Nine teams beat Paul Pierce in the 1998 NBA Draft, and if they think they don’t remember each and every one of them, then they don’t know Paul Pierce.
The new member of the Basketball Hall of Fame called by name, in order, the teams with the top nine teams this year and thanked them for allowing them to move on to the Boston Celtics.
“Love this. Thanks for stopping by. He added more firewood to my fire,” said Pierce, who was expected to reach No. 2 overall in his acceptance speech in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday. at night. “To this day I don’t understand how I fell to number 10. But you know it all happened for a reason. Going to the Celtics, I’m grateful.”
Four months after the induction delayed by the 2020 Class pandemic, including Kobe Bryant, the Hall community came together to consecrate 16 more new members, its largest class to date. Many in the crowd wore masks; Lauren Jackson, a three-time WNBA MVP, was unable to attend because she was back in Australia locked up.
Bill Russell, who was included as a player in 1975, was honored for his coaching career; he is the fifth person to be admitted as a player and as a coach. But for former President Barack Obama, his most important role was the one he got off the track during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
“Bill Russell, perhaps more than anyone, knows what it takes to win and what it takes to lead,” Obama said in a video. “As tall as Bill Russell is, his example and legacy rise much, much higher.”
Others who joined the room were: Villanova coach Jay Wright, Pistons defensive star Ben Wallace, two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh, longtime Portland and Sacramento coach time Rick Adelman, Washington All-Star and Sacrament Chris Webber and two-time Olympic gold medalist Yolanda Griffith.
WNBA president Val Ackerman, lifelong coach Cotton Fitzsimmons and observer pioneer Howard Garfinkel were included as collaborators. Clarence “Fats” Jenkins was chosen by the Committee of Early African American Pioneers, Croatian and Chicago Bulls star Toni Kukoc was elected by the International Committee, Bob Dandridge by the Veterans Committee and Pearl Moore by the Women’s Veterans Committee .
Russell, 87, was honored as the first black coach in NBA history. Taking control of the Auerbach Red Celtics in 1966 and remaining as a player-coach for two more years, Russell guided Boston to NBA titles in 1968 and ’69.
Russell was present and wore a Celtic mask at the ceremony, but his speech was presented as a pre-recorded video.
“Listen, Chris Weber, let’s go to the Hall of Fame with Bill Russell, brother,” Chris Bosh said. “This is madness.”
Bosh talked about his arrival in Miami when the Heat executive, Pat Riley, offered one of his NBA championship rings and said he could return it when they won 1 together; win two, and Bosh finally returned the candy Saturday night.
Legends. # 21HoopClass pic.twitter.com/ImJ5rJDaZP
– HOF Basketball (@Hoophall) September 12, 2021
Three key members of these Heat teams, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen, attended Saturday night.
Bosh also spoke about his departure, at the age of 31, when he was forced to retire due to blood clots.
“After finally getting to the top of the mountain with so much more to do, in my head, so much more work to do, it all stopped,” he said. “Eventually I realized that we all have the power to make the most of every day no matter what, to turn setbacks into strengths.”
Ackerman was the inaugural president of the WNBA, the first woman president of USA Basketball and, since 2013, the commissioner of the Big East. With few female models to admire in the sports business, she found one elsewhere.
“I am inspired to this day by the example of Billie Jean King,” Ackerman said, “and the many strong women and men who followed her in their quest to seize the opportunity to play sports and do- on a big stage, a reality for the girls and women of our country and our world. “
Kukoc chose Michael Jordan and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf as presenters and alluded to the tension over his arrival in Chicago that was uncovered in the documentary “The Last Dance.”
“I would like to thank this gentleman here, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, for kicking my ass during the Barcelona Olympics, and thus motivating me to work even harder to become an important part of the Chicago Bulls, ”he said.
Wallace was emotional and poetic in describing his upbringing as a large, small man who played a role in defense, winning the defensive player of the year four times.
“Basketball was not my life. Basketball was just in my life. I took basketball and created a path for those who helped me,” he said. “I took. I received. I came back. I put a path. I put a clue. It should be easy to find, I was stuck in it for quite some time.”
He stepped off the stage with his fist raised.
Wright’s speech touched on the history of Philadelphia basketball; Webber gave a greeting to Detroit. Dandridge said NBA or Proponents who went to major universities despised him because he attended those who went to Norfolk State, a historically black school.
“My experience in HBCU schools was not limited to basketball,” he said. “I saw what it was like to have class. I witnessed dignity and a sense of belonging.”
Most of the incorporators thanked their families, teammates, and coaches for helping them along the way, but Ackerman also thanked James Naismith, who invented basketball.
And Moore appreciated the game itself.
“Basketball allowed me to travel around the country and abroad to get a college degree,” he said. “And from shooting in a makeshift hoop in South Carolina’s courtyard to playing in the world’s most famous stadium, Madison Square Garden.
“And tonight, having my name consecrated to people like those sitting in the hallway is in fact a fairy tale come true.”