The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame arena was Allen Iverson’s court on Friday evening (Sept. 9), where the revered NBA player was inducted into the prestigious lineage of prominent athletes. Alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Yao Ming and Sheryl Swoopes, Iverson’s HOF speech probably made everyone in attendance locate their nearest Kleenex.
The retired Philadelphia 76er gave a heart-tugging speech that gave thanks to his family and friends, his Georgetown University coach John Thompson, and the artists that soundtracked his basketball career including Jadakiss, Redman, Biggie Smalls, Michael Jackson, and Tupac.
Another pivotal figure in Iverson’s career, despite that crossover, was none other than Michael Jordan. Iverson shared one of the first times in his professional career that he saw No. 23 in person.
“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. “I literally seen his aura. It looked like he was glowing. I’m sitting there saying to myself, ‘Man, that’s Mike!’ I can’t stop looking at him. I’m looking at his shoes, like, ‘Man, he got on the Jordans.’
Since Iverson reached this major feat in his NBA career, attendees were left with the question, what’s next for The Answer? Only time will tell.
Watch the full speech below.