Hall of Fame 2025 honored a cross‑generational lineup: Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Danny Crawford, Billy Donovan, and Micky Arison joined the immortals. LeBron James saluted Kobe Bryant, tying the Redeem Team’s Beijing gold to today’s greatness. Melo spoke movingly about his father and Knicks identity; Dwight delivered humor with Stan Van Gundy’s impersonation; Bird celebrated the rise of women’s hoops; the ceremony linked past dynasties to present constellations.

Team USA’s 2008 Redeem Team, coached by Mike Krzyzewski and led by Kobe Bryant, rebuilt a program that had stumbled with bronze in 2004 and near-elimination in 2000. A star-studded roster—LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard—paired elite firepower with relentless defense, turning Beijing into a turning point for Olympic greatness.

Kobe’s fourth‑quarter burst carried the gold, finishing with 20 points and 6 assists as Team USA defeated Spain 118–107. The victory cemented Kobe’s Olympic legacy and set a blueprint for how star power and cohesion drive international success, shaping the next era of Team USA basketball.