TORONTO — It seems Isaiah Thomas has placed so much on his shoulders, one chip after the other, each representing his personal goals. Each chip representing the people who told the 5-foot-9-inch Thomas he’d never play on the high school varsity, in Division 1 basketball, or make an NBA roster. The chips get so high that sometimes he tends to overlook his admirers.

As Thomas has ascended through the NBA, transforming from a sparkplug score-at-all-costs shooting guard to a patient (but aggressive) and unselfish floor leader, his proponents have increased dramatically.

Thomas has come to Toronto as a first-time NBA All-Star and said he has truly enjoyed the experience, which includes pint-sized kids seeking autographs and selfies, as well as peach-fuzzed teenagers just wanting Thomas to nod his head in acknowledgment.

The appreciation has been overwhelming. The weekend began in rather humbling fashion when ­Thomas encountered Hall of Fame candidate Allen Iverson at an event Thursday night. Thomas said he met Iverson before but this was their first substantive conversation, one little man to another.

Iverson, listed as being 6 feet tall, made a career out of diving into the paint against bigger defenders, the crashes to the floor likely shortening his career. Iverson, 40, has been following his understudy, so much so that he was fluent on Thomas’s moves.

Thomas said, “Other than talking with Kobe [Bryant] — Allen Iverson was the second-biggest thing of my career. We talked for about 10, 15 minutes and he said how much he loves my game and how much he watches all my games. For somebody to say that, like him, pound-for-pound the best player ever, like that was unbelievable.’’

All-Star Weekend is the place where players spend the weekend patting each other on the back. Rivalries disappear. Sixers shake hands and share stories with Celtics. Former players laud their younger brethren. Sometimes they mean it, sometimes they don’t.

Iverson was sincere.

“[Iverson] wasn’t just saying [things], he was saying the moves I was doing and me being lefthanded, so I knew it was real genuine,’’ Thomas said. “I had an interview the other day and they brought up Allen Iverson and I said I wanted to be a better [little man] than everybody, but it’s going to be hard to beat him, because he’s pound-for-pound the best ever. He’s changed the whole culture, the whole aspect of small guards.

“It’s hard to beat what he did, but I definitely want to be right with him.’’

Iverson was in Toronto to attend the Hall of Fame news conference to announce the finalists for induction in September. Wearing a Reebok T-shirt, gold chains, and khakis in his customary casual style, Iverson appeared at the news conference with fellow finalists such as Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming.

Afterward, Thomas’s words were brought up to Iverson, who appeared flattered that this current generation is enamored with his skills and cultural impact.

Similar to Thomas, Iverson felt underappreciated throughout his career. He was widely accused of being a brilliant scorer who didn’t enhance his teammates.

Iverson sacrificed his body on the court. Off the court, he connected the NBA and hip-hop, a relationship that is now profitable for the league, and especially prevalent at All-Star Weekend.

After some difficult post-career years, Iverson seeks the embrace of the NBA again, and he appeared genuinely humbled when told that Thomas said the Thursday conversation was one of the high points of his career.

“Is that right?’’ Iverson asked. “Anything you do in life, it ain’t got nothing to do with your size, you play with your chest. You play with your heart, and you do everything with your heart. Heart is what defines you. Heart is what makes you.

“[Thomas’s comments] make me feel good about [Thomas]. It makes me feel good about my mom. It makes me feel good about my dad. It makes feel good about the people who raised me to inspire and help other people.’’

Thomas has drawn the praise of other smaller guards, such as Hall of Famers Nate “Tiny’’ Archibald and Isiah Thomas, and new Hall of Fame candidate Kevin Johnson.

But the Celtics guard continued to gush about Iverson during his Friday availability at All-Star Weekend. He said he admired Bryant for his passion and brilliance, but Iverson for his fearlessness.

“I tried to be like Allen Iverson,’’ Thomas said. “I think every guard that wanted some little flashiness in their game wanted to be like Allen Iverson. I definitely tried to model my game after him.’’

Thomas said he tried to connect with Iverson a few years ago to no avail. He met Iverson for the first time last year while attending a Floyd Mayweather fight.

“It was crazy for him to say he knows who I am,’’ Thomas said, “And then when I talked to him [Thursday], that’s when it really hit me that I made it to All-Star Weekend.’’

And it was Isiah Thomas who encouraged Isaiah following the Feb. 19, 2015, trade from the Suns, unknowingly becoming a Celtics booster by telling Isaiah he could lead Boston to the playoffs and carry the organization on his back — quite similar to what Iverson did in Philadelphia.

“I was pretty excited about the trade,’’ Isiah Thomas said. “He goes, ‘I don’t understand, why you so excited?’ I told him, ‘Going to Boston is going to be the best thing that ever happened to you. You’re getting to walk into tradition, you’re getting to walk into history, you’re getting ready to walk into what basketball in America really stands for and feels like. You should be honored to put on a Celtic uniform.’ From that day, the people of Boston embraced him and the rest is history.’’

Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.