Bryant, 41, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people were killed Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
One step closer to Springfield. #MambaForever pic.twitter.com/ojR8iHpcwD
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 14, 2020
Tomjanovich, who coached the Rockets to NBA titles in 1994 and 1995 and was a five-time All-Star as a Rockets player, the Chicago Tribune reported. Mulkey was the first woman to win NCAA championships as a player, assistant coach and head coach, while Sutton was the first coach to lead four schools to the NCAA Tournament; Stevens is a five-time Division II national coach of the year, the newspaper reported.
Finalists elected to the Hall of Fame will be enshrined Aug. 29 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Bryant's death and the three big names atop the Hall of Fame ballot led to the nominating committee changing its rules to limit the Class of 2020 to eight nominees, ESPN reported. The committee also will eliminate direct-elect selections on a one-year trial basis, the cable network reported.
Your 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Finalists. #20HoopClass pic.twitter.com/FC5vjUyHdG
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) February 14, 2020
"When the nominees for the Class of 2020 were announced in December, we knew this class had the potential of being one of the most historic of all time," Jerry Colangelo, chairman of the Hall of Fame nominating committee, told NBA.com. "The untimely passing of Kobe Bryant has left us in a state of reflective mourning and we're proud to honor his legacy while also recognizing seven other individuals who have meant so much to our game. We congratulate our finalists and those who have supported them on their journeys, and we look forward to revealing the Class of 2020 at the Final Four in Atlanta."
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