NBA stars Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade and Pau Gasol, along with legendary San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, were inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday. American, at a ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Class of 2023 paid tribute to global talent with Frenchman Tony Parker, German Nowitzki, Spaniard Gasol and American Wade joined by Popovich, 74, who has coached Spurs since 1996.
Parker was a four-time NBA champion with San Antonio, a six-time All-Star and the 2007 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. “It was an incredible journey,” Parker said. I would never have thought that someone like me could experience such an adventure. For all the kids watching, keep dreaming big!” Parker thanked his family, at which time he split the armor and shed a few tears in the middle of a long speech, and paid tribute to his American and French origins. “I felt like I had the best of both cultures and that helped me on my journey. When I was in France, I was told: you are too small. You are too skinny. You will never get there. Well, I’m the one laughing now.”
Parker was a star for Popovich’s Spurs from 2001 to 2018, and ended his NBA career in Charlotte in 2019. “You’re amazing,” Parker told Popovich. “You threw me in the fire at 19… You’ve always been a second father to me, Pop. Everything you have done for me and my family, I appreciate it. I thank you. I love you”. “I was very hard on him and expected a lot from him,” Popovich retorted of his former protege. “I am very proud of what he has accomplished,” he continued.
Popovich, the oldest coach in all of North American professional sports, led the Spurs to five titles and was named NBA Coach of the Year three times. He also coached the NBA gold-medal winning team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. “This moment is a testament to the support, guidance and inspiration I have received from so many people during my basketball journey,” said Spaniard Pau Gason, thanking the European NBA pioneers who paved the way for his arrival. “I want to give a special mention to those first Europeans who came here, who crossed the ocean, who tried their luck and opened doors for players like me,” he said.
Pau Gasol was a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and a six-time NBA All-Star, playing from 2001 to 2019 with Memphis, the Lakers, Chicago, San Antonio and Milwaukee. He spoke with emotion of Kobe Bryant, his former Lakers teammate, who died in 2020 in a helicopter crash with his daughter Gianna. “I wouldn’t be here without you, bro,” he said. I wish more than anything that you and Gigi were here with us. We miss you and we love you”. Other inductees include six-time WNBA All-Star Becky Hammon, the 1976 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team and former coaches Gene Keady, Gary Blair, David Hixon, Gene Bess and Jim Valvano.
