“If I’d gone straight to the NBA, I don’t think I would have been ready as a player or a person.”

I’ve learned that it’s harder to try to put on this goody two-shoes persona when that’s not me.

This city, all they want us to be is ourselves. You love us how we are. We’re all a work in progress as men and you still love us and I thank you so much for embracing us.

It’s hard to play well, but it’s easy to work hard.

You know, I think more people should watch women’s basketball. It’d do so much for the game.

I want people to know what they didn’t know about me. I just wanted them to know the real side.

This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country. I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience. After going through training camp with USAB.

It’s all about knowing the balance, because I like to remain somewhat of a mystery. You need to have that, you know what I mean?

I feel like I can get a good feel for people.

I’m not the type of guy who’s just going to throw the ball inbounds to a guy who’s wide open. I can make the right pass.

I was always in the gym. People would look at me crazy because I spent so much time there. But that’s what it was about. I’m glad I did it.

How I grew up, everybody was telling me, “You can’t do this, you can’t get tattoos, you’ve got to look a certain way.” Now, I’m like, “Why?”

I love playing it, I just never thought I’d make it to college, NBA, or be standing up here today. It is a surreal feeling. So many people doubted me and motivated me.

I probably play games more than I practice.

Every memory I have from when I was a kid involves basketball.

So many people doubted me. They motivated me every single day, to be, who I am.

You know, I don’t want to stand out too much.

The only times an Afro-American who was assaulted got away has been when he had a gun and used it in self-defense.

There is nothing more tragic than to come to the end of life and know we have been on the wrong course.

I have clearly recorded this: for one can learn good lessons also from what has been tried but clearly has not succeeded, when it is clear why it has not succeeded.

The quest of the truth had been born in me – the most tragic and incomplete, as well as the most essential, of man’s quests.

I’ve been asked whether I have a hobby, and have felt strangely offended that anyone would assume I have the time.

Many men ridicule the idea that it can be scientifically handled. They tell us the unemployed have always been with us, and always must be. It is the oldest reason in the world for tolerating injustice and misery.

The appeal to the white man’s pocket has ever been more effectual than all the appeals ever made to his conscience.

Sacredness of human life! The world has never believed it! It has been with life that we settled our quarrels, won wives, gold and land, defended ideas, imposed religions.