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‘I was Touched’: Michelle Obama Reacts to Kobe Bryant Hall of Fame Induction Speech that Inspired Her

Published 05/20/2021, 5:30 AM EDT

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Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, did complete justice to her husband’s posthumous Hall of Fame induction. She made an inspiring 13-minute speech that reflected bravery and determination at its best. Her body language roared that she’s mentally as strong as KB and that she’ll not stop until the Mamba brand takes his legacy further.

That speech won her millions of fans even outside the bubble of basketball. Among the many fans, Michelle Obama goes down as the most notable name that spoke highly of Vanessa and her display of power.

Michelle Obama with a shout-out to the Mambacita brand

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The former first lady of the USA, Michelle Obama is hands down one of the most influential women in the world. Her memoir, Becoming, that released in 2018, revealed how she dealt with discrimination, loss, and criticism while growing up. So, when she heard Vanessa Bryant giving the Hall of Fame speech in the absence of Kobe Bryant, she could feel every syllable. 

In her appreciation post for the heiress of the Bryant empire, Michelle expressed all the things that inspired her this weekend. The 57-YO American Attorney and Author emotionally detailed, “As a wife and mother, I have thought a lot about what Vanessa Bryant has been going through this past year. I was touched hearing her speak with such courage and strength this past weekend at the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring Kobe…”

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Michelle Obama’s story behind making it to Princeton University is a must-read inspiration. Hence, such words of praise from her add more weight to the fact that there is no stopping the Mamba brand from breaking barriers.

Read AlsoFormer Trainer Reveals Insane Workout Story of Kobe Bryant From 2008 Olympics

When Barack Obama met Lakers’ Kobe Bryant

Barack Obama assumed the Oval office in 2008 after a historic victory. And post that, on the basketball side of the world, the Lakers tasted back-to-back title successes under the leadership of Kobe Bryant. So in 2010, President Obama met with the champions to pay his respect to the heroes of the NBA. 

In his address, the President, a high-school basketball player himself, praised coach Phil Jackson and the entire Lakers unit. As the speech concluded, a smiling Kobe Bryant handed Mr. Obama a #1 Lakers jersey as a respectful gesture. Enjoy the video –

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Years later, just after the news of Kobe’s death came out, the former President had this to say –

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That’s one champion paying homage to another champion. Through his incredible acts, Kobe’s legacy will continue to live on. 

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Written by:

Sourabh Singh

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Sourabh Singh is an NBA sports analyst for EssentiallySports, who has been working with the site since May 2020. Prior to this, he functioned as Managing Editor at WittyFeed, followed by a stint at Decathlon. The Sports Management graduate leads an active lifestyle, veering to the mountains for off-trail adventures.
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