Wade heaps praise on Iverson in Hall of Fame speech, thanks him for in
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Wade heaps praise on Iverson in Hall of Fame speech, thanks him for inspiration originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Why would Heat great Dwyane Wade pick Sixers legend Allen Iverson as his Hall of Fame presenter?
In Wade’s enshrinement speech Sunday night, he took a good, thoughtful chunk of time to answer that question.
Wade was part of a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class that includes Dirk Nowitzki, Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, Becky Hammon and Pau Gasol. He stood on stage Saturday night in Springfield, Massachusetts with Iverson seated to his right. Iverson was dressed for the occasion, wearing a special blazer with Wade’s name and number three on the back.
About midway through his speech, Wade looked toward Iverson, a 2016 Hall of Fame inductee. Here’s what he said (you can watch the video below):
“As I reflect on my own destiny and the impact that my heroes have had on my life, I’m reminded that our heroes are not always perfect. Instead, they possess a relatability that makes them touchable and real. When anyone speaks about Allen Iverson, that’s exactly what they say. He’s real. So A.I., I need you to know this: I watched you with awe because I saw a reflection of myself in you. The way you played the game was exciting and fearless. It didn’t matter who they put in front of you. They weren’t going to stop you. I know. I tried.
“It didn’t matter what they said about you because they couldn’t measure the size of your heart. Your authenticity and unapologetic attitude resonated with me. Your swagger, your unique style — rocking durags, braids, the baggy shorts, the untucked jerseys, the earrings, the chains, the throwback jerseys. It all combined to create an image that broke the mold. You challenged conventional norms and became the poster child for individuality and self-expression, inspiring countless individuals to embrace their own uniqueness.
“You brought hope to those who grew up with limited resources. You…
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