Redeem Team, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant Honored During 2025 Hall of Fame Ceremony
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The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame welcomed its Class of 2025 on Saturday, September 6, during an evening ceremony at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.
First-ballot selections Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony headlined the class. In addition, the Hall recognized the 2008 U.S. Olympic “Redeem Team”, celebrated for restoring American dominance with a gold-medal run at the Beijing Games after a bronze finish in 2004.
The honored roster featured Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Jason Kidd, Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony, among others. Bryant, who died in 2020, was the only team member not in attendance, prompting multiple tributes during the presentation.
“He was the missing link we needed in order to regain dominance with Team USA,” James said while reflecting on Bryant’s influence.
Another on-stage exchange drew applause when Kidd joked, “I might have been the captain, but I was more like the water boy, the towel boy.” James quickly responded, “Stop it—he’s the only one that’s never lost a game in international play ever. EVER.”
James, entering his 23rd NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, donned an orange Hall of Fame jacket while still an active player—an uncommon distinction.
Howard, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, noted that winning the 2020 championship with the Lakers served as the “cherry on top” of his Hall-worthy résumé.
Source: LakersNation.com
