In his last on-camera interview, NBA legend Kobe Bryant talks to USA TODAY's Mark Medina about life after basketball and his daughter Gigi's favorite NBA player. USA TODAY

The entire NBA family has had more than two months to grieve, console each other and share memories. That has not been enough time to fully process Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others dying in a helicopter crash.

So when the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Bryant as a first ballot selection Saturday, this was not just a moment to celebrate how Bryant won five NBA championships, became the franchises all-time leading scorer and overcame too many injuries to count. This was also a moment that reopened a wound that may not ever fully heal.

"Obviously we wish he was here with us to celebrate, but its definitely the peak of his NBA career," Bryants wife, Vanessa, told ESPN shortly after the announcement. "Every accomplishment that he had as an athlete was a stepping stone to be here. Were incredibly proud of him. Theres some solace in him knowing he would be a part of the 2020 Hall of Fame class."

But there is also an incredible amount of sorrow that Bryant wont be part of the 2020 class in person. We lived through these same emotions so many times. When the Lakers played their first game following Bryants passing and LeBron James delivered an inspiring speech beforehand. When the NBA honored Bryant at All-Star weekend in Chicago with various video tributes and performances. When the Kobe and Gianna Bryant memorial took place at Staples Center headlined by Vanessas moving speech. Just like those moments, this Hall of Fame ceremony will be cathartic and emotional.

It wasnt supposed to be this way. Bryant was supposed to deliver a speech that fully matched his complex personality. He would share tales on how he stubbornly overcame injuries. He would defend his demanding leadership style. He would express gratitude for the various mentors that shaped him. And after becoming passionate about storytelling following his NBA career, Bryant would deliver a speech that no scriptwriter could ever write.

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Bryant would offer precise details about how he fell in love with basketball as a young kid growing up in Italy and in Philadelphia. Bryant would express gratitude that former Lakers general manager Jerry West secured his draft rights in 1996 by trading fan favorite Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets. Bryant would shout out his other various muses, whether it entailed an NBA star he modeled his game after (Michael Jordan), a coachs wisdom he eventually appreciated (Phil Jackson) or an NBA luminary that played for the hated Boston Celtics (Bill Russell).

Bryant would spin epic tales on how he scored a career-high 81 points, how he overcame a left Achilles injury or how he dropped 60 points in his final game. Bryant would offer defiance, context and perhaps some revisionist history on his clashes with Shaquille ONeal, his trade demands in 2007 or his high-volume shooting. Bryant would surely bring up his battles with other new Hall of Famers in Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. Bryant would gush about the womens game, including what he admired about inductee Tamika Catchings.

Nearly every NBA fan became familiar with all the intimate details about Bryants career. But the stories never got old. There were always new details to emerge atop the ones we already knew. There were always new anecdotes no one knew about until Bryant and those he impacted eventually shared them.

"Kobe was always one to downplay his professional accomplishments MVPs, NBA championships, gold medals, Oscars, and on and on and on," Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement. "But all of us can trust that this Basketball Hall of Fame honor is one Kobe would, and will, deeply appreciate. The highest of congratulations to you, dear friend. This one is so well deserved for all the hard work, sweat and toil. Now, a part of you will live in the Hall with the rest of the all-time greats, where your legend and spirit will continue to grow forever."

Because of that spirit, Bryants Hall of Fame induction will still be memorable. But it would have been much better for him to be there, obviously.

SportsPulse: USA TODAY's Mark Medina interviewed Kobe Bryant just over a week ago to discuss his post career ambitions. On Sunday, he had to cover the tragic helicopter crash that took Bryant's life. Medina attempts to put the basketball icon's legacy into perspective. USA TODAY

There would have been intrigue about whom Bryant would choose as his presenters. Would one of them be Jordan, who delivered a memorable speech at Bryants memorial about how he became a "big brother" to him? Would one of them be Jackson, who eventually inspired Bryant to appreciate his triangle offense and meditation practices? Would one of them be Lower Merion coach Gregg Downer, whom Bryant credited for knowing how to motivate him? Would one of them be Lower Merion English teacher Jeanne Mastriano, whom Bryant said inspired his passion for storytelling? Would one of them have been WNBA star Diana Taurasi, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma or Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu about how Bryant supported womens basketball?

"No amount of words can fully describe what Kobe Bryant meant to the Los Angeles Lakers," Lakers controlling governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement. "Kobe was not only a proven winner and a champion, he gave everything he had to the game of basketball. His fierce competitiveness, work ethic and drive were unmatched. Those qualities helped Kobe lead us to five titles and have now brought him to the Hall of Fame, where he will be enshrined with the greatest to have ever played the game. No one deserves it more."

And yet Bryant also deserved something more and something so simple. He deserved to be able to stand on stage, accept his award and fully process the significant contributions he made to the game he loved.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Opinion: Kobe Bryant deserved to give what would have been a memorable Hall of Fame speech - USA TODAY