He was the greatest.
A legend in the ring and a man who stood up for what he believed outside of it, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. He was a transcendent figure in sports, and someone beloved and admired by those around the NBA, as he was by people worldwide.
“Muhammad Ali transcended sports with his outsized personality and dedication to civil rights and social justice,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Friday in a statement. “He was an inspirational presence at several major NBA events and was deeply admired by so many throughout the league. While we are deeply saddened by his loss, Muhammad Ali’s legacy lives on in every athlete who takes a stand for what he or she believes.”
Numerous NBA players chimed in as well.
LeBron James said this to ESPN’s Chris Broussard not long before Ali passed away.“It’s what he did outside of the ring, what he believed in, what he stood for, along with Jim Brown and Oscar Robertson, Lew Alcindor -- obviously who became Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] -- Bill Russell, Jackie Robinson. Those guys stood for something. He’s part of the reason why African-Americans today can do what we do in the sports world. We’re free. They allow us to have access to anything we want. It’s because of what they stood for, and Muhammad Ali was definitely the pioneer for that....
“People forget what you did as a professional. People forget the championships and all the other things you were able to accomplish. But they will never forget how you made them feel. That’s a Maya Angelou quote, but I’ll transcend that into what Muhammad Ali was able to do. So it’s very important.”
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R.I.P CHAMP🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/ZJEXfVisS4
— Book (@DevinBook) June 4, 2016
"It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe"
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) June 4, 2016
-Muhammad Ali #RIPMuhammadAli
RiP to the one and only Muhammad Ali, simply the best...
— Vince Carter (@mrvincecarter15) June 4, 2016
Prayers 🙏🏾 up to his family and friends
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RIP Muhammad Ali ! All my prayers and thoughts to his family. #TheGreatest 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/vRoqbpAEvy
— Tony Parker (@tonyparker) June 4, 2016
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The greatest may be gone from public life but his spirit should live forever in our social consciousness............RIP Muhammad Ali💪🏽🏆
— Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes) June 4, 2016
R.I.P. To The Legend Himself...
— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali
Had a huge influence on my childhood
