I wish I could write a more comprehensive article about my experience with the NBA legends but I unfortunately don’t have the time.

This will serve as a brief overview and some general observations to give you an idea of what it’s like to be in their presence.

First off, it wasn’t the intimate dinner that was sold to me - it was a big welcoming dinner hosted by the Department of Tourism. So, I wasn’t going to be elbow to elbow with the NBA but being in the same room was definitely good enough.

The first star to make his appearance in the ballroom was Kareem Abdul Jabbar himself. On paper, we all know he’s 7’2” but his presence made him seem 12 feet tall. The man was a giant and nothing could have prepared me for it. He towered over all the other NBA players and he seemed an intimidating presence even to them. It was easy to imagine why his famed Sky Hook was such an incredible weapon and also, how appropriate a name it is. After the him, the other playes seemed like shrimps.

After Kareem, Vlade Divac, Tim Hardaway, Dominique Wilkins, and Robert Horry followed. They did seem small afterwards. After they were introduced, they dispersed to their table and were promptly rushed by fans. One of those fans was I, of course, so I was able to rush and shake Tim Hardaway’s hand.

Hardaway is not the 6 feet that the NBA makes him out to be. I stand at about 5’8” and he’s just about an inch taller than I am. He was friendly and quite open to having his picture taken with people.

As a Spurs fan, I really wanted to shake Robert Horry’s hand but he pulled a French exit near the end of the evening.

The most outgoing of the bunch was Dominique Wilkins. He didn’t seem to mind people clamoring around him. On the way out, he was even able to joke around with some of the PBA players that he was going to play against for the Legends game. I heard him saying with a laugh, “Now guys, I’m not in shape.” To which Willy Miller replied, “What’re you talking about? I heard you scored 30 points in Korea.” He joked around with the players a little more until an NBA official ushered him out.

My officemates and I were all ready with balls and posters to have signed by the players but the PR people in charge of the event didn’t let us close with our paraphernalia.

On the whole, however, it was a great experience and I wish I could have seen the Legends game the next day but being so close to them and being able to shake their hands was already exciting enough.