In eighth grade, I pretty much didn't want to pass. I was 6'8'.' I was always bigger and stronger. I was getting triple-teamed, and the results weren't good. I wasn't helping my team. I was forcing shots. Then I started passing it out to my team, and they started hitting shots and slashing, and that's when things opened up for me.
I'm just trying to get better each game.
Playing games and watching film, I've been able to see the improvements I can make and how much better I can be. It's exciting to think about it.
At the end of the day, I know what my bread and butter is and how I can be effective.
That's one of things I've heard about Brooklyn - how good they are at developing players.
I definitely feel like I'm the scapegoat for a lot of The Process issues.
Speeding obviously is illegal. I know that's not what you're supposed to do.
I'm not a perfect player.
There are things that I need to work on, that I have worked on, and that I'll continue to work on.
Coming out of college, I got a lot of notoriety for being the old-school center.
I've always gotten credit for being a big man who doesn't want to shoot threes. Throughout my entire basketball career prior to coming to the NBA, I was praised for doing that.
I can score from 18 to 20 feet out, handle the ball, pass. I don't consider myself an old-school center.
I can play with my back to the basket, but I can face up as well.
When I found out that I'd been traded to Brooklyn - it was pretty much the best feeling in the world.
I shoot all kinds of shots. I just don't stay on the block and do layups and dunks when I'm in the gym by myself.
I shoot a lot of bank shots and a lot of shots around the perimeter. There's a lot of things I like to work on, but I know my bread and butter when it comes down to it, and that's in the post.
I've been playing basketball my entire life, so I feel comfortable doing what is asked of me.
You have half a second to make your mind up to know if you're going to shoot, pass, drive. Don't hold the ball too long, and make your decision quick.
I've always been the tallest guy in my age group, which always made me go right down in the post.
Around sixth or seventh grade, I fell in love with Tim Duncan and his all-around game. That's when I started watching him. Then my father introduced me to Hakeem Olajuwon. Those were the two guys I modeled my game after.
