Bobby "Slick" Leonard's Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech

Bobby "Slick" Leonard delivers his speech upon being enshrined to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2014. To learn more about Bobby "Slick" Leonard take a look at his official Hall of Fame bio at www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famer...

[@pitbull64]

RIP, Slick. One of the best storytellers of all time! A wealth of NBA history

[@jonmcclane7433]

A day after his death I’m watching this. I couldn’t listen to the local coverage of his passing, I wasn’t ready. Here in Indiana he was royalty. Watching this now it helps give me a little happiness and closure. He was a great man, and he will be deeply missed.

[@stevenneeley4226]

Never knew a stranger. I’m a season ticket holder he was royalty his wife is mayor of the field house

[@glaucoma888]

One of the best HOF speeches

[@LamarMatic]

It's always enjoyable to hear these old ABA war stories. The "one for all, all for one" attitude never dies. I loved how Leonard found a moment to remind everyone that they weren't any worse than the NBA followed by shots of Artis Gilmore and Hubie Brown in the crowd with affirmative facial expressions.

[@Berbs73]

I worked at his house today, here in Indiana. He's still alive and kickin. He's a funny guy.

[@stevenneeley4226]

Freeyourmind slick is a awesome guy and very funny

[@stevenneeley4226]

One of the most down to earth guys you could ever meet and he knows no strangers

[@Berbs73]

@Harvey Lim He’s a ghost now. It’s so crazy....

[@wmw3629]

@Harvey Lim You’re truly pathetic to call someone you know nothing about a liar. I call you a fool!

[@TexasTeamRoper1]

@Harvey Lim oh, keyboard warrior. Tough guy......

[@j.e.8018]

Rest in Heaven Slick You will be Truely Missed.

[@danconroy8293]

I would run into Slick at the local gas station in Carmel Indiana. Always would have time to talk about the previous nights Pacer or IU game. Thank you Slick!

[@wmw3629]

Without Slick & Nancy holding the franchise saving telethon in 1977, the team would have surely folded. I seriously doubt that the Colts would have ever moved here after seeing a basketball crazy state lose its team only 7 years earlier. No Colts, no Bankers Life Fieldhouse, no Lucas Oil Stadium, no Super Bowl. The ramifications of that telethon & this great man will live on for many generations in the city of Indianapolis. His importance can’t be overstated. Farewell, Slick, and thanks for countless happy memories. 🏀💔

[@dennisfaust6607]

A very touching ending. He was quite a man.

[@alexcurry7146]

RIP good sir! Thank you

[@davidrhelmick72]

I used to love listening to Slick and Mark on the radio when I couldn't watch the game.R.I.P Slick

[@Crunchysopa52]

Wonderful speech.

[@LamarMatic]

Are you too a fan of the ABA, Sopa?

[@Crunchysopa52]

Of course!

[@LamarMatic]

***** Have you ever read Terry Pluto's book on the ABA?

[@TaskForceB]

Thank you for saving the Pacers. RIP Slick

[@liteskinnedbobbybrown6256]

Congratulations & love your stories!!❤

[@netomeds]

RIP Slick. ❤

[@carsonstraley4761]

RIP Slick. BOOM BABY!! Biggest Pacer ever

[@mattj996]

We lost a great person and a great basketball mind. RIH Slick

[@justinowens2465]

What a legend!

[@LuTzz]

BOOOOOOOM BABY

[@mattjensen8759]

"Turn Out The Lights....The Party's Over"; Don Meredith said it first, Slick says it BETTER! Go Pacers!!! Boom Baby!!!!

[@mikew3494]

Rest Easy Slick..... "Boom 💥 Baby"

[@markconn3181]

Slick's the greatest. Rip Uncle Mel

[@wmw3629]

@Harvey Lim Go somewhere else & peddle your mindless hatred and stupidity!

[@dustinpayton4612]

RIP Slick! Legend!!!! BOOM BABY

[@BobbyBillyBill]

R.I.P Bobby "Slick"

[@brucescott4261]

R.I.P. Melvin Joe Daniel's. Bobby Leonard...The Minneapolis Lakers.

[@rubenkercheval5976]

Beautiful

[@robertgollnick5183]

this man was a legend.

[@choward5430]

I've watched every WWII documentary. For 8 boys from the same high school to see action in these respective beach landings is unbelievable really. Watch WWII in HD on Netflix if you haven't. By the time episode 10 ended, I cried.

[@justinowens2465]

He was probably so nervous that he forgot the point of that story. Those 8 guys beat the shit out him on the basketball court. They played with no holding back on the young fella. Said they toughened him up really good.

[@choward5430]

@@justinowens2465 Thank you. I believe that too because America was different at that time. Even in the late 60s-70s when I played, the playground was rough. No one wanted to call fouls because it was considered soft. We wanted to play a man's game! The benefit is real games were easy and you weren't afraid to go to the basket because nothing would mirror playground intensity. If you haven't watched, tune in to NetFlix WWII HD. It is amazing. As I said, by the end, I cried but also I realized more than ever that none of what we have is free.

[@tdubb3]

@@justinowens2465 I don't know what weird bot stuff this is, but Slick was an NBA player, nobody beat the shit out of him on the court

[@acnicodemus4734]

BOOOOOOOOM BABYYYYY

[@capitanfuturo594]

That man saved the Pacers.

[@stephenwoods4248]

A Hoosier icon

[@joesanchez6970]

I heard he died today really sad great hof speech slick its sad mels is gone to larry is only one left i would probably cry if larry died

[@stever1791]

I'd love to talk to Slick about his coaching Rick Mount ( Purdue 1970 ) - Rick was a #1 pick in the ABA draft but didi;t get much time playing for the Pacers. would love to hear from about why the jDrafting of Rick and why he couldn't find playing time ?

[@OrhanEfeOzenc]

Has all the answers to that in Terry Pluto's Loose Balls

[@stever1791]

@@OrhanEfeOzenc Ok Thanks, Ive read that book , but im sure i forgot some of the info,. jBut i do think very highly of Slick . Always a winner

[@OrhanEfeOzenc]

@@stever1791 Yeah definitely; and it just appears that Mount was only a fan favorite pick (as he was the local hero in college) to join as the cherry-on-the top to a reigning champion squad and certified to be not fitting in Slick's tenacious, hustling, all-around team play as Mount was merely a super-scorer and an iso-guy - who by the way is highly introverted. Thus, he couldn't cope with either the Pacers or Slick. But Bill Keller, a colleague and a teammate of Mount, who primarily was picked in the previous year only for luring Mount when he turns pro, was a very hard-working man and became the favorite guy of Slick on the bench, therefore survived much more in the team within that system. Hence, he was on the roster for all the 3 championship runs of the Pacers. Mount with low fundamentals on the other hand could only grab 1 ring with the team.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@OrhanEfeOzenc Billy was also great at his role - hit the 3 to open up the defense. #2 all time behind Louis Dampier (who had more years in the ABA) for 3 pointers.

[@d820m]

wish he would have mentioned the 1960 plane crash that he and the Lakers were on

[@josephs9626]

The willing margaret fittingly ignore because fiction consequently trap vice a ethereal party. concerned, joyous slice

[@poopface9605]

The homely karate intringuingly knock because mary grossly paddle of a symptomatic ghost. interesting, successful saw

[@youtubeusername2066]

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