Larry Bird and Tamika Catchings are two of the NBA Legends Brunch honorees.

Larry Bird and Tamika Catchings are two of the NBA Legends Brunch honorees.

The 24th annual event serves as a reminder of the NBA’s enduring history and showcases the league’s ability to inspire and bring people together.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jalen Rose broke down in tears, Reggie Miller gave a hug to his erstwhile rival Spike Lee, Tamika Catchings was overcome, and Larry Bird is now formally recognized as a legend.

The NBA Legends Brunch did not disappoint, as usual.

Held on Sunday prior to the All-Star Game, the brunch featured over 150 former NBA and WNBA players, including some of the greatest of all time in Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, and Oscar Robertson. It is one of the more difficult tickets to obtain over the weekend.

Miller was named the Hometown Hero, Rose the Bob Lanier Community Impact Award, Bird the Legend of the Year Award, and Catchings the Pioneer Award.

After taking the stage, Bird remarked, “I have not hit a jump shot in more than 30 years and here I am.” “Get moving.”

Her father, former NBA player Harvey Catchings, introduced her to the legendary Indiana Fever player Catchings. He related tales of how she would constantly want to play more while they were together, how five-point games weren’t good enough for her, and how he would never allow her to prevail.

Tamika Catchings remarked, “I’m standing here today because of all of you and the opportunity to watch and learn from my dad.” “We would go back there when he was in practice, and I would play the roles of Harvey Catchings, Bob Lanier, and Dr. J. Larry Bird, please hurry up. I have to be everyone of you. And as I got older and emulated your game, I developed my own.

Rose recounted, with tears in her eyes, how, when he was in the fourth grade, he saw a hole in the floorboards while riding in his mother’s 1979 Chrysler. He claimed that was the instant he decided to reach the NBA in order to succeed.

“I will always remember telling my mother that I would make it to the league.” I swear,” Rose murmured. “I swear, I’m going to be Dr. J. And Dr. J is now aware of my name.

Lee gave Miller his trophy while he was wearing orange and blue, the colors of his favorite team, the New York Knicks, who Miller and the Pacers frequently harassed. Most notably, when Miller won a game at Madison Square Garden by scoring eight points in nine seconds.

Miller remarked, “Among the people in this room, I don’t consider myself a legend.”