Bird playing with spinal problems, the late GREAT DJ hobbled with bone spurs, the Chief getting banged up undef the boards, Ainge shooting the 3s, and Kevin playing with a broken leg. Walton could barely walk. These guys had heart. They were a team. The only team I root for. I bleed green.
I was a big Laker fan and hated McHale in the 80s. That only says...this man was an awesome basketball player. And he seems like a genuinely good man. Congrats Mr McHale and thanks for the excellent basketball.
I felt the same way about the Lakers, but now I respect and appreciate what both teams brought to the table, great memories and fierce competition. I loved all the effort these guys put out.
McHale was awesome. His last game at the Garden, in 1993 playoffs, he drops 30 points on Alonzo Morning ... at the end of his career, injured, and with limited mobility, he drops 30 on Alonzo!
I made a flight from Minnesota to Massachusetts on this day to watch my idol, Kevin McHale, give this speech. It was a great night. We named our son McHale.
yeah. He was All NBA 1st team that year, and All NBA 1st defensive team, 60% from the field, over 80% from FT line. 4th in MVP voting that year, 26.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.2 blocks. If he wasn't playing on a broken foot, they would have done better in the playoffs.
Kevin Mchale one of the greatest of all time, one of the most humble hall of famers, I have nothing but respect for him as a player, but even more as a man
I've seen almost every hall of fame induction speech and this is by far my favorite. Love how goofy, likable and fun he comes across. Not taking himself too seriously. He made the whole audience laugh and in a genuine way. Plus it was also a heartfelt speech that was touching when he talked about his mom, wife and kids...and he also had kind words to say about his great teammates like Bird. Damn, a great speech. They should show this thing in public speaking classes.
I've been watching HoF speeches all day, this is definitely the most down to earth and yet the humorous one I've seen. New found respect for McHale after watching this.
He was/is a nice guy. I'm from Boston, and for good or bad, the Boston media is notoriously tough. But, Kevin almost always took things in stride, never blew up at anyone, and was always down-to-earth with fans. Never acted above anyone. Just so happened he has the best low post moves in NBA history.
Arsen Akopyan i think if u ask anyone that watched basketball during their primes that most people will say olajuwon is better,sorry but judging by your comments u seem like a celtics fan because olajuwon was on another level in the post,u can make a case that kevin was 2nd but in general olajuwon is better+u have to take into consideration what kind of supporting crew did mchale how do develop his name and look at hakeems teammates
It's so COOL that Kevin McHale had his HIGH SCHOOL basketball coach up with him, that is so awesome!! Loved to watch Bird, DJ, and Kevin McHale and let's don't forget the CHIEF and the great Danny Ainge!! Congrats to Kevin!!
True. Too bad Elgin was a bit past his prime. They all were a bit, but Wilt and West had a lot left in the tank. And each was either the greatest or next best at their position of all time, at that point in their career and league history.
From a 50 years and more Lakers fan since 1966 . Hating the Celtics was not a real hatred but a sport thing. You respect others. Kevin deserves this as a NBA player a great great post up player.
One of my favorite McHale stories was when Ainge complained Kevin wouldn’t pass back out to him when he was double teamed down low. Mac Hale said to him “why should I pass to you when you shoot less than 50% when you’re wide open, and I shoot 60% when double teamed?”
Great speech by McHale. I didn't even realize he lost his sweet daughter until I read some of the other comments. My sincere condolences to Kevin and the McHale family. As a kid who grew up in LA, I was a huge Lakers fan during the 80s. Those Lakers/Celtics games were just unbelievable, and I still believe that era was the NBA's zenith. Bird was in a class by himself but Kevin McHale made me more nervous than any other Celtic player. Anytime he got the ball down low he was pretty much unstoppable. Just an incredible talent and well deserving of the HOF.
What an engaging speech. Funny and so interesting.All the people mentioned,giving everyone else the credit.His family and friends meaning more to him than his job. What a class guy
That may have been the greatest Hall of Fame speech of all time. McHale is legendary. The NBA needs him just for credibility purposes, he gives the game everything it needs.
I'm from the same area as McHale and back in 1987 I was a 10 year old kid flying from MPLS to Hibbing, MN on a plane and McHale was on the air craft. This was when the Laker/Celtic rivalry was on and McHale was legendary. I was a shy kid, but wanted to get his autograph, so it took me a while to get the courage up to go and ask him for his signature and finally did and he was just as nice as he seems here. A real stand up guy. Thanks Kevin.✌
Kevin McHale comes from Hibbing, MN. Its located in the middle of nowhere in MN about 50 miles from the border with Canada. The town probably has like 5000 people and you have to drive 4 hours to get to civilization.
Kevin Mc Hale was a great Basketball player. Larry Bird is my favorite player, and Kevin is my second favorite player. As I Boston Celtics fan, it was great to watch him play. He deserves to be inducted in the Basketball Hall Of Fame.
+scotti pippen Costner somehow was invited into the Celtics dressing room, but I can't recall if it was post-game or post-practice. He makes the rounds and is introduced to the players, though I'm not sure how many. He gets to McHale - this was either while or after Dances With Wolves had its successful cinema run - who shakes his hand warmly, and congratulates him on the film. "I saw 'Dances', man", McHale says, while complimenting Costner for a job well done. Finally, after Costner leaves, someone else in the dressing room who heard the exchange mentions to McHale how impressed he seemed with the film. To which he replied, "oh, I never saw it."
@@skippy3136 agree. McHale is second best, but he’s pretty close behind Hakeem. If Hakeem is only man above him in terms of post moves, I’d say that’s pretty damn good.
MCHale is one cool guy, great outlook and sense of humor. One thing I always take away from listening to those that new KC, Is that he's a remarkable person with praise that comes from so many players that knew him.
I remember when another coach (I don't remember who) was named Coach of the Year and Kevin and his teammates felt that KC was dissed and when that Coach was being honored at halftime, the Celtics players surrounded KC and basically turned their backs. They loved him. I got to meet him at Kevin's golf tournament on the cape and I got to meet and sit with Kevin's parents as well. They were proud of him but very humble.
Kevin was one third of the greatest Big 3 in NBA history. He got a raw deal in Houston because of the Ego Maniacal idiots Howard and Harden and their inability to accept a true concept of team play like it was in the 80's. There will never be another Player of Kevin's Physical and Mental ability in the NBA for years to come.
I still scratch my head on how the Houston Rockets players would not virtually run through a wall for an all time great such as Kevin McHale being your head coach? Kevin McHale was one of the greatest post up players to ever play the game, a champion who knew how to get to the next level. I can't understand how Dwight Howard, a player that has been tutored and mentored by the likes of Tree Rollins, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin McHale can't figure out how to reach the next level on maintaining consistent greatness? He's had some of the best players training him to be great at the number 4 and 5 spot. James Harden, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt although the one main flaw he had while McHale was coaching the Rockets was that he would consistently rest on defense.
OMG, you nailed (on Dwight). If you CAN'T (and so far he hasn't) learn from Kevin, Kareem, Hakeem, Ewing, I don't know. Can you? Makes me beyond sick to think he may make the Hall (Dwight).
@Kevin Merkel What the hell are you talking about Willis? Do you even know that the Bulls lost all their playoff games against the Celtics until Larry retired?
You can tell that Kevin still has his Minnesota accent. He never forgot his roots in the Iron Range. Side note; Hibbing is also the hometown of Bob Dillon.
You gotta love Kevin, he seems so down to earth. I like his personality and how truly sincere he comes across. Also seems like such a fun guy too. Thank you Kevin for 13 fun years you'be given us as a basketball player.
Great player, humble , and has the gratitude attitude. He was a workhorse ! And one thing about the Celts and their amazing history. The players from the Russell era to the Cowens era to the Bird era never led the league statistically. They played the game the way Naismith designed it. It was always team first. Congratulations Kevin! And WOW, K.C. Jones what a great man he is too.
I miss these days because this guy loved basketball more than Twitter Instagram or Facebook this speech gave me the impression that Mchale is a nice man very humble person
What a Good Hearted person He went in there and gave his speech with zero pressure So far the best NBA HOF speech I have seen May God keep Blessing You and your Beautiful family Mr.McHale .From someone in El Salvador who admires people like You.
Kevin McHale is better than Everybody at the center position and He's of the goats. He is one of the best Celtics of all time. 1. Bill Russel 2. Larry Bird 3. Kevin McHale. Kevin is one of the best centers of all time .
the most underrated PF of all time. doesn't get discussed enough in the conversation of greatest PF's. don't understand why some players wont go to him to learn post moves, not everyone can do the "Hakeem Shake". (Howard, Amare)
This is how to live a successful life with grace and humour. How can you go thru a hard-fought career and turn all your adversaries into friends? Kevin showed us how.
It was nice to hear Kevin mention Larry Bird several times.He was so humble even though, kevin was an awesome player. Larry did make those guys great, yet Robert Parish, never mentioned Larry in his speech, even though Bird gave chief, thousand's of points worth of assists!
never saw or heard Parish's speech. if he didn't mention Bird, that's kind of weird! Larry assisted in many easy buckets for Robert in his playing days. Oh, well! took Bird for granted, I guess.
I could watch Kevin McHale play basketball all day, it's a pure joy just watching him go about his business and hold his own while making sure without him, that Boston team cannot compete. If you want to look at a guy with a complete game at both ends for a big man, it's Kevin McHale; there's not a guy that's more honest about his limitations, greatness, and overall praise of his opponents like Kevin McHale.
I hear ya. I'm from Boston and a Celtics fan, but I'm not being biased when I say McHale was not only a beast of a player, but he really was as happy-go-lucky a personality during his playing days as he was here. Just a REAL genuine, never purposely acting like a clown, but a naturally funny, down-to-earth type of guy, which makes it all the tougher to see his little girl come up on stage, knowing she passed away earlier this yr. That recent embrace between KG and McHale was REAL touching.
It's such a beautiful thing when someone gives their heart, soul, and body to one thing. And still have a sense of humor about it. Long live the Big 3.
As a black man, what I love about guys like Kevin McHale is that he's comfortable around all kinds of people, has a great sense of humor.Hey Kev, if I ever meet you anywhere, the beers are on me
KC Jones: Probably the best and most under-rated NBA Coach of all time. Only John Wooden (NCAA) comes close. -Coach K (NCAA) a second. Cedrick “CornBread” Maxwell.
This dude seems like just an all-round amazing and likable person. Been watching MJ / Dennis / Bird HoF videos but I am welcome to this because I'm learning more-so beyond the norms. Great video.
I was lucky enough to get his autograph back in January of 88, my dad and I went to a game when I was 11 and after the game all the players were driving their cars out of the parking garage, I gave Mchale my game program and he signed it, great memory I will always cherish, one of the greatest players ever and a great guy.