In the early 1980s, singing legend Aretha Franklin took in and gave guidance to a young Detroit Pistons point guard named Isiah Thomas. On Friday, the Basketball Hall of Famer was one of several people to eulogize the Queen of Soul at her funeral.

Thomas reminisced about how he grew up listening to his mother playing Franklin's music, and how that came full circle during his 13-year NBA career.

"There was nothing more inspiring for me to see my mom sitting in the stands, sitting next to Aretha, sandwiched in between Stevie (Wonder) watching the Pistons game," he said.