by the luck of the lottery, the Spurs landed their cornerstone piece, and they knew it immediately.
"The only way I could see us trading Tim Duncan is if someone offered us Michael [Jordan], Magic [Johnson] and Larry [Bird]," coach (and then-general manager) Gregg Popovich said, per Holley.
Almost 20 years later, after Duncan announced his retirement in 2016, Popovich acknowledged (h/t ESPN's Michael C. Wright): "I would not be standing here if it wasn't for Tim Duncan. I'd be in the Budweiser league someplace in America, fat, and still trying to play basketball or coach basketball. But he's why I'm standing. He's made livings for hundreds of us, staff and coaches, over the years and never said a word, just came to work every day."
In many ways, that summarizes Duncan's career. He had an understated, stoic personality. He didn't have Jordan's signature tongue wag. He didn't regularly dish impossible no-look passes like Johnson. He didn't hold his finger in the air on a game-winning shot in the Three-Point Contest before the ball even splashed in the hoop a la Bird.
Duncan can't claim to have popularized a struggling NBA as Johnson and Bird did through the 1980s. He didn't turn the NBA into a global phenomenon as Jordan did in the 1990s. But the topic is the greatest player of all time, and if style, flash and cultural impact are deciders, then Duncan will drop on the list.
At its core, basketball is a team sport, but winning championships in the NBA requires individual players with elite talent. Wilt Chamberlain was a far more dominant scorer than Russell, but his brilliance in the form of highlights pales next to Russell's ring collection.
That's what Duncan did: win—both regularly and almost immediately after joining the league. None of the GOAT contenders (Johnson, Jordan, Bird, Russell, Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James) can boast titles in three decades.
Duncan checks all the boxes. He logged 19 seasons, placing him behind two candidates in Abdul-Jabbar (21) and Bryant (20).
Spending his entire career with the Spurs, Duncan won five titles in six trips to the NBA Finals (losing to James with the Miami Heat). His steady dominance led to titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. Only Abdul-Jabbar can claim a greater span from his first to last championship (1971, 1988).
Duncan lags behind only Russell, Jordan and Abdul-Jabbar in rings. His five match Johnson, and Bryant—ahead of James (four) and Bird (three).
If there's a knock on Duncan, it's that he advanced to the Finals in "only" six of his 19 seasons. But Jordan had the same number of appearances (albeit over 15 years). Duncan had a more difficult path through fellow GOAT contenders than Jordan.
Jordan's run in the 1990s was superlative, but outside of beating Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991, his most notable rival was Isiah Thomas, who isn’t in the GOAT conversation with just two titles and a 12-6 career playoff record against Jordan.
That's not to diminish Jordan, but Duncan faced significant GOAT competition, notably against the Lakers' Bryant and O'Neal. In a span of 16 seasons, the Spurs or Lakers represented the Western Conference in 13 NBA Finals (81.3 percent).
When the Spurs got there with Duncan, they almost always won (5-1, 83.3 percent). It took a Ray Allen miracle shot from the Heat in 2013 to push past San Antonio, giving Duncan the 2-1 edge over James.
Duncan finished as a 15-time All-Star who won two Most Valuable Player awards and earned 10 All-NBA first-team nods and eight All-Defensive first-team spots. He scored 26,496 points (18th all time) and grabbed 15,091 rebounds (seventh).
Those marks provide context, but Duncan stands as one of the most outstanding winners in NBA history. He can knock out several GOAT contenders—including Bird, Johnson and O'Neal, who didn't have the healthy longevity of Duncan and didn't match him in titles.
James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant have the benefit of active careers. Their legacies aren't final, but they're still chasing Duncan's ring count.
Russell finished with more titles but played in a vastly different era with fewer teams, shorter playoff rounds and smaller talent pools. Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar were not far removed from Duncan's early years and offer substantial candidacies for GOAT, but for the most part, they had each other. Duncan didn’t play with a guy like Johnson (as great as Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard were in San Antonio).
Consensus on a singular greatest player of all time may never come, but as Duncan is welcomed into the Hall of Fame, he must be taken seriously as a contender.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @EricPincus.
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