Maurice Cheeks | Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech

Check out Maurice Cheeks' full speech following his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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[@jujuju948]

One of the most underrated Point Guards of his time, like Dennis Johnson. They got into the HOF so damn late

[@KazzyOfficial]

This was incredible. One of the best speeches ever

[@garysimard5674]

Don't need a 20 minute plus speech, just simple love. God bless you Maurice.

[@SidJustice1]

A pure point guard. Very underrated.

[@geralddixson214]

Great heartfelt speech. This man was the "steady eddie" and "Mr. consistency" of the NBA and most of all he is a gentleman.

[@M.L.7]

That was one of the best Naismith Memorial HOF speeches I've ever heard........and I've heard them all!

[@dusk6159]

Same for me about the relevant quantity of Naismith HOF speeches, and same for the opinion on it. We all will ever be grateful for Billy C, at that age, and especially Mo's mother (unfortunately and inevitably the contrary scenario in many other legends' cases at their speeches), at her age especially, for being still alive and well by that point, what a powerful, powerful, powerful and lasting scenery and speech, always great to comeback to and listen. The Phila Sixers' past legends and past stars are truly one of the finest (as persons, especially, and their minds and experiences) and variegated NBA bunches (great bunches), from Wilt, Greer, Billy C on, the 70s, 80s especially with Maurice, Bobby Jones, Maurice, Toney etc. Just wow. Great to replicate and play with them in the simulations.

[@georgejeffers6894]

Congratulations to my favorite 76er of all time so happy for him!

[@danlattanzi6787]

Class act! Mo you are loved in Philly forever my man. Growing up and watching you play for the Sixers was a joy. You're very deserving and you made your mother proud.

[@tonygajate5780]

you got that right, I was at the parade in 83 on Broad street, seen him since day one as a rookie, he was the first John Stockton but quicker, way quicker. He did what it took to win games, he could dominate a game defensively AND offensively by dictating the pace of the game all game long, you know when a game was close you came to EXPECT a huge steal coming from Cheeks to save the day he did it so much. We had a special team, it was a special time.

[@brucescott4261]

LONG, LONG OVERDUE. CONGRATULATIONS, MOE!!!

[@markjackson6431]

i’m so glad he FINALLY made it.......LONG OVERDUE!

[@KnightwinG07]

mama there goes that man!

[@1990758]

Exactly it's way overdue he should have been in 5 years ago

[@robertsilas5110]

It took way too long.

[@relentlesslamar910]

Word he should have been in the HOF!!! SPEECH WAS FIRE!!!

[@relentlesslamar910]

And if this is Point Guard Mark Jackson you should be in there too...Speech will leave you in Tears...Hand Down Man Down..or Tears Down...Lol

[@MFIORE7511]

Mo, saw your debut, realized you were very special as a player, you took care of the ball and always showed great humility and class to everyone you encountered. You deserve this enshrinement.

[@bobbymarsh1]

One of the best ever players and speeches you name it Mo Cheeks is class and a HOFer for life #chicago #southside We love you Mo!

[@howardpower]

Anyone that knows Maurice can feel for him. God bless him and his family.

[@JabYoFace]

What an absolute class act.

[@thomaslong8448]

That Dr. J is one class act! Love you Mo.

[@riccardodepieri4582]

Julius Erving must be the presenter of AT LEAST one inductee per year everybody wants to have him as the presenter

[@scottdavidson7001]

Riccardo De Pieri actually your right.

[@bancroftgroves2021]

Riccardo De Pieri that’s the doctor, he’s every player’s idol and mine too !!

[@SidJustice1]

The Good Doctor 🏀

[@dusk6159]

Wish Billy C (and David Thompson also) could have been there as they wanted for the Bobby Jones's speech too! It's always special with these consistently called guys. Sir Charles too, in fact ever-present.

[@korgond]

Maurice Cheeks. A very respectable man.

[@Zipfei_Kloatscher]

Great, great guy and player!... 🏀😀👍🏼 ⛹🏾‍♂️

[@parisbiker2627]

If Tim Duncan is the Big Fundamental then Mo Cheeks is the Little Fundamental. One of the highest IQ,most courageous,battling players in the history of the NBQ. Just love this guy!

[@dusk6159]

Fundamental in his personal conduct also, and speech-stories-jokes delivery, he got me dropped at the Sixers players passing by-coach Billy C's story lol Perfect mixing of McHale-Walton-Sir Charles comedy and blast together with the power, emotion and deep value of many others but even heavier.

[@tonygajate5780]

soooooo true, I saw Cheeks career from day one at 76er pre season practices at F&M college. His career all he did was do whatever it took to win games, he was a consummate pro and a true role model. 1986 Mo Cheeks was as good as any point ever not named Magic or Isiah

[@karb58benefits]

What a great soul. Just beautiful

[@LeanieSigel]

Mo killed everybody at the end right there. Anybody who’s mother did a lot for them growing up can relate to this.

[@1000pjcampbell]

You are so right

[@dusk6159]

The united hug and with Billy C emotional like that (through the whole experience but especially in the end, crying, moving) was just something uniquely special, and always great to come back too. The hug and then kiss on the head, from the coach and at his age and after hugging with Doc, is just so special and profound, that 83 Sixers roster truly is special.

[@tampabaybuccaneersfan7904]

Met Maurice a few times, super nice guy.

[@scottdavidson7001]

BILLY C....THE DOCTOR...AND LIL MO!!! I REMEMBER 4-4-4....AND THE R&B SONG 4-5-4. That team is an all time squad!

[@bancroftgroves2021]

Scott Davidson please don’t make me start crying

[@scottdavidson7001]

@@bancroftgroves2021 they were explosive. They steam rolled teams. They finished 8-8 as Billy rested them. Could have pushed 70 wins. Topped out at 57-9. This is an all time team they can beat anyone when in their flow.

[@dusk6159]

@@scottdavidson7001 Man those Fo-Fo-Fo Moses Malone teams were absolutely stunning, especially if you count Sir Charles in. Per say, 2K and games should have those 76ers teams in their classic roster.

[@sfrank8687]

It seems like we made a deal with the devil to get that one? Still get chills watching the sweep and locker room

[@tashrif46]

Man that was emotional as hell

[@dusk6159]

This is incredible, you have MAURICE CHEEKS, 76ers classic, get in only by 2018? This is stunning, I thought he was in since some decades now, one of the best hof speeches of all-time despite the odds against him of the lenght and sexyness/popularity of his age and overall age too, this is goat material especially for the details del Dottor, Doc J, reaching to help and stay by his side in the moment of max emotion like when Mo Cheeks stepped up and came like a hero to help and stay with Natalie Gilbert to give the best assist of his life, the final hug with Dr J and Billy C with everyone and Billy C too crying with him, those Fo Fo Fo 76ers teams and before, contending and championship year memories, Moses Malone and his brothers not able to be there/here but thankfully his mom yes, I think the Sir Charles slight and about crying mention moment too, man, imaging Big Mo and Wilt Chamberlain here too. I'm one of the many that are thankful to the extremely long overdue waiting (almost competing with the Moses Malone 76ers jersey retirement) for at least giving time and more factors to improve the conditions for the speech and scenario to reach this greatness and beautiful level.

[@Mikepleith]

Embodiment of CLASS. Always was and always will be. Congrats number 10! Still remember the day it was announced he was traded from the Sixers. A woman I worked with called on the spot to cancel her season tickets. That is the impact he had on Philly fans. Quiet, classy and underrated who never sought the limelight and put the team first. I think Billy Cunningham has said that he along with Bobby Jones were the best people he ever coached.

[@scottdavidson7001]

Mike Leith I remember when Sixers let him go. My thoughts were damn....a new era has begun. Sad....Allen Iverson was not the answer.

[@jerrybarnes3719]

One of the classiest guys to ever don an NBA uniform. Very humble and so appreciative of his Mother!!

[@lawrencekin02]

Long overdue HOF honor finally bestowed on Mo Cheeks. One of the NBA's greatest guards.

[@commanderwatchman9994]

Outstanding! Great job Mo!

[@dusk6159]

The final hug of all three at the end and an emotional Billy C hugging and kissing Maurice in the forehead is iconic.

[@TIMELESSBACKDROPS]

Dam MoCheek got me crying😢😢

[@mookeychase0907]

This is the guy that made me fall in love with the PG position...

[@djmagx]

Who the hell is cutting onions in here...

[@1990758]

One of my favorite 76ers guard of all time he's way better than Allen Iverson there is no discussion about it

[@djmagx]

@@1990758 Ehhhhhh. Let's not go too far now.

[@1990758]

@@djmagx I am going there I've been watching the game since the sixties the 76ers is my favorite team that's my hometown when we had Iverson we had no chance of winning a NBA championship when we had Maurice Cheeks I knew eventually we were going to win Maurice Cheeks is a better all-around player than Allen Iverson yes he is 2001 NBA Finals we won the first game against the Lakers I knew we were going to lose the rest of the games Allen Iverson is not a team player yes I'm going there we had a better chance of winning with Charles Barkley then Allen Iverson

[@back2back379]

Mo was a great floor general and defensive player. I wouldn't say he's "better" than Iverson individually, but I'd say if a team has all the parts to win a championship and just needs a point guard, he's a better candidate for filling that position and putting the team over the top than Iverson is. The Lakers would've won the 2001 NBA Finals regardless of whether it was Iverson or Mo Cheeks or any point guard in the history of the game playing on that 76ers team, the Lakers had a cast that was just that much better and prime Shaq.

[@1990758]

@@back2back379 best of supposition statement you made Allen Iverson in just shoot the ball he was totally opposite of Maurice Cheeks at times he was a headache both on and off the court Maurice Cheeks all around game is better than Allen Iverson the Lakers have more Talent then Detroit in 2004 but the Piston still beat the Lakers my Philadelphia 76ers had more Talent than the Portland Trail Blazers but they played as a team that's why they won with the great Bill Walton Maurice Cheeks gave Magic Johnson fits on defense and the 83 finals

[@SkyTouch08]

Never got a chance to see him this brother play I was to young but I have major respect

[@dlxinfinite7098]

And your OGs respect you.....for respecting Cheeks and the Game

[@scottdavidson7001]

Joseph Benjamin Classic old school point guard. Zero ego. Nice jump shot. Quick to the hole and with his hands. Tremendous defensive player. All time leader in steals upon his retirement. Class act and teammate. Lil 'MO' as he was called just made HIS OWN HOUSE CALL...CONGRATS BIG TIME!!!!

[@generatorx]

@@scottdavidson7001 The thing with Cheeks was that he handled the ball a lot without many turnovers in his career. He shot within his range, could take the ball to the cup and was a nasty defender indeed.

[@scottdavidson7001]

@@generatorx yes sir.

[@fredydeangel4615]

Wish i was born earlier to see him play. Russ respects the hell out of this guy, i can see now after watching this speech. Last part i can relate the most. Congratulations mo cheeks!

[@testostyrone33]

Better late than never... MO CHEEKS!

[@willoneil1456]

My guy's tears of joy. Billy you the Man. Doctors J words can't say enough about you. You still got Mo's back

[@rickmason6157]

My all time fav.

[@stacyisaak2258]

He’s my all time favorite 76er but the whole 1983 team will always be my favorite NBA Championship Team. I love # 22 Andrew Toney also. Go 76ers!

[@JackOnWrist]

yes shoutout Andrew Toney!

[@marvelandgroup]

My favorite PG of all time!

[@1990758]

He's one of my favorite 76ers he's better than Allen Iverson

[@scottdavidson7001]

marvelandgroup YES SIR!!!

[@marvelandgroup]

@@1990758 Mo was a different PG who concentrated on defense and setting up others but when it came to the playoffs he got aggressive with scoring for himself which really put pressure on opposing teams. A.I. was just a freak of nature.

[@1990758]

@@marvelandgroup you've never seen a bright like Allen Iverson before or close to it how long have you been watching the NBA

[@shawnyoung8752]

@@1990758 Cheeks was a floor general. He had the skills to avg. 22 24 points a game. He was great at leading afastbreak. I think his points per game was at least 14. 6 dishes. One of steal leaders always. All d 2 team 3 or 4 times.

[@592459]

Came up in the same hood as Mo in the Chi. It was so cool that he gave a shout out to the project building he grew up in and his HS Dusable. That HS is over 100 years old and have many famous Alumni. Don Cornelius. John H. Johnson Publisher, Redd Fox, Nat King Cole just to name a few.

[@dlxinfinite7098]

Damn you, Mo.....I ain't cryin........somefin in my eye.... Wait, did I see that cold-hearted, blood thirsty Reggie Miller shed a tear? Thank you, Mo. You epitomized team over self and stats. Best HOF speech ever. We knew always, your kindness and humility would get recognized.... eventually. Nice guys do finish first ......y'all already know--PHILLY!

[@oracleyoda5805]

you are looking at the consummate point guard, a gentleman, a champion, all that you could want a basketball player to be. I remember him from day one, saw him practice at FM college and screamed with him on Broad street in 1983 !! Thank you for all the memories, love these men, all of them, these three guys were my life and I couldn't be happier, Philly legend right there, love him all day, everyday !!! We were blessed by his presence.

[@roebostic152]

...growing up sooo many of my sixer friends either wanted to be Cheeks or Doc playing basketball......one of the best point guards ever....

[@toddsands6000]

Maurice Cheeks enshrinement into the Hall of Fame was so way overdue.

[@MrGarysugarman]

Yeah, him and Bobby Jones.

[@biffalobull2335]

You can tell how much Cunningham appreciated his point guard.

[@missayawk]

My allergies acting up watching this....I'm so glad the committee made the right choice in selecting Mo Cheeks.John Stockton & Mo Cheeks are the perfect PG' s that made their teams better on BOTH ends of the court without stealing the spotlight.

[@stacyisaak2258]

patrick I wish the NBA would be a pass first league. This dribble dribble one on one shit is nothing like the 80’s.

[@missayawk]

@@stacyisaak2258 I was watching the 50th anniversary of the Knicks championship ( Willis Reed inspiration game) and even the Last Dance documentary.The way the ball moved from man to man ( everyone touches the ball) is one of the many lost arts of the game.

[@Amick44]

Great comparison and definitely some (style) resemblance.

[@ismailshokeye9284]

Great speech

[@sabih21]

I can still hear Dave Zinkoff's voice ringing in the Spectrum rafters : At Gawd from West Texas State,#10 Maawreece Cheeks !!! Congratulations Moe !!!

[@dusk6159]

^^^^^^

[@tokwa2003]

Much love, mo cheeks!

[@davidsolomon7966]

I loved those Sixers teams and he was one of the reasons why. He was as hard nosed a player as there's ever been. He didn't score alot of points, but he always scored when they needed him to. Mo Cheeks was clutch.

[@tunett123]

Well deserved! Two (2) more 76ers left to bring into the HOF. They are Bobby Jones and Andrew Toney.

[@ronocordera]

In my Zinkoff voice.. Number 10 Mo Cheeks!

[@dlxinfinite7098]

..ahhhhh...you were there...you were there...those Spectrum days!

[@ronocordera]

Dennis L.P. Yes sir.. Being able to see the early Sixers was awesome. I cherish those years....

[@dlxinfinite7098]

@@ronocordera .. .....the best years, brother.

[@scottdavidson7001]

ronocordera YOU RECOGNIZE!!! THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT! LIL MO...IN THE HOUSE BABY!!!

[@ericrobinson3995]

A south Philly treasure of an announcer --- THE ZINK!!!!

[@tonymaserati2549]

Mo' was a Great point guard!

[@arhenyo]

About time

[@michaelclyburn5858]

Maurice congratulations. Doc , Bobby Jones, Billy Cunningham, etc. Just awesome people.

[@Undeniable18]

Cheeks!

[@decadedamaddimperial]

Wow ! A Man named Cheeks With Tears rollin' down his cheeks ! Got me cryin' too !

[@deeflow7348]

Congratulations to my man cheeks one of the best point guards that I've seen I'm 47 years old used to emulate that last play before we won the championship dribbling down the court with my hands flying in the air fist-pumping classic s*** congratulations

[@scottdavidson7001]

Hell YES

[@OGGOAT23]

Congrats to the HOF’amers who made it this year

[@wiselee2777]

as a blazers fans, thanks coach mo.

[@akimmalik1329]

My favorite player on the Team .Great speech and very humble and Amazing player the floor General. That team was Special. Bobby Jones, Clint Richardson, Andrew Toney, Moses Malone,Marc Iveroni,

[@brittanyvaneice]

my cousin..sooo happy

[@brendajones8073]

Don’t cry cheeks you making me cry lol men and their moms! Love it!

[@exdemocrat9038]

We love you Mo.

[@michaelknapp8961]

When he was the coach of the Trailblazers he and wife came into the restaurant I was working at. The guy was so nice and polite, wonderful person.

[@davidgrillo9928]

Mo was such a great player. Truly deserved to be in the HOF.

[@terencewinters2154]

Steady level headed great steals leader tremendous motor very efficient scorer a high percentage shooter and great decision maker . Blessed with playing with Dr. J , moses malone andrew toney moses malone bobby jones . So unselfish and gracious . Could have been one of the greatest milers in history .as he was clocked around 4 minutes without really training . To me he is right there with stockton and the glove as one of the greatest table setters in history.

[@kevinmyers440]

As a sixers fan, thanks mo, All class

[@_ashtonthomas]

When i realized i wasn’t gonna grow to be 6’10”, Mo Cheeks was the player i studied

[@4oreignPSN]

“Southside!”

[@ytgc-royalewarex5190]

One of my favorite PG in NBA 80s

[@nayruru]

Such a sweet guy

[@greenmatrix151023387]

Cheeks!!!

[@bryankho]

What a great human being.

[@luaybasyouni4834]

What an emotional speach.

[@marrulsakagipser674]

I'm italiano my name Is Maurizio. Today Cheeks It Will be my Idol!! Thank you Maurice. And Why NBA had waiting all that time!!!???

[@emmanuellim843]

Big sixer fan here, Cheeks , doc, bobby Jones etc

[@steveditko1]

Great speech.

[@jbeTV1]

Awesome.

[@SuperRip7]

Very tense. 09-17-18.

[@pollomaniac]

when i see this i dont know why but i always remember when mortal warriors vikings die in battle and they ascend to the glorious halls of Valhalla

[@JasonHeilmanMusicalRemedies]

What the hell took so long

[@longp6432]

congrats mo cheeks. thunder love

[@djmclordsupreme7002]

Mo is a great guy.

[@sstavo_]

I'm sorry but momma cheeks got me dead congrats to Mo tho #ThunderUp

[@tecager]

Yeah Mo got me crying over here

[@scottdavidson7001]

aaron underwood classic old school point guard. Quick with his hands. Nice jumper. Absolutely efficient in running the offense. Tremendous defensive player. Lil MO IN THE HOUSE WITH MOSES, CHARLES, BILLY C, AND THE DOCTOR!!!

[@omegabyte167]

Very unselfish point guard growing up watching the Sixers wphl 17 he was the best floor general a team could have for a long time he was the all time assist leader he knew when to give up the ball he made Dr J. Moses Malone and Andrew Toney who I believe would had join his other teammates in the hall of fame had it not been for the injuries but cheeks was the glue I believe that kept the Sixers moving and playing so well he deserves to be in the hof!!!!!!

[@mmagic3534]

1983-1984 Sixers, one of the greatest NBA teams EVER: HOFers Little Mo, Big Mo, The Doctor, Bobby Jones and Coach Billie C!

[@kennethbailey6634]

They never talk about Mo Cheeks when it comes to great point guards. But anyone that watched great 80's NBA basketballs knows. The only other guard that ran the fast break better,was Magic Johnson. This man was unbelievable with Dr J and Bobby Jones on the wings. When the three of them were coming you,you were finished. Because the Dr and Bobby were the best two wing finishers ever. They would sky and slam on your ass way in the air. And Mo Cheeks knee exactly when to to deliver it. And it's great players like Cheeks that lets you know one thing. The greatest skill player and champion is Jordan.But the greatest player is Lebron. And Cheeks in the HOF us proof.Here is Mo's team mates.(Dr J, Moses Malone, Bobby Jones.)You tell me how many HOF people Lebron had played with more than 4 years,case closed.

[@realgeneshawn]

I got his autograph last year in Las Vegas

[@shawnyoung8752]

Mo only made the 5th team in the Chicago Public League his Sr year.

[@scottdavidson9963]

Lil Mo!!!!

[@nesnejls]

Robert Taylor homes were tough man ... so's Mo.

[@brendajones8073]

I’ve always had a crush on cheeks since a little girl. I used to say I’m going to marry cheeks when I grow up. Lmbo

[@erichuffman6665]

Who the babe in pink at 4:51 ?

[@missayawk]

Eddie Cheeks' wife

[@MrGarysugarman]

Dr. J. needs his own couch on that stage. Quit making him climb those stairs over and over again every year.

[@brianpearis1478]

He always gave it to DR.J

[@uhhhi1512]

West Texas A&M

[@iveywebb]

3:11‐3:30 Matt Barnes & all the people who side with him in the Mo Cheeks situation sound soft & weak 🤷🏾‍♀️. #Sorrynotsorry What Billy said to Mo at that very moment when Mo was down on himself could've derailed his career. However, he turned that 💩 into a HOF career. Oh & to top it off, he respects & has love for BC.