Everyone knew Allen Iverson’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech would be memorable and emotional, but somehow it still surpassed expectations.
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Four-time WNBA champion Sheryl Swoopes, Michigan State University coach Tom Izzo, longtime Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf were also enshrined. “Every game we played reminded me of the old saying that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. He averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds through his NBA career, making 8 All-Star games and five different All-NBA teams.
“I will always consider you my family”, Yao said.
O’Neal, a four-time National Basketball Association champion, looked around at the retired legends gathered to pay him tribute and said, “It’s a great honor to be part of this great fraternity”.
“Shaq” also thanks National Basketball Association fans, saying, “You guys were a part of everyone”.
Yao Ming, the first Asian player that is ever been elected into the Hall of Fame, was the first to give his words.
“O’Neal noted he spent three years thinking Yao could not speak English, then was dazzled by a move from the Asian superstar and said, ‘Hey Yao, nice move'”. From massive television audiences (an estimated 200 million people watched his regular season showdown with fellow Chinese player Yi Jianlian in 2007) to millions in merchandise revenue to a far-reaching interest among the youth – Yao emerged as much more than just a basketball player.
HIs best joke of the night came at the expense of former teammate Kobe Bryant, who after he sent his honest thanks to, hit him with some great singers.
Regarding the last of that group, O’Neal made light of his relationship with Bryant, as the pair powered the Lakers’ three-peat but were later entrenched in a highly-publicized feud with one another.
He described Bryant as “a guy that would push me to help me win three titles in a row”. A great athlete does not only have great teammates, but also great opponents.
Amid heartfelt, tearful, joyful, thanks to his family, his Georgetown family, Michael Jordon, Michael Jackson (yes, that MJ), Jadakiss, Larry Brown, Julius “Dr. J” Irving, his wife, Tawanna Iverson, and many more, A.I. also thanked Brendan Gaughan.
Others inducted on Friday included 11-times All-Star Iverson, the first overall pick in the 1996 National Basketball Association draft, as well as Sheryl Swoopes, a three-time gold medallist on the United States women’s Olympic team, and the first player to be signed in the WNBA. “It takes a whole organization”. Literally. But I got to Philadelphia and man, those were some big shoes to fill with a size 10 foot.
The 10-person Class of 2016’s other star honoree was Shaquille O’Neal, the man-child center who won four National Basketball Association titles.
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“Work hard, believe and don’t give up – dreams really do come true”, she said.
