Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson on Friday "headlined the 10-member" Class of '16 enshrined into the Basketball HOF, according to Kyle Hightower of the AP. One of the "most star-packed classes in recent memory," the event also featured Yao Ming, Sheryl Swoopes, Tom Izzo, and Jerry Reinsdorf. Posthumous honorees were referee Darell Garretson and John McLendon, the "first African-American coach in a professional league." O'Neal "had the final speech of the night, a humorous dissertation that spanned his long journey in the sport" (AP, 9/10). In Chicago, K.C. Johnson noted Bulls President & COO Michael Reinsdorf sat by his father's side for the official ceremony, and he "flew in many front-office members and principals from his father's decorated past," including former MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. During his nearly 13-minute acceptance speech, Reinsdorf "detailed how his love for the NBA bloomed." Consistent with his "message since receiving word he had been chosen" to enter the HOF, Reinsdorf "touted" former Bulls GM Jerry Krause's HOF credentials (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/10).
EVERYTHING YOU WOULD EXPECT: CBSSPORTS.com's Zach Harper noted the top "takeaways from a great night." Yao's speech was "endearing and a perfect embodiment of the basketball figure he has been in the world." His humor and kindness "radiated from his words as he delivered well-timed jokes and heartfelt sentiments about the people in his life who helped him get to where he is." Immediately from the start of Iverson's speech, emotions "flowed through the entire viewing experience." His speech was "everything you expected and hoped it would be without being predictable at the same time." There was a "good chunk" of O'Neal's speech that "had to be muted out because of some colorful language in stories about his time playing before the NBA." He "joked about trying to fit in a Buick for ads" because they paid him $3M (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/10). In Massachusetts, Tom Westerholm noted O'Neal was "both hilarious and petty" as a player, and "both qualities shined through" during his speech. O'Neal's presence "dominated the stage as thoroughly as he dominated the paint." O'Neal: "[NBA Commissioners Adam Silver and David Stern] have taken the NBA to heights none of us could have ever imagined, and they did it with integrity. I'm proud of my relationship with them" (MASSLIVE.com, 9/9). Also in Massachusetts, Jay King wrote Iverson's speech "was pure Iverson, which means it bounced around, powerful and different, raw and emotional" (MASSLIVE.com, 9/10).
GETTING CHOKED UP: In Philadelphia, Frank Fitzpatrick noted Iverson "stopped often during his free-wheeling, 25-minute speech to compose himself." Rocking nervously from side to side, as if he were "preparing to blow by an unseen defender, he went through a long litany of 'Thank-you's' and 'I-love-you's'" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/10). Izzo just a minute into his speech was "forced to stop and stead himself, holding back tears that threatened to cut through his raspy voice." He "powered through the rest of his speech after the early hiccup, carrying on strong even as he continued to talk about his father" (MASSLIVE.com, 9/9). Yao made everyone "look small." He ended his speech with a "vow he would do his part 'to continue to help grow the great game of basketball,'" but he is "already done plenty of that" (MASSLIVE.com, 9/9).
