As many Hall of Fame speeches as we have heard over the years, we practically know what the typical one will sound like.
One gets to the podium and immediately begins telling never-before-told tales about their career, they thank their family, friends, teammates, coaches and other influential figures that played big roles in their rise – and they offer words of wisdom for the future.
The speech that was given by Maya Moore was different – and that what made it every bit as memorable as her illustrious career itself.
There is a theme to every Hall of Fame speech -and Moore’s centered on championship culture. This is very fitting because if one were to look up the phrase in any dictionary they could see Moore’s face given she won virtually everywhere she went.
Whether it was Collins Hill in Marietta, UConn, the Minnesota Lynx or with USA Basketball, wins were aplenty as long as Moore was wearing a specific team’s colors.
She emphasized that in order for any team to achieve success, the players have to trust each other, must be dedicated to one another and must love one other. She shouted out last season’s national champion UConn team led by Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong and Kaitlyn Chen as having played the “most connected basketball” at the perfect time.
Moore also mentioned how it was crucial to the success the Lynx had in the 2010s – and that these teams are a case study in how to win at life.
These teams can inspire us to take these values and create championship culture right where your feet are.
–Maya Moore, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Championship culture can be found not just in sports, but in all aspects of life. In our homes, our schools, our neighborhoods. Those are the true measures of how our winning legacy exists.
–Maya Moore, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
It is common to hear athletes and coaches mention how the true work in building winners is typically done behind the scenes when the cameras are not rolling and the microphones are not present. It is rare when someone explains it in the terms that Moore did.
Much of the work in building championship communities is unseen. The internal work that we have to do to realize we are all teammates on this planet. Discovering the neighbors around us who we’ve always overlooked. Showing up to learn and listen to people who have different perspectives than our own. Figuring out how we can all get our needs met – and not be at the expense of someone else’s dignity.
–Maya Moore, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Given the treacherous timeline we are in as a society, Moore’s speech was needed now more than ever. An often-used phrase is “meeting the moment.” Moore not only met the moment, but she also surpassed it as well.
Moore’s speech in Springfield was not merely that of an all-time great athlete – it felt like that of a stateswoman who cares about her surroundings as we know she does.
Sports is often a metaphor for life. It has ups and downs, wins and losses. A team is a family – and families do have differences from time to time. But the virtues of dedication, trust and love not only produce champions on the basketball court – they produce champions in every other walk of life as well.
Towards the conclusion of her remarks, “Auntie Maya” also gave advice to the little Maya Moores-in-training – that even in today’s era of big money flowing in the direction of women’s basketball that connection, togetherness and love are priceless.
I want to challenge you up-and-comers to learn to love and seek out connection as your biggest motivator. All of these teams that you see when they’re getting interviewed – you see the NBA Finals, you see the WNBA, you see college, they’re always talking about each other and the joy that they have when being together.
–Maya Moore, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Don’t miss out on learning from someone more experienced than you. The joy of helping someone else get better, seeing them shine at what they’re good at. The joy of having people around you that believe in you and you believe in them. Seek that culture out. Be a part of that culture. I’m confident you won’t regret it.
–Maya Moore, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
