The 2026 Legends Brunch Honors Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Candace Parker, Baron Davis, and Jamal Crawford While Featuring a Panel Discussion With Olympians Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and Pau Gasol
The Legends Brunch is the highlight of NBA All-Star Weekend, a celebration of the great players who built the NBA from a fledgling league into a global enterprise. I cherished covering the Legends Brunch in person from
2005-2010, and every year that was my favorite All-Star Weekend event, along with attending the ABA Reunions in 2005 and 2006.
NBC is covering the NBA this season for the first time since 2002, so for the first time in more than two decades TNT's Ernie Johnson was not the host for the Legends Brunch telecast. Bob Costas, who served as NBC's main NBA host the last time that the network had an NBA contract, hosted the 2026 Legends Brunch. His communication style is different than Johnson's--Costas did not lead things off with a poem he wrote--but Costas is every bit as informed and talented as Johnson is.
Costas began the telecast by providing a brief recap of NBA All-Star Saturday Night, and then he introduced NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Silver acknowledged the presence of the family members of Chuck Cooper (the first Black player drafted by an NBA team), Earl Lloyd (the first Black player to play in an NBA game), and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton (the first Black player to sign an NBA contract). Then, he presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar said that he is "deeply humbled, filled with gratitude for a league that gave me far more than a career. It gave me a home, a purpose, and a family." Abdul-Jabbar thanked all of his coaches and teammates collectively, but he singled out one coach by name: Farrell Hopkins, who he credited with impressing upon him the importance of being able to score effectively. Abdul-Jabbar took that advice to heart, eventually breaking Wilt Chamberlain's NBA career scoring record in 1984 and then holding the mark until LeBron James surpassed him in 2023. Abdul-Jabbar expressed gratitude that the NBA provided "a platform to stand for something larger than myself," namely social justice and community service. He emphasized the importance of what an athlete does beyond the basketball court: "Greatness is not measured in points only or in wins, but in the impact we leave behind."
Magic Johnson presented the Pioneer Award to Candace Parker, the only WNBA player to win championships with three different teams and the only WNBA player to win the Rookie of the Year award and the regular season MVP in the same season. Parker stated that she has been inspired by NBA legends, singling out Magic Johnson and Julius Erving in particular. She also noted the strong influence that her college coach, Pat Summit, had on her.
The Legends Brunch included a special tribute to the three pioneers mentioned above: Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton. This is part of the NBA's season-long recognition of how Cooper, Lloyd, and Clifton played key roles in integrating the league.
Andre Iguodala, the President of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), spoke on a host of topics. He mentioned Chris Paul--who recently retired after being released by the L.A. Clippers--and said that Paul has a special ability to "lock in" to competition while also being able to "lock through" as a connector bringing people together. Iguodala recalled that when Paul was a rival player he did not like him very much, but that after serving as an NBPA Vice President while Paul was the NBPA President he saw firsthand how much Paul did on behalf of NBA players. Iguodala praised Abdul-Jabbar for speaking to him 15 years ago about the value of keeping up with the times to learn to speak the language of young people. Abdul-Jabbar advised Iguodala to do things like watching reality TV shows to better understand how young people think and how they communicate.
Antonio Davis, the President of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA or Legends of Basketball), spoke about the NBRPA's mandate to help Legends live with dignity and wellness so that they can prosper and can continue to make positive contributions to their communities.
The Bob Lanier Community Impact Award was first presented to Pau Gasol in 2023, and then Jalen Rose earned the honor in 2024. The award was not presented at the 2025 Legends Brunch, but it is important to keep Lanier's name alive, and to recognize players who have a positive community impact. Gasol presented this award to Baron Davis and Jamal Crawford. Davis spoke about his efforts to bridge the gap between the "privileged" and the "underprivileged." He said that he learned the importance of community while he grew up in the L.A. area. Crawford declared, "This honor truly means a lot to me. I feel so blessed because this isn't something you seek recognition for. You do what feels right to uplift as many people as possible, especially those who need it most." He thanked his grandparents, parents, sisters, and community members who inspired him. He lives by the motto, "If you can help someone, do it." Crawford added, "Giving back is not about recognition. It's about responsibility." He thanked Abdul-Jabbar and Erving for providing inspiration to him when he was a child--and even today. Crawford said that the sport's legends are the most important part of the game.
After Crawford finished speaking, Costas mentioned the new documentary "Soul Power," produced by Julius Erving, George Karl, and Common. The four part series on Amazon Prime tells the story of the ABA. Costas noted the tremendous impact that the ABA had on basketball history--and on the way basketball is played today--with innovations such as the three point shot (which was not invented by the ABA but was popularized by the league), the Slam Dunk Contest, and a wide open style of play. Many Hall of Famers started their careers in the ABA, including four-time MVP/three-time champion Julius Erving, three-time MVP/one-time champion Moses Malone, two-time MVP/three-time champion Mel Daniels, one-time MVP/one-time champion Artis Gilmore, one-time MVP/two-time champion George McGinnis, three-time champion Roger Brown, four-time scoring champion George Gervin, David Thompson, Bobby Jones, and Louie Dampier. Costas declared, "No one personified the league more than Dr. J, one of the greatest players in the history of basketball and the greatest player in the history of the ABA."
The Legends Brunch concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Costas featuring Olympians Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and Pau Gasol.
Robertson recalled Team USA's tryout process for the 1960 Olympics, which involved eight teams competing in Denver. The AAU was very powerful at that time, and tried to get as many of their players as possible on the Olympic team. Costas asked Robertson if the 1960 squad was the greatest U.S. team ever other than the fabled 1992 Dream Team. Robertson acknowledged his team's greatness but also felt that the 1956 squad led by Bill Russell should be considered.
Robertson wore a knee brace, but Costas pointed out that Robertson looks much younger than 87. Robertson explained that he is wearing the brace because old men sometimes do "foolish" things; he strained his leg trying to see how much weight he could lift over his head.
Magic Johnson said that a key moment for the 1992 Dream Team happened when Michael Jordan rejected the honor of being the only captain and insisted that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson should be co-captains with him. Johnson said that this forged team unity. He remembered that the Dream Team's scrimmages were often Eastern Conference players competing against Western Conference players, and he said that those now-legendary battles were very intense.
Johnson praised Robertson not only as a great player but also as the first player who became a "businessman outside of basketball," along with Dave Bing.
The always gracious Gasol praised Robertson, Johnson, and the other legends who came before him for paving the way for him to become an NBA player. He was 12 years old when the Dream Team won Olympic gold in his hometown Barcelona. Gasol talked about how his L.A. Laker teammate Kobe Bryant ran right through him on a screen when Team USA faced Spain in the 2008 Olympics. Gasol said that play set the tone for Team USA to do whatever it takes to win the gold medal after falling short several times in previous FIBA events when Bryant was not on the roster. Gasol recalled that Bryant later put his Olympic gold medal in Gasol's L.A. locker to send a message, noting that Bryant was very "intentional" about making sure that they were on the same page about winning an NBA championship. Gasol had an 0-3 career playoff series record before teaming up with Bryant, who led the Lakers to NBA championships in 2009 and 2010 with Gasol as the second option. If Gasol had continued to be aggressive and not been satisfied with winning two NBA championships, perhaps the Lakers would have won at least one more title.
One of Johnson's most vivid Olympic memories is how Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen made a point of taking turns guarding Toni Kukoc--their future Chicago Bulls teammate--full court when Team USA faced Croatia in the 1992 Olympics.
Johnson singled out Erving for helping him when he was weighing the pros and cons of leaving Michigan State as an underclassman. After Johnson sought Erving's advice, Erving not only counseled him but he flew Johnson to Philadelphia to stay with him for a few days to discuss matters in detail. Johnson said that this was an important time not just in his career but in his life, and he praised Erving for being such a great mentor. That story epitomizes not only how special Erving is, but also the impact that basketball's legends can have (1) when their counsel is sought and (2) when young players have the humility to realize that they don't know everything and that they can benefit from the experiences of the great players who came before them.
Selected Previous NBA Legends Recaps:
The 2025 NBA Legends Brunch Honors Oscar Robertson, Gary Payton, and Rick Barry, and Features a Panel Discussion With Run TMC (2025)
The
2024 NBA Legends Brunch Honors Tamika Catchings, Jalen Rose, Reggie
Miller, and Larry Bird While Also Featuring ABA Panel Discussion (2024)
NBA Legends Brunch Honors Bill Russell, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Pau Gasol (2023)
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: Baron Davis, Candace Parker, Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, Jamal Crawford, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Nat Clifton, NBA All-Star Weekend, NBA Legends Brunch, Oscar Robertson, Pau Gasol
posted by David Friedman @ 10:30 AM
The 2025 NBA Legends Brunch Honors Oscar Robertson, Gary Payton, and Rick Barry, and Features a Panel Discussion With Run TMC
The Legends Brunch is the most meaningful and special NBA All-Star Weekend event; it is important to acknowledge and honor the people who built the sport. I had the privilege of covering the Legends Brunch in person from 2005-2010, and every year that was the highlight of All-Star Weekend for me, along with attending the ABA Reunions in 2005 and 2006.
Ernie Johnson is the perfect host for the Legends Brunch, and he consistently hits the right notes in terms of when to be serious and when to be humorous. This year ends TNT's four decades of covering the NBA, and during his traditional Legends Brunch poem Johnson expressed gratitude for TNT's long run, and appreciation to the production crew behind the scenes that makes sure everything runs smoothly.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Oscar Robertson. Silver called Robertson "A man of dignity, character, and respect." During a video tribute for Robertson, John Havlicek said that Robertson is the best player he ever played against, quite a statement from a Hall of Famer who spent 16 NBA seasons playing against many of the greatest players of all-time, including Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain,
Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Julius Erving. Abdul-Jabbar, who played with and against Robertson, termed Robertson a "pioneer in the game of basketball."
During his acceptance speech, Robertson emphasized that his guiding thought has always been, "Situations in life should be as fair as possible." Robertson said that this principle impacted both how he played the game--keeping his teammates involved--and how he worked to represent the players' interests when he served as the President of the Players Association from 1965-74; his friends Jack Twyman and Tommy Heinsohn persuaded him to accept the latter role, and Robertson was one of the "NBA 14" who filed a lawsuit that paved the way for the huge guaranteed salaries that today's NBA players take for granted. Robertson, Archie Clark, Dave Bing, Dave Cowens, and Dave DeBusschere later founded the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA). Robertson said that as a player and as a retired player he sought to partner with the NBA team owners as opposed to having an adversarial relationship with them. Robertson thanked Chris Paul for his role with the Players Association to help the retired players finally obtain health insurance in 2016. Recalling the Legends Brunch's humble beginnings, Robertson looked at the large assembled audience and concluded, "This is magnificent!"
Damian Lillard presented the Hometown Hero Award to Gary Payton. Lillard is a Bay Area native who said that when he was a kid he was inspired by Payton, who was already an established NBA player. Payton said that he is sad that his mother and father did not live long enough to see this moment. He acknowledged that other Bay Area natives--including Jason Kidd, Antonio Davis, and Brian Shaw--could have received the honor instead of him. Payton emphasized the importance of giving back to the community, mentioning that the reason that he took the head coaching job at College of Alameda is that he seeks to positively influence the community, particularly young people.
Stephen Curry introduced the program's always poignant "In Memoriam" segment. He spoke briefly about Jerry West,
Bill Walton, Dikembe Mutombo, and Al Attles. Then, a video tribute accompanied by live music honored other Legends who passed away within the past year. I was a Philadelphia 76ers fan growing up, so three names in particular caught my attention and brought back memories: Pat Williams (the general manager who built the 76ers' 1983 championship team), Joe "Jellybean" Bryant (Kobe's father, who played for the 76ers from 1975-79), and Harold Katz (the 76ers' majority owner from 1981-1996).
Julius Erving, the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1977 and 1983 and an All-NBA First Team member for the 76ers' 1983 championship team, presented the Legend of the Year award to Rick Barry, who spent nine of his 14 professional seasons playing in the Bay Area (eight during two separates stints with the Warriors, plus one with the ABA's Oakland Oaks). Erving said that Barry is "as iconic for his scoring ability as for his style" and that Barry was "a player ahead of his time." Erving added that Barry, who is six years older than he is, "was one of my heroes, and
he is still one of my heroes." Erving noted that Barry shared the proceeds from his 1967 All-Star Game MVP award with his teammates, inspiring him to do the same thing. Erving mentioned how often he and Barry spent time together, including going to Israel, coaching in the "Big Three," and doing Spalding commercials.
During the video tribute to Barry, one of the clips showed Barry saying that he wanted every game to come down to the last 10 seconds with the ball in his hands. Barry also declared that you play the game to be a champion.
After Barry joined Erving on stage, Barry mentioned that his speech was supposed to last just four minutes, and he scoffed that asking him to limit his remarks that way is like asking him to only take 10 shots in a game because he would just be warming up by that point. Barry said that he feels an "extreme sense of gratitude" for receiving the Legend of the Year award. He looked around the crowd, and singled out several people from his journey, including his wife Lynn, who he credited for helping him mellow out during the past 34 years. He also mentioned his oldest son Scooter, who was born just a few months before he won the 1967 All-Star Game MVP. Barry pointed out Clifford Ray, the starting center on Golden State's 1975 championship team, and he said that there is "no one in the world I would rather run the pick and roll with."
Barry recalled that his father once told him "The older you get the faster the years go by," and he said that those words have proven to be true. Barry reflected on how it feels to be an octogenarian, and he reminisced about the 1967 NBA All-Star Game. Barry did not mention that he scored a game-high 38 points on 16-27 field goal shooting, but he focused on the overall talent level present in that contest and how competitive the players were. Barry noted that 13 of the 20 1967 NBA All-Stars are on the NBA's 50 Greatest Players List; that group includes Pantheon members Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Jerry West. Barry recalled that East Coach Red Auerbach was ejected. It is also worth emphasizing that the East attempted 37 free throws and the West attempted 26 free throws in a 135-120 West win. The concept of the league's best players playing hard, playing defense, and committing fouls in an All-Star Game is unimaginable to a generation of players who have been led astray on All-Star Weekend by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry (as correctly emphasized by Sirius XM NBA Radio host Brian Geltzeiler during the Saturday morning show that he hosts with Sam Mitchell).
Barry said that he can't stand load management and he mentioned that he hated blowouts during his playing career because his minutes would be limited in such games. Barry still misses playing because he loves to compete, and he said that the NBA should add a designated free throw shooter rule so that he can make a comeback (Barry led the league in free throw shooting seven times, and currently ranks eighth in career free throw percentage at .893). Barry's competitive fire is limited these days to fly fishing and pickleball.
The Legends Brunch concluded with a panel discussion with Run TMC hosted by Bob Costas. Ernie Johnson introduced the discussion by saying that he always wanted to be like Costas but never quite measured up. Costas returned the compliment by noting that Johnson had carved his own path as one of the best of all-time.
Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin only spent two years together as Golden State teammates (1989-91) but during that short time they formed lifelong friendships while etching a permanent place in the hearts of fans who fondly recall their on court exploits. The trio's name--a play on words combining the first letters of each of their first names along with the name of legendary rap group Run DMC--was chosen as a result of a fan voting contest. During the panel discussion, Mullin noted that he had "seniority" and knew as soon as he heard the Run TMC option that it was by far the best one. Mullin, who is from Brooklyn, went to high school with Run DMC founding member Darryl McDaniels.
The trio's short tenure ended when Coach Don Nelson traded Richmond for Billy Owens. Costas recalled that Nelson later called the deal a "no brainer--I had no brain when I made the trade." The Warriors reached the second round of the playoffs in Run TMC's final season together and they did not advance that far in the postseason again until 2007, when Nelson--during his second stint with the franchise--coached the "We Believe" squad that upset the number one seeded Dallas Mavericks. The players were understandably upset that Nelson broke up their trio, but Mullin noted that Nelson "was a visionary" who played small ball and exploited matchup advantages in unconventional ways that he learned during his playing days with the Boston Celtics when the Celtics had a fast team featuring the relatively undersized Dave Cowens at center. Mullin also praised Al Attles for being a mentor to everyone in the Warriors organization, and he spoke about how much he cherished the "brotherhood" that he shared with Hardaway and Richmond through good times and bad times. Mullin said that he felt like he never had an athletic advantage at any level during his basketball career, so he had to rely on his teammates to help him. Hardaway said that Mullin is way too modest, noting that Mullin was a three-time Big East Player of the Year during the Big East's glory years. Hardaway said that Mullin's work ethic and superior conditioning set a great example for him and for Richmond. Hardaway gave a shout out to Archie Clark as the inventor of the
crossover move that Hardaway made famous as the "UTEP two step" or
"killer crossover." Richmond is the most soft-spoken of the trio, but he told a funny story about receiving some trash talk from Hardaway after he had a poor shooting night and then returning the favor a short while later after Hardaway had an even worse shooting night--0-17 from the field in a December 27, 1991 game versus Minnesota. Hardaway emphasized that the Warriors won that game anyway, and then he had a big performance in his next game (30 points on 13-21 field goal shooting as the Warriors beat the Lakers).
The 2025 NBA Legends Brunch hit the ball out of the park (to use a mixed metaphor), but here is one suggestion for the 2026 edition: resume giving out the Bob Lanier Community Impact Award, named in honor of the Hall of Fame center who played for Detroit and Milwaukee. That award was first presented to Pau Gasol at the 2023 NBA Legends Brunch, and then Jalen Rose received the award last year, presented by
Hall of Famer Dave Bing. It is not clear why that award was not presented this year. Lanier devoted his post-playing career to community service and to encouraging players to participate in community service, and his legacy deserves to be honored and remembered.
Selected Previous NBA Legends Recaps:
The 2024 NBA Legends Brunch Honors Tamika Catchings, Jalen Rose, Reggie Miller, and Larry Bird While Also Featuring ABA Panel Discussion (2024)
NBA Legends Brunch Honors Bill Russell, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Pau Gasol (2023)
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: Chris Mullin, Damian Lillard, Gary Payton, Julius Erving, Mitch Richmond, NBA All-Star Weekend, NBA Legends Brunch, Oscar Robertson, Rick Barry, Tim Hardaway
posted by David Friedman @ 10:24 AM
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
Jerry West Gives Powerful Speech After Being Honored as NBA Legend of the Year
At this year's NBA Legends Awards (formerly known as the NBA Legends Brunch), Jerry West received the Legend of the Year award. West gave a wide-ranging, powerful, and deeply felt speech. West said that he wants to use this occasion as an opportunity to thank people who he has not previously thanked, and who he feels have not received the praise that they deserve, including both teammates and opponents.
West referenced the writer Joan Didion, who recently passed away. West mentioned that Didion wrote about a topic that he wished he had been able to articulate many years ago: we tell ourselves stories to survive. West said that very few people know about the struggles of his childhood, but that since it has become "in vogue" to speak about mental health he wants to share his story. West explained that he grew up in a house without a lot of love, and that he was often the focus of unwanted, negative attention. Basketball became his refuge and his sanctuary. As a nine year old, he went to the basketball court by himself and created stories. In his stories, he was a player, referee, scorekeeper, coach, and announcer. He could barely heave the ball to the hoop, but he kept putting one second back on the clock until he made the last second shot.
West noted that he had never played with a minority player until college. He said that he learned so much from Oscar Robertson while they were teammates on the 1960 gold-medal winning Olympic team, and West added that Robertson was always the measuring stick for him. West considers it fitting that they entered the NBA at the same time, they left the NBA at the same time, and they each won one hard-earned NBA title. West noted how much Robertson accomplished in his post-playing career, and concluded, "Every player should thank him."
West also acknowledged Elgin Baylor and Ray Felix as L.A. Laker teammates who taught him a lot, and West mentioned gatherings with his Lakers teammates when he was the only white player present.
It is obvious that mortality is very much on the mind of the 83 year old West. He talked about Baylor passing away last year, and he noted the dwindling number of players from his era who are still alive. West also spoke about the death of Kobe Bryant, who West drafted in 1996.
West said that he is not good at receiving awards or accepting praise from others, and he added that not everyone likes that he speaks the truth, but "it is only my opinion." That provided a fitting segue into his thoughts about various NBA owners who he has worked for over the years. West did not have anything positive to say about the owners for whom he played, noting that in those days the players did not have agents to protect them. Reflecting on his long and successful career as an NBA front office executive, West praised former Lakers owner Jerry Buss, former Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley, the Golden State Warriors' ownership group, and especially Steve Ballmer, the Clippers' owner for whom West currently works. West said that if he could have played for any owner he would love to have played for Ballmer. It should be noted that West recently expressed tremendous disenchantment with the way that the Lakers have treated him, and he has said that a rift has been created that he does not think can ever be mended, strong words from one of the franchise's greatest players who is also the most accomplished front office executive in the franchise's history.
Sometimes, people talk about replacing Jerry West as the silhouette of the NBA's logo. West himself has at times expressed self-consciousness about his image being the inspiration for the NBA's logo--but anyone who heard him speak today understands that West represents the very best of the league and is, as NBA Legends Awards master of ceremonies Ernie Johnson said, "a national treasure."
Labels: Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, NBA Legends Brunch, Oscar Robertson
posted by David Friedman @ 1:54 PM
Legends Brunch Honors Alonzo Mourning, Five Great Mavs
Most mainstream media coverage of this All-Star Weekend either revolves around the seemingly 24 hour a day party circuit that has become this event's trademark or the spectacle that will take place tonight at Jerry Jones' billion dollar pleasure palace--but the hidden gem that sparkles brightest for me is the Legends Brunch. It is both a duty and a privilege to recognize, acknowledge and praise the people whose hard work and sacrifices built NBA basketball into the popular sport/multibillion dollar business that it has become.
One of the really fun aspects of the brunch is that except for the tables right at the front that are reserved for certain players and their families you can sit wherever you want, providing an opportunity to really mingle with the retired players. My tablemates included
Ollie Taylor, Nate Williams (one of Pistol Pete Maravich's teammates with the New Orleans Jazz), Major Jones (one of four brothers who each played at Albany State before playing in the NBA) and Jones' wife Renee Taplin-Jones.
TNT's Ernie Johnson served as Master of Ceremonies, deftly mixing self-deprecating humor with appropriate praise for the distinguished gathering of all-time greats. NBA Commissioner David Stern opened his remarks by acknowledging how big this event has become (the attendance likely exceeded 1000 people in one huge ballroom): "Standing room only is what this group deserves." He called the Legends Brunch "a highlight among highlights" during All-Star Weekend. "Former players are the foundation of our success," Stern added.
This year's Legends Brunch honored a particularly eloquent and accomplished group. Stern presented the Legend of the Year award to Alonzo Mourning, whose tireless work for Haiti's earthquake victims is just the latest in a long line of his charitable endeavors. The face of Mourning known to the general public was perpetually twisted into an intense and fiery visage during his playing days but we saw a completely different side of him during his acceptance speech. Mourning said, "This particular honor I will cherish simply because of Wayman Tisdale," the Phoenix Suns' great who was honored
at last year's Legends Brunch shortly before losing his battle with cancer. Mourning added, "I've always been hesitant about receiving awards for doing what you are supposed to do." Mourning believes that every person has an obligation to do something to make the world a better place and that the world would be completely different if more people fulfilled that obligation. He quoted Muhammad Ali: "Service to others is the rent you pay on Earth."
Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time rushing leader who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this year, presented the Legends Leadership Award to Derek Harper. Harper was the point guard for some great Dallas teams in the 1980s but he readily acknowledged that he "owes Mark (
Aguirre) money" because all of the Mavs from that era know that "we lived off of Mark," one of the most
underrated forwards in pro basketball history.
Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman presented the Pioneer Award to Rolando Blackman, who was born in Panama City but raised in New York City. Blackman praised his "great, cerebral teammates" who helped him to be so successful. Blackman said that he is known as a deadeye shooter (the four-time All-Star owns a .493 career field goal percentage) but that many people don't understand that teamwork played a big role in that success; his teammates set good screens and delivered their passes on time and on target. Blackman said that this lesson applies to life in general because "We really don't do anything by ourselves."
Three-time All-Star and two-time Sixth Man of the Year Detlef Schrempf presented the Humanitarian Award to Sam Perkins, who seemed to be truly surprised and humbled. Perkins thought that he was just going to attend the Brunch until he found out shortly before he traveled to Dallas that he would in fact be one of the honorees. Mourning mentioned how difficult it is for him to accept that his playing days are over but Perkins joked that he can deal with this because he is not the oldest retired player in the room: there are "cats, cougars and mountain lions," so Mourning and Perkins are just starting out down that trail. Perkins said that he is more of an "honorable mention" than a true legend when compared to some of the all-time greats present at the brunch.
Bill Walton presented the ABC (Athletics, Business, Communities) Award to James Donaldson, a one-time All-Star with Dallas who previously had been Walton's teammate with the Clippers in both San Diego and Los Angeles. The massive Donaldson--listed at 7-2, 275 pounds during his playing days--was born in England and after 14 NBA seasons he finished his playing career in Europe before returning to the United States to open a thriving physical therapy business.
Magic Johnson presented the Career Achievement Award to his long-time friend Mark Aguirre, noting that Aguirre still holds the Maverick single season scoring average record (29.5 ppg, 1983-84). Johnson applauded Mourning for his charitable work before turning his attention to Aguirre and the other Maverick award winners, declaring, "What you've seen here this morning are some of the smartest guys to play basketball." Johnson added, "We (Johnson's L.A. Lakers) used to hate to play Dallas" because the Mavericks executed their offense better than any other team in the league.
Aguirre seemed to be truly overwhelmed by the whole event, gushing that he had no idea about the extent of Mourning's philanthropic endeavors or about some of the worthwhile projects being led by the other honorees. Aguirre expressed his desire to become more involved in those activities and offer whatever support that he can. He also praised the "incredible mentors" who helped him along the way, specifically mentioning legendary DePaul Coach Ray Meyer. Aguirre revealed that Meyer taught him how to perfect Oscar Robertson's trademark one handed jumper so that he could always keep defenders guessing about the timing and release point of the shot. Most of the speakers echoed Mourning's call that we should all be givers and not just takers but Aguirre admitted that he "took" a lot of ideas during his playing days: besides Robertson's shot, Aguirre also "stole" Alex English's runner and Bernard King's patented spin move. Aguirre reminisced about playing an old Mattel NBA game as a child and said that he is proud to pass on to his daughters knowledge about the history of the game and the feats accomplished by his heroes, including Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell.
Labels: Alonzo Mourning, Derek Harper, James Donaldson, Mark Aguirre, NBA Legends Brunch, Rolando Blackman, Sam Perkins
posted by David Friedman @ 3:39 PM
NBA Legends Brunch Honors Phoenix' Rich Basketball History
The attendance at the NBA Legends Brunch on the Sunday morning of All-Star Weekend has grown by leaps and bounds since I first covered the event in Denver in 2005. The Legends Brunch provides a great opportunity to reminisce with and about the greatest figures in the sport's history, with a focus on the players and teams from the host city. This year, the Legends Brunch honored R. Steven Colter and Mark West with the Legends Humanitatian Award, Walter Davis with the Legends Career Achievement Award, the 1976 Phoenix Suns with the Legends Commemorative Team Award, Connie Hawkins with the Legends Lifetime Achievement Award, Jerry Colangelo with the Legneds Visionary Award, Wayman Tisdale with the Legends Courage Award and Kevin Johnson with the Legend of the Year award. There was a also a video tribute to deceased former Suns Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons and a moment of silence for the 15 National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) members who passed away in 2008. Commissioner David Stern also made a special presentation to Bill Russell to once again congratulate him for the honor of having the Finals MVP Award
named after him.The presentations for Hawkins and Tisdale were very poignant; Hawkins was not able to attend due to his battle with cancer, while Tisdale gave his acceptance speech from his table because he was not easily able to climb the stairs to the stage in the wake of losing one of his legs to cancer. Although Fitzsimmons is no longer with us, you could not help but smile when watching him on video dispensing wisdom and wit in his southern drawl, though the tribute did not include my two favorite Fitzsimmons' lines (as seen in old NBA Entertainment videos): "In my next life I'm going to come back as an official and straighten that mess out"; "He did a dance on you; I should know--I coached him" (referring to a player who Fitzsimmons thought had traveled).
Some tables at the Legends Brunch are reserved for certain high profile players and their families but most of them are available on a first come, first serve basis, which leads to some interesting mingling among legends, ticket buyers and journalists. My tablemates this year were an eclectic bunch that included Micheal Ray Richardson, three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Truck Robinson, Ira Terrell (who played for three NBA teams in a two season career) and Don Cronson, who worked as a sports agent for over 30 years and who represented Jones, Robinson and Terrell during their playing days.
I told Jones that I am a Cleveland Browns fan but that I rooted for his Cowboys in the Super Bowl because they played the Pittsburgh Steelers. I also asked him who his favorite basketball player was as a kid and Jones said Elgin Baylor. The 6-9 Jones said that as a big guy he liked the way that Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell played but that they were not as exciting as the flashy Baylor, who was the first NBA player to regularly incorporate the concept of hang time into his skill set.
I mentioned to Richardson that even though I was a big Sixers fan as a kid I have to give him respect for how well he played when his New Jersey Nets shocked the defending champion Sixers in the first round of the 1983-84 playoffs. I spoke with Terrell a little bit about his brief time being a teammate with Pistol Pete Maravich. I did not have an opportunity to say much to Robinson.
The best story teller of the group turned out to be Cronson, who regaled me with tales about being a frat brother of Dave Bing and Ernie Davis at Syracuse--but the most interesting story concerned the time that he skipped school to go watch high school stars Roger Brown and Connie Hawkins square off in Madison Square Garden, an event that I mentioned in my
profile of Brown. Cronson says that he still has the bocscore from the game; Brown dominated individually while Hawkins fouled out but Hawkins' Boys High had a deeper squad than Brown's Wingate High, so Boys High won, 62-59.
After the awards were presented, fans had an opportunity to go to the stage and get autographs from some of the legends. Meanwhile, reporters interviewed various other legends. I spoke with Al Bianchi--Julius Erving's first coach in the ABA--for the first time and soon I will devote an entire post to his comments.
Labels: NBA All-Star Weekend, NBA Legends Brunch
posted by David Friedman @ 4:10 AM
