I played with Eddy Curry twice and in New York, the second time, he asked, 'Who are you?' My first to fourth year I was a different person. I started thinking big picture, that maybe I don't have all the answers.
Jamal Crawford
It takes a certain level of maturity to get hit and get knocked down and get back up.
Career wise, consistency is one of the keys to longevity. When you are consistent people know what they are going to get, and that's the foundation for having a long career.
I used to sneak into the Forum to watch the Lake Show, when I lived in L.A. with my pop. I was born in Seattle, and for fourth, and fifth grade, I went to L.A., then I came back to Seattle and then back to L.A. for eighth, ninth, and 10th grade. But it was easy to sneak in the Forum, like really easy.
Winning always cures all.
My earliest childhood memories are of my dad putting a basketball in my hand and playing with me in our backyard.
I think my style of play, not drinking, I think I'm a product of clean living. I don't drink, don't smoke.
When you're in love with it you're willing to do whatever it takes, whether be it cold tubs, or massages, acupuncture, whatever it might be. I think when you love the game purely all those things you're willing to do is sacrifice.
I always say in my tweets, don't do something for credit. Do it because it's the right thing to do.
Back when I was a freshman-sophomore in high school, I was saying that I was going to Michigan once I saw the Fab Five come through - I was just mesmerized.
I think when you're starting you have more of a luxury. You know you're going to play 33, 35, 37 minutes per game, so you can kind of feel the game out. When you come off the bench you have to be more in attack mode. You have to make something happen immediately.
Honestly, I want to be known as a great ball player, but it's more important for me to be known as a good person. Like seriously, the greatest gift you have as a person is to give something to somebody else.
I was born to play basketball. There's no question about it. That's it. And I'm saying this in my humblest opinion, I do feel that I was born to play this game. I breathe it, I live it.
If you put it in perspective, I loved basketball before I loved everything else, you know what I mean? Before I had a girlfriend or even childhood friends, I had my basketball. So it's my first love.
I feel like I can get any shot I want. That's not to sound cocky or conceited. It's because I've played basketball basically every day of my life. So at some point, I've taken just about every shot there is. I've figured out the angles, almost like a pool shark. I know where to use the glass, which dribble I need and which spot I want to reach.
I've never made an All-Star Game, but I've always had my peers' and coaches' respect around the league.
There are basically five ways to score in the half court. Layups, mid-range, three-pointers, free throws - and then what I call 'tough shots.' Tough shots come anywhere on the floor, under difficult circumstances. The ability to create that shot is a special skill in the NBA.
One of my big influences as a young player was Allen Iverson. All I wanted to do was the left-to-right crossover, because that's the one he was doing most.
No matter what the trends are in the NBA - teams going big, going small, getting more efficient with analytics - the ability for a player to create his own shot, then convert tough shots, will always be a weapon, particularly when you get to the playoffs.
When I was younger, I used to always think making it to the NBA would be the coolest thing in the world. I'd dream about it every day. But as you progress and you attain that goal, then you realize the coolest thing is the effect you can have on people, and kids especially.
I was always a giver by nature. I wanted to make sure the person next to me or maybe even the person I don't know didn't go without if I could help it. That's always been in me.
The NBA makes you become a bigger version of what you already were. If you were somebody who was not so nice and you came into a lot of money and fame, then you're probably going to abuse that in the wrong way. But if you come into those things and you were doing the right things, then chances are you're going to do more of the right things.
I'm into people, especially kids and making sure they have a fair shake and making sure they reach their potential. So that's important to me.
When you have a guy like Chris Paul, who's the best point guard in the world, saying I should be an All-Star, and other coaches and players coming up to me and saying I should be an All-Star, it's an unbelievable compliment.
The goal is to win a championship, but when you win and you play pretty well, and you start hearing 'All-Star' and 'Sixth Man.' That's really unbelievable.
There's nothing like winning and winning at a high level.
You know, my first nine years I only played for two teams, Chicago and New York. And the only reason I got traded from New York was the 2010 free agency period, when they had a chance to sign LeBron and D-Wade and that whole class, and I understood that. But from there it's kind of been a roller coaster.
I don't want to go to a team that's only won a few amount of games, but it doesn't have to be a contender.
At the end of the day, only one team wins.
I've been blessed enough where all the rules that come with age don't apply to me. People were saying I was old at 32.
You want to put yourself in the best position to try and win.
I've always loved coach Brett Brown. I've been on record. I've been a fan of his for years.
To me, the Northwest is the best. The air, it feels cleaner. The people are so nice and caring. Every time I fly in on a plane, I say, 'I'm never leaving here.' It's just different. People who aren't from here don't get it. It just fits certain people.
I don't want people to receive me because I scored 20 points. I want it to be because I made an impression on them that lasts forever.
I give Seattle credit for grooming me, making me the person I am today.
I mean, the hardest thing to do, I think, in the NBA, is to put the ball in the hole.
I don't have to play just against NBA guys. No, I'll play anywhere, anytime.
I think there's a role for everybody. Even a guy who's not known as a scorer, like a DeAndre Jordan - he sets the best screens, he blocks the most shots, he gets the most rebounds, he's great for your team, he helps you win games. Like, he helps you win big.
Shooters shoot. The worst thing a shooter can do is think. That's the best defense out there.
When you love the game, playing is easy.
I'm a baller, I'm a hooper.
Sometimes it's more about the journey than the destination.
It's hard not playing.
I'm not talking about any one team but everyone knows how I feel about New York. I really enjoyed my time there.
Playing shooting guard is different. On defense you have to chase guys around more. On the point I'm just guarding guys on top.
As long as you can worry about the stuff you can control, that's always best for you.
I think if you're in love, you're willing to do anything that comes with it.
If you're good to the game, the game is usually good to you.
The love of playing trumps all of that, to be honest with you. Even the day I retire, I'll still be playing somewhere.
I didn't turn 40. I turned 20 twice.
