Would you ask Pop that question?

Scrubbing each item piece by piece.

In honor of Black History Month.

Black History Months.

I stand before you on the shoulders of my ancestors, even my great-great-auntarlene, who I spoke with when she when she was 103 years old, at the time my daughter Amina was born.

I will never forget what she said to me.

I'm happy you had a girl.

And I inquired, why is that?

Aunt Pearl said a girl would grow up and give you grandkids and a boy would only disappoint.

Aunt Pearl, I'm in the Hall of Fame.

I fell in love with basketball the first time I made a basket. I learned a city game and I would play every day.

There were times during the winter I would clear an area of the court

with my sneakers to remove the snow so I could shoot.

Along the way, there were coaches who helped me build bridges to my dream.

Along the way, there were exceptional human beings, people who cared about kids.

I was going to attend the University of Tennessee.

I scored 42 points as a freshman, my first game at 17 years old. I entered the NBA draft in 1977. I was drafted by the New Jersey net. In the fall of 1982, I became a creation and signed a contract with the New York Knicks. I was home. I was home. New York City. What an unbelievable thrill. And to put on the same jersey as Nick Legends I watched as a kid was indescribable. Earl of Pearl Monroe. A player watched growing up and was mesmerized by his uncanny move. Willis Reed, the Captain, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, Dave the Busher, heart, determination. I treasure playing for the next and the great fans of New York. We were coached by one of the greatest in the game. Hubey Brown. I stood here

for this moment of time because of my parents.

Salman Thomas King. She showed me the value of hard work. I watched my mother clean out clothes

on a scrubboard, scrubbing each item piece by piece. She would hang the clothes on a clothes

line that hung over my bed,

and at night, drop this of water would land on my head.

...