Yao’s career ended early because of foot injuries in 2011.
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“My parents were basketball players back to the 1970s”, Yao, the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, said at the ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts.
An 11-time All-Star and four-time National Basketball Association scoring champion, Iverson benefited from the Hall shortening the wait time from five seasons in retirement to four before a player can be nominated.
“I will always remember my times spent with the Houston Rockets as some of the best times of my life”, Yao said.
The two National Basketball Association legends, arguably Reebok’s most popular endorsers during their playing careers, also left messages thanking their fans inscribed on the insoles.
With Allen Iverson being inducted into the Hall of Fame last night, Nuggets nation is ecstatic that the former Nugget has gotten the recognition he deserves. “The gift I get from you, is not only the height but the way you taught me to think, and to make decisions”. 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. A great athlete does not only have great teammates, but also great opponents.
Iverson, a guard who helped his Philadelphia 76ers reach the National Basketball Association finals during 2001 called Shaq one of the league’s most dominating players to ever play.
“I walked out on the court and I looked at him, and for the first time in my life a human being didn’t look real to me”, he said to laughter from the attendees.
Reinsdorf recalled the 1990s Michael Jordan era Bulls who won six titles in eight seasons, noting, “Players alone don’t win championships”.
Iverson was welcomed to the hall by his Georgetown University basketball coach John Thompson, his former Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown and 76ers legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving. “It takes a whole organization”. “I want to thank Biggie Smalls, Redman, Jadakiss, Tupac and Michael Jackson for being my theme music throughout my career”, he said.
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“Work hard, believe and don’t give up – dreams really do come true”, she said.
