AI, Shaq, Yao, Headline 2016 HOF Class

By Muk

Last night, 3 of the games most polarizing players ever, we're officially inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. It was an all around entertaining night, as AI, Shaq, Yao Ming, Sheryl Swoops, Tom Izzo, and Jerry Reinsdorf were all made official members of the NBA Hall of Fame, and received their orange jackets. Anytime you put Shaq and Iverson in the same room and roll the cameras, it's going to be a good night, but adding in the likes of Yao and just how big of a moment it was for them all, it was a very memorable night. We had AI getting "MVP" chants, Shaq making Kobe jokes, and Yao teasing AI over his "practice rant".
Looking at it more than just the night itself, and taking a look at these 3 legends, and just how much they did for the sport of basketball and the culture. Allen Iverson has always been credited as a hero to young kids who saw a 6 foot nothing, 180 pounds soaking wet, player who looked how he wanted to, and how they wanted to, all while doing things on the basketball court that were almost poetic. His cross over-pull up jumper was so smooth and fluid, and his heart and tenacity, leaving everything on the court. Then Shaq who is in my opinion the most dominant athlete in the history of sports on an individual level. What he did while playing for the Magic and Lakers, is the most dominant stretch in basketball history, just on a pure physical level, let alone how crazy his stats were. He should've won a minimum of 3 MVP's over those seasons, but I think he was robbed a few times. Comparing that with the way he branded himself, making his name itself something worth more than most players career salaries. And then Yao, who is probably the most famous international player in NBA history, who helped spread the NBA further throughout China, creating a huge fan base that was actually connected with the players.
These three players will forever be some of the greatest ever at what they did, and their legacies will never fade.