Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Before I begin, I would like to thank Gary Payton for being my presenter tonight. I know I've known Gary since I was a kid in Oakland,
he was older than me and became the guy that set the bar for toughness and taught me what it meant to work hard. So thank you. I can honestly say that I would not be here in front of you all without Gary giving me the confidence to play like I have through the years.
Thanks for bringing this full circle being with me when it started and now being here tonight. That was a lot on GP.
Let me start by saying I'm so proud to be given this prestigious honor tonight. So I would like to thank the committee and congratulate the other inductees,
and also acknowledge our past leaders, David Stern and today's leader Adam Silver, both whom are great leaders for our sport. I will start with the team I was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks ownership, Mr and Mrs. Carter, coach Dick Motta,
Lynne Sonju, Rick Sund, Keith Grant, and how can I not forget the "three Js"? We just needed more time. Moving on to the Phoenix Suns, the Colangelo family,
Danny Ainge, who taught small ball way before small ball came, Robin Pound, aka the Messiah of Fitness. Thank you. Joe Proski, Julie Fie and a few teammates, Shawn Marion, Kevin Johnson, Steve Nash, congrats,
Rex Chapman and Danny Manning, this is the time I learned how to win in the NBA. Now moving forward to the Nets, New Jersey that is, ownership group, Ray Chambers, the Lazarus family, the Landers family, the Cats family, the Raven family,
Artie who is a dad, is like a dad to me, Selma, whose wife has recently passed. We love you. Rod Thorn, congrats to you for giving me the opportunity to play on the biggest stage.
Coaches Byron Scott, Eddie Jordan, trainer Timmy Walsh. I don't know if you used glue or if you just used a smelly sock to get me out there on the court, but thank you for keeping me on the court.
