That's the number one thing for a guy for a new coach coming in. You've really got to buy into the system and believe it's going to work because, if you don't, it's going to cause conflict, and you're not always going to be on the same page as the other guys on the team or with the coach.
People ask what message I have for kids, and it's simple: Just go outside.
They make documentaries like 'Fast Food Nation.' The food our kids are eating in schools, the vending machines kids go to a lot, the portions of food that American restaurants are serving that are bigger than anywhere else in the world - it's kind of crazy.
Especially as pro athletes, at the highest level, what we put into our bodies plays a huge part in our performance.
I owe a lot to my teammates.
I understand that, in this league, there are a lot of guys who can be All Stars, be superstars, so timing and circumstance plays a huge role.
Sometimes fans, sometimes even players, they don't know the game sometimes, and they look at numbers, or they use smoke-and-mirrors as far as who's a top 15 player, who's a top 20 player.
Most of the time, it's easy for us basketball players to adjust to our situation.
You've got organizations out there that are consistently at a high level. They're known to play the right way at the right time.
The Spurs, obviously - you look at an organization like that and say that's what you want to be consistent, because they've become consistent. That's what you start striving for night in and night out.
It's just something I pride myself on as a basketball player, having that knowledge, being the guy who can go to any situation and make the situation better for that team.
It's natural to me. I played point guard my whole life up until my senior year of high school. Most people don't know that. It's just in my game.
A lot of sixth men have more responsibility, and they've made more of an impact sometimes than 80 percent of the rest of the guys on the team, so it's just a name.
It's definitely important for kids to learn in many different settings.
It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of the classroom, go to a new environment and meet different people, it opens their eyes to new things, and they have fun learning.
When I played, I just wanted to guard the best player, and I didn't want him to score. That was just it, just competing. Along the way, it just kept building that I could be a great defender.
In high school, I figured I'd get a few extra baskets by getting steals. I would just pressure up the ball.
I wanted to be the best player, so I thought in order for me to be the best player, I had to guard the best player on the court.
There are a lot of guys who average a lot of points, but they make the game hard for themselves, and they make the game hard for their teammates, and that's why you never really see them win or get deep in the playoffs.
Philly will always have a special place in my heart, and I will cherish the great memories with the city and my teammates there.
