Michael Jordan to present the late Kobe Bryant at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of Hall of Famers scheduled to present the 2020 class of honorees - led by Michael Jordan honoring the late Kobe Bryant.

Jordan, who spoke at Bryant's memorial service last January, will also introduce Baylor women's head coach Kim Mulkey, making him the only Hall of Famer presenting multiple candidates during this year's induction ceremony.

The connection between Jordan - arguably the greatest player of all-time, and Bryant - the player who did everything he could to emulate his idol - was far deeper than anyone knew, though that only came to light when Jordan gave his heartfelt speech at that memorial service

"At first, it was an aggravation," Jordan said of Bryant constantly peppering him with questions early in his career. "Then it became a passion.

"As I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother I could be."

Bryant, though, is far from the only big name in the 2020 class, which is being honored on May 15 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Fellow first ballot inductees Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett will be introduced by David Robinson and Isiah Thomas, respectively, while Rudy Tomjanovich, the two-time NBA champion coach of the Houston Rockets, will be presented by franchise icons Hakeem Olaujuwon and Calvin Murphy.

Eddie Sutton, who made three Final Fours and was the national college coach of the year four times, will be presented by former player Sidney Moncrief, former assistant and Kansas coach Bill Self and Kentucky coach John Calipari. Five-time Division II national coach of the year Barbara Stevens will be introduced by Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma and former Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw, WNBA legend Tamika Catchings will be presented by Alonzo Mourning and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, and longtime FIBA executive Patrick Baumann will be introduced by former NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik and Vlade Divac.

Each inductee, or their family in the case of those being inducted posthumously, had the opportunity to choose previous Hall of Famers to introduce them.