Paul Pierce and Chris Bosh among 16 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees in Class of 2020

Nine teams passed on Paul Pierce in the 1998 NBA Draft, and if you think he doesn’t remember all of them, then you don’t know Paul Pierce.

The newly inducted Basketball Hall of Fame called out by name – in order – the teams with the top nine picks that year and thanked them for allowing him to slip into the Boston Celtics.

“I appreciate that. Thanks for passing me on. It added fuel to my fire,” said Pierce, who was expected to reach second overall, in his acceptance speech in Springfield, Mass., Saturday night. “To this day, I don’t understand how I slipped to No 10. But you know it all happened for a reason. Going to the Celtics, I’m grateful.”

Four months after the pandemic-delayed induction of the Class of 2020, including Kobe Bryant, Hall’s community came together to dedicate an additional 16 new members – its largest class ever. Many in the crowd wore masks. Triple WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson was unable to attend as she was back in Australia on lockdown.

Bill Russell, who was inducted as a player in 1975, was honored for his coaching career; he is the fifth person to be inducted as a player and coach. But for former President Barack Obama, his biggest role was what he accomplished outside of court during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

“Bill Russell, perhaps more than anyone, knows what it takes to win and what it takes to lead,” Obama said in a video. “As tall as Bill Russell stands, his example and his legacy soar, far higher.”

Others have joined the Hall: Villanova coach Jay Wright, Pistons defensive star Ben Wallace, two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh, longtime Portland and Sacramento coach Rick Adelman, star of Washington and Sacramento Chris Webber and two-time Olympic gold medalist Yolanda Griffith.

WNBA President Val Ackerman, longtime coach Cotton Fitzsimmons and scouting pioneer Howard Garfinkel were inducted as contributors. Clarence “Fats” Jenkins was selected by the Committee of Early African American Pioneers, Croatia and Chicago Bulls star Toni Kukoc were selected by the International Committee, Bob Dandridge by the Veterans Committee and Pearl Moore of the Veterans Committee female.

Russell, 87, was honored as the first black coach in NBA history. Taking over the Celtics from Red Auerbach in 1966 and remaining a player-coach for another two years, Russell guided Boston to the NBA titles in 1968 and 1969.

Russell was present and wearing a Celtics mask during the ceremony, but his speech was presented as a pre-recorded video.

“Hey, Chris Weber, we’re entering the Hall of Fame with Bill Russell, my brother,” said Chris Bosh. “It’s crazy.”

Bosh discussed his arrival in Miami, when Heat manager Pat Riley offered one of his NBA championship rings and said it could be returned when they win one set; they won two and Bosh finally returned the ball on Saturday night.

Three key members of those Heat teams – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen – were in attendance on Saturday night.

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Bosh also spoke about his departure, at the age of 31, when he was forced to retire due to blood clots.

“After I finally reached the top of the mountain with so much more to do, in my mind so much more work to do, it all came to a halt,” he said. “I came to realize that we all have it in our power to make the most of each day despite what is happening, to turn setbacks into strengths.”

Ackerman was the first president of the WNBA, the first woman president of USA Basketball and, since 2013, the commissioner of the Big East. With few female role models to admire in the sports world, she has found one elsewhere.

“I am inspired to this day by the example set by Billie Jean King,” said Ackerman, “and the many strong women and men who have followed her in her quest for the chance to play sports, and to do so. make it a reality for the girls and women of our country and our world on a big stage. “

Kukoc chose Michael Jordan and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf as presenters and alluded to the tension over his arrival in Chicago which was laid bare in the documentary “The Last Dance”.

“I want to thank this gentleman here, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, for kicking my ass during the Barcelona Olympics, and thus motivating me to work even harder to become an important part of the Chicago Bulls,” did he declare.

Wallace was emotional and poetic as he described his upbringing as an undersized tall man who carved out a role in defense, winning Defensive Player of the Year four times.

“Basketball was not my life. Basketball was just in my life. I took basketball and created a path for those who helped me,” he said. he declares. “I took. I received. I returned. I made a path. I made a trail. It should be easy to find, I was stuck there for a while.”

He left the stage with a raised fist.

Wright’s speech touched on the history of Philadelphia basketball; Webber praised Detroit. Dandridge said NBA opponents who went to big universities looked down on him because he went to Norfolk State, a historically black school.

“My experience in HBCU schools was not limited to basketball,” he said. “I saw what the classroom was like. I witnessed the dignity and a sense of belonging.”

Most of the inductees thanked their families and teammates and the coaches who helped them along the way, but Ackerman also thanked James Naismith, who invented basketball.

And Moore thanked the game itself.

“Basketball allowed me to travel around the country and abroad, to get a college degree,” she said. “And shoot a makeshift hoop in the South Carolina backyard to play in the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.

“And tonight to have my name inscribed with those who are sitting in the lobby is indeed a fairy tale come true.”