At the 2018 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, OKC Thunder assistant coach Mo Cheeks stole the show with humor and the night’s most endearing moment.
With NBA stars like Grant Hill, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash all included in the 2018 NBA Basketball Hall of Fame class expectations were the enshrinement ceremony would offer plenty of great moments. But, it was OKC Thunder associate coach Mo Cheeks who won over those assembled and the television viewing audience.
It was clear from the start of Cheeks speech he isn’t comfortable speaking to the masses. Known as a man of few words the Hall of Fame point guard nervousness was palpable. Still he injected humor throughout his speech and at least from this living room seat stole the show with the most touching moment of the evening.
When coach Cheeks got to the point in his speech where he was thanking his mother he immediately chocked up saying Charles (Barkley) warned him not to cry. Yet, at that moment Cheeks was overtaken with emotion as his throat tightened and the tears came. Cheeks referred to his mother as his first coach “Mamma Cheeks” and spoke of how she kept him and his three brothers safe in the Chicago neighborhood the Cheeks family grew up in. As Cheeks fought to stop the tears and make it through his speech Julius (Dr. J) Erving left his stool putting a hand on Mo’s shoulder and whispered a few words of support to him.
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As cameras scanned the audience they caught several attendees in tears including fellow inductee Tina Thompson and presenter Reggie Miller. No doubt, each of them relating to how the family unit sacrificed so much for them. At the end of his mother homage Cheeks dropped the best joke of the night thanking his mother for his still full head of hair. For those curious – it’s said the hair follicle genes are inherited from the mother’s side.
Mo closed by thanking the committee for thinking enough of his contribution to the sport to select him. Cheeks said he could not think of a better way to celebrate his 40 years in the NBA on his 62nd birthday than this honor. At the end of his speech Mo turned and went into the congratulatory arms of Dr. J. and his other presenter Coach Cunningham where he seemed to finally let out all the emotion he’d been attempting to hold in to finish his speech.
A huge ovation met Maurice Cheeks as he finished his speech as the audience stood in recognition of his comments, humor and the night’s most emotional moment. Among those in attendance was Cheeks greatest pupil and someone who lobbied for Cheeks enshrinement – Russell Westbrook. Sitting beside Russ was Billy Donovan who both came in support of Cheeks entry to the hall.
Although his playing days were spent primarily in Philadelphia the fans of the OKC Thunder feel equally proud of Mo for this massive accomplishment. Further, the team at Thunderous Intentions sends out our hearty congratulations to Maurice Cheeks on his induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Well done Mo – an honor much deserved!