It feels like how things are going to be for a long time — an impressive Hall of Fame class had an authentic international flavor. Fans were waving German flags for Dirk Nowitzki and French fans were screaming out for Tony Parker.
Saturday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony was an emotional night with many highlights. What follows are but a few from a class with Nowitzki, Parker, Dwyane Wade, Pau Gasol, Gregg Popovich, Becky Hammon and more.
Maybe the most emotional part of a powerful night was Dwyane Wade celebrating his father.
A beautiful moment between @DwyaneWade & his dad 🥺 pic.twitter.com/U0F70QPQfm
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) August 13, 2023
Wade also gave flowers to fellow Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, who inspired Wade like he had so many others.
"From the bottom of my heart, you are the culture and we love you and we thank you." 💯@DwyaneWade gives @alleniverson his flowers ✊🏾💐@Hoophall | #23HoopClass pic.twitter.com/F4ad4YOtFy
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 13, 2023
Wade was so emotional even Udonis Haslem shed a tear.
DWade's @Hoophall induction speech made UD shed a single tear 😂🥲 pic.twitter.com/e6BsU4kV6n
— NBA (@NBA) August 13, 2023
Nowitzki had plenty of German fans in the house, but he did not forget the Maverick fans in the building. He also thanked (and get a little shot in) at Mark Cuban.
“Everyone hears you!”
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) August 13, 2023
Dirk thanks the Mavs fans for motivating and inspiring him 🫶#MFFL #23HoopClass pic.twitter.com/fSnjPecD5l
And, of course, there was talk of Nowitzki and Nash’s haircuts back in the day.
"We came along way from those two brutal haircuts."
— NBA (@NBA) August 13, 2023
Dirk and Steve Nash 😂🧡
📺: The #23HoopClass Enshrinement is live on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/1YaG24rmOu
Pau Gasol was classy, but you could feel his emotion talking about his late teammate Kobe Bryant.
"I wouldn't be here without you, brother. I miss you and love you."
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 13, 2023
Pau took a moment to talk about Kobe 🙏 pic.twitter.com/799LEzKZma
Gregg Popovich talked about relationships and how those matter more to a coach than the Xs and Os.
"It's about relationships." Coach Pop talks about his time with David, Tony, Tim, and Manu 🖤#23HoopClass | @HEB pic.twitter.com/8sYYjmdrGN
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) August 13, 2023
Popovich got a shoutout from another person headed into the Hall this season, Becky Hammon. She deserves all the recognition coming her way both as a player and a trailblazing coach.
"I know you weren't trying to be courageous when you hired me, but you did do something in professional sports that nobody had ever done." 🗣️
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 13, 2023
This moment between @BeckyHammon & Pop 🥹❤️@Hoophall | #23HoopClass pic.twitter.com/G3gk51vLU5
Just don’t think Pop is done.
"I'm not done!" 🤣
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 13, 2023
Coach Pop wasn't finished with his speech pic.twitter.com/vP7CUHJOGQ
One final shoutout goes to Marc Spears, who enters the Hall of Fame as the Gowdy Award winner for print/online journalism. Not only is he more than deserving for his work — he is a brilliant storyteller — but you would be hard-pressed to find a kinder, more genuine and just better all around person in our business than Marc. I couldn’t be happier for him.
Thank you @Hoophall 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/bbDT67qzSH
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 13, 2023
