Photo: NBA History/X

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Emoni Bates has the ultimate respect for Allen Iverson and Larry Brown.

(via Cleveland Cavaliers):

Reporter: “Did you meet anybody at the All-Star? That kind of cool moment?”

Bates: “Allen Iverson. That’s my favorite player of all-time.”

Reporter: “So, did you guys get to talk?”

Bates: “Yeah. He knows me. That’s like my big brother, for real. He always just tells me to stay locked in. Larry Brown was his coach. Larry Brown coached me at Memphis. I love Larry, that’s one of my favorite coaches ever. So, that’s my guy.”

Reporter: “Why is AI one of your favorites?”

Bates: “Been through a lot. He came over a lot of obstacles in his life, he remained himself. He went hard at everything he did, so I’m trying to do the same thing.”