The Jazz at Lincoln Center Quartet played as attendees took their seats. It was a collection of NBA luminaries: Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Isiah Thomas, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki, Bernard King, Steve Nash, Bill Walton, Dikembe Mutombo, Johnson and a collection of owners and executives from teams across the league.