NBA Legends Brunch Honors Bill Russell, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Pau Gasol
The NBA Legends Brunch has always been my favorite side event of NBA All-Star Weekend. It is often both more entertaining and more meaningful than the All-Star Game--and that was definitely the case this year, as I will discuss in greater detail in my 2023 NBA All-Star Game recap.
I had the privilege of attending the NBA Legends Brunch as a credentialed journalist six times (2005-2010); when I have not been able to attend in person it is appointment TV viewing for me, and I often write an article about it (links to several of my NBA Legends Brunch articles are appended to this article).
This year's NBA Legends Brunch marked the debut of a new honor: the Bob Lanier Community Impact Award. I interviewed Lanier in person during the 2005 NBA All-Star Weekend, and I later did a phone interview with him that provided much of the background material for a 2006 profile that I wrote about Lanier.
Lanier was a wonderful person and a great interview subject. One quote in particular stood out from the time that I spent speaking with him. I asked him to describe his greatest moment, and he provided this reply:
Greatest moment? To me--and I know that this might sound a little trite--the greatest moment is that basketball has enabled me to touch other people's lives. I've always been able to do that. Since day one, being an NBA player and visiting a hospital or going to a senior citizens' home and listening to an elderly person who has much more wisdom than I'll ever have and brightening their day and giving my energy. It's something that is very, very special that the NBA has been able to do. It's terrific for me. (NBA Senior Vice President) Kathy (Behrens) talked about seeing our players making words come to life. That is very special because I see them in gyms and community centers with these kids, bright eyed kids draped all around them. They've got their hands on these books that they almost cover up because their hands are so big. Then, the energy that they have by making the words come to life and then going over to a tech center where they get on these computers. It's funny sometimes, because really the kids know more about how to do online stuff than our players, so they end up teaching our players. It's really, really nice.
Lanier devoted much of his life to having a positive impact on the community, and he particularly focused on helping children, so it is fitting that this new award is named for him. The first recipient of the honor is Pau Gasol. Gasol gave a wonderful Legends Brunch speech focusing on his understanding of the need and value of NBA players giving back to the community. He said of NBA players, "We are role models whether we like it or not." That point is worth emphasizing. Charles Barkley once did a famous TV commercial in which he declared that the ability to dribble a basketball well does not make someone a role model--but in that commercial Barkley missed the larger point: whether or not the ability to dribble a basketball well should make someone a role model in an ideal world where parents and teachers would be a child's main role models is less important than the reality that children look up to NBA players (and other sports stars) as role models, and that reality creates a responsibility that NBA players should embrace. NBA players are role models, and they should use their fame, money, and prominent platform to do as much good as possible for as many people as possible.
It should also be noted that Gasol is a native Spanish speaker from Spain who gave his Legends Brunch speech in flawless English. Imagine growing up in the United States speaking English, becoming a major star in a Spanish professional sports league, and then giving a speech in Spanish to a Spanish-speaking audience in Spain. That is the equivalent of what Gasol did, and I wonder how many Americans would be able to do that? Gasol is one of many NBA stars from countries other than the United States who did not grow up speaking English but who now speak English fluently.
John Stockton received the Hometown Hero award. He described his journey from Gonzaga--which was not a college basketball powerhouse when he played there--to being a Hall of Famer, and he thanked the many people who helped him along the way, including teammates Rickey Green, Adrian Dantley, Thurl Bailey, and--of course--Karl Malone, who teamed with Stockton to form the most famous pick and roll duo in basketball history. Stockton teared up when he spoke about Coach Jerry Sloan, who he credited with providing the spirit and soul that kept their team together. Stockton also praised the family atmosphere that has always been a part of the Jazz franchise, and he said that he could not picture himself having the same amount of success and happiness playing for any other NBA team.
Bill Russell, the greatest champion in the history of North American team sports, passed away last summer. The Legends Brunch provided a heartfelt tribute to Russell. Julius Erving, for whom the NBA recently named its Slam Dunk Contest trophy, gave the keynote speech for the Bill Russell tribute. Erving was the perfect choice for this honor, both because of the reverence that the basketball community has for him--it is likely that no one has been a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presenter more often than he has--and because of his deep, longstanding personal connection with Russell. Erving is also one of the NBA community's most eloquent speakers.
Erving began by noting that few people have the privilege of being the greatest champion in their sport. Erving added, "Fewer still take that spirit to be champions in their communities...More than anyone else before or after him, he was a champion on and off the court." Erving declared, "Bill Russell succeeded athletically at every level," and he listed a set of accomplishments that deserve emphasis: high school champion, two-time NCAA champion at the University of San Francisco, leader of America's 1956 Olympic gold medal-winning squad, winner of 11 NBA titles with the Boston Celtics, and five-time NBA regular season MVP (and if the NBA Finals MVP had existed before Russell's last season, he likely would have accumulated a trophy case full of those trophies as well).
After Erving rattled off the important facts about Russell's life and career, he put away his note cards and spoke from the heart about his personal connection with Russell that lasted over 50 years. Erving remembered first meeting Russell as a college player at the University of Massachusetts, and he spoke about how he cherished Russell as a mentor and as a friend. Erving is too modest to mention this, but he mentored many other future legends the same way that Russell mentored him (the list of players mentored by Erving includes George Gervin and Magic Johnson, who stayed at Erving's home during the summer that he was deciding whether to go back to college or jump into the NBA Draft as an underclassman, something far less common in 1979 than it is now).
Erving talked about the many wonderful hours that he spent in Russell's home with Russell and his family, and the many wonderful hours that Russell spent in his home with him and his family. Erving cherished the time that they spent together on the golf course, while noting that he is not a great golfer and saying with a smile that golf "is not for everyone." Erving recalled that he and Russell talked about serious topics and humorous topics, and that when someone said something funny Russell would unleash his famous cackle. Erving enjoyed spending time with Russell during All-Star Weekend, and he remembered that Russell talked about how it felt to be the oldest guy in the room. "You are going to feel that one day," Russell told Erving. Erving noted with a smile that as long as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and a few others are around he will not be the oldest guy in the room at the Legends Brunch.
Circling back to a statement that Legends Brunch host Ernie Johnson made, Erving pointed out that there is one vacant seat at the Bill Russell family table, and Erving said that no one will ever be able to fill that seat.
A video tribute to Russell's career concluded with this quote from Russell: "I tried to live my life doing what I think is right and for the right reasons."
Three other speakers also honored Russell. Current Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown talked about how much he respects Russell's legacy on and off of the basketball court.
Hall of Famer Grant Hill recalled not only Russell's championships and off-court accomplishments but his humor. Hill added, "My understanding of leadership comes from Bill Russell," and he concluded, "Justice is power and joy is power."
Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said that he first met Bill Russell as a 14 year old high school player who stood two inches taller than Russell, who was already a multi-time NBA champion. Abdul-Jabbar said that the Boston Celtics practiced at his high school before playing the New York Knicks because Power Memorial High School was located close to Madison Square Garden. Abdul-Jabbar described how Russell was not much interested in meeting him at first, and how their connection grew with each subsequent encounter. Abdul-Jabbar said that he admired Russell as a player for playing defense like a chess master who saw many moves ahead, and who customized his defensive tactics for each individual opponent. Abdul-Jabbar recalled with admiration Russell's leadership at the legendary Ali Summit in Cleveland in 1967. Abdul-Jabbar said that Russell encouraged all of those who gathered to listen to Ali, as opposed to trying to persuade them to agree with Ali. Abdul-Jabbar drew strength from Russell's example of leadership.
Abdul-Jabbar said that Russell always called him "kid," even long after Abdul-Jabbar had retired as a player. Abdul-Jabbar thought that was Russell's gentle way of reminding him, "I was here first." Abdul-Jabbar spoke about filming a commercial with Russell, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. After filming that commercial, Abdul-Jabbar asked Russell for a favor for the first time in their decades-long friendship: he asked Russell to autograph a jersey.
One of the most poignant moments in every NBA Legends Brunch is the video tribute to players, coaches, referees, and other members of the basketball community who passed away in the last year. This time, Thurl Bailey sang "Lean on Me" while the video tribute played.
Bill Walton presented the final award--Legend of the Year--to Karl Malone. Speaking without notes, and pacing back and forth instead of standing in front of the lectern, Walton talked at length about how much he respects and admires Malone for rising from humble beginnings to becoming a great NBA player. Walton declared, "Karl was a team guy. He played hard, he played to win."
Malone was overcome with emotion as he accepted the award, and he frequently dabbed tears from his face. Malone said, "I've got more time in the rearview mirror than the windshield," and he said that it was very important to him to use this moment to honor and recognize "My hero that got me through the things I went through: Julius 'Dr. J' Erving." Malone revealed that he chose his jersey number 32 to honor Erving, who wore number 32 during his fantastic ABA career. I think that younger fans--and many of the commentators who neglect to mention Erving when discussing pro basketball's greatest and most influential players--fail to appreciate the impact that Erving had not only on the court as a dominant performer but also as an inspiration to a whole generation of great players who followed him. It is not an accident that so many Hall of Famers tap Erving to be their Hall of Fame presenter. It takes nothing away from the greatness of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan to give credit to Erving as perhaps the most influential and inspirational player from the 1970s and 1980s. If you grew up in that era, you know what I mean: everyone wanted to be Dr. J, including many kids from that era (including Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, Dominique Wilkins, and many others) who became NBA legends in their own right.
Malone also talked about how much impact his mother had on his life. His mother told him that it is important to not let your mistakes define you: "There will be a lot of noise around you. Let your success be your noise." Malone's mother told him, "He that throws rocks at every dog that is barking will never reach his destination." Malone added, "Words do two things in life…they either lift you up or tear you down."
Malone concluded by quoting the words of former Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller, who used to say "Let’s do so much good in this world that there is no more good left to do."
Selected Previous NBA Legends Recaps:
Jerry West Gives Powerful Speech After Being Honored as NBA Legend of the Year (2022)
Legends Brunch Honors Alonzo Mourning, Five Great Mavs (2010)
NBA Legends Brunch Honors Phoenix' Rich Basketball History (2009)
King James Reigns in Houston (2006 NBA All-Star Weekend)
Labels: Bill Russell, John Stockton, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, NBA Legends Brunch, Pau Gasol
posted by David Friedman @ 10:16 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home