3 Times Kobe Bryant Dunked Over NBA Greats to Celebrate His Election to Hall of Fame

On Friday, reports revealed that Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was, unsurprisingly, voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2020. Sadly, Bryant won't be there to accept the honor, as he was tragically killed in a helicopter crash that also took the life of his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers earlier this year.

However, basketball fans will always cherish the memories that Bryant gave them over the course of his two decades in the NBA. Besides his lethal jump shot, Bryant always had the ability to unleash some vicious dunks. No one was safe from the poster -- even the legends of the game. With that in mind, let's remember three occasions in which the Black Mamba dunked over NBA greats.

3. Slamming it Past LeBron in the 2011 All-Star Game

How many times can you recall LeBron James watching someone dunk over him in any game? Not many. But if there was one person who'd ever be able to do so, look no further than Kobe. During the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant secured a blocked shot and went on a breakaway with James in hot pursuit. Bryant soared through the air, and LeBron went for his signature block. However, it was Kobe who won the air battle, and as a result, posterized James in front of a partisan Los Angeles crowd.

2. Posterizing Yao Ming

In the early 2000's, Yao Ming was one of the world's biggest stars, and for good reason. He was a 7-foot-6 giant for the Houston Rockets, and a truly imposing presence at the rim... until he played against Kobe's Lakers back on Feb. 18, 2003. During the waning minutes of the third quarter, the Mamba used his elusiveness to burst through Houston's defense. He ran baseline and found an open path to the rack, and Yao was late to react. Kobe soared over the gigantic All-Star and his lanky right arm to dunk over him with authority. It was truly a sight to behold at the time. Oh, and Bryant finished the night with 52 points in the Lakers' double-overtime victory. Simply legendary stuff.

1. THAT Ben Wallace Dunk

Sorry, Detroit Pistons fans, we have to bring back a bad memory for one of your legends. In 1997, Bryant introduced himself to the Lakers fan base and the entire NBA in a preseason game against the Washington Wizards. During the first half, Bryant crossed over Jimmy Oliver and made an example of a young Ben Wallace. "Big Ben" stood in the paint and watched Bryant dunk over him and force him to collapse on the court. It didn't turn out all that badly for Wallace, as he got his revenge in the 2004 NBA Finals when the Pistons defeated the Lakers to win the championship, but this dunk will forever go down in Mamba history.