Athletes have all the influence in the world. Everyone wants to hear what you have to say.
More people care about LeBron James than some religious leader.
Sports and education, I think they overlap.
At the end of the day, basketball is basketball. You've got a whole life to live.
You've got athletes who are politicians, venture capitalists, musicians, rappers, etcetera. It's becoming more of a popular thing to have other interests outside of basketball, and I think that's normal. Just like when people work day jobs, they have interest in sports, they do investments, they do all these other types of things.
I can remember back when I was getting ready for the NBA, going through media training, going to certain camps - they almost teach you to not say anything that will get you any backlash or not say anything out of the norm, and what you're saying could be true to yourself.
I don't believe in holding your tongue, especially if it's something you can directly benefit from or some people need to hear.
Who's to say because you're just a basketball player, or you are a basketball player, who's to say you can't chime in on other subjects or other important topics?
I'm not saying that players should go out and say random things, especially if they don't know anything about it. But I think players do know more than people give them credit for. People do research, and people are entitled to their own opinions.
Why, when an athlete says something, why is it downplayed or considered not OK? I've always challenged that notion.
Sports is a unique thing in our country. It's so influential. It's almost like a sacrament for religion.
I don't want to come into a situation like the NBA and have to develop for two or three years. When I come in, I want to be a superstar.
I just want to develop and be the best player I can be.
I've worked on my shot because that's what people have been critiquing me on my whole life. I've gotten a lot better at it, and I continue to get better at it.
I'm not a guy that's going to shoot 10 3s a game - I like to get to the basket. But some of those shots I do gotta take. Some of those shots I gotta let fly.
I definitely feel like you have an influence. I'm 21 years old, and I'm thinking about the kids that are from my neighborhood, from my community, that are looking up to me and seeing me handle myself a certain way, so I do feel a responsibility in that sense to handle myself a certain way in front of those guys.
I really feel like there's nothing I can't do on the floor.
I always have a point to prove where I have a chip on my shoulder at all times.
I'm overly confident. I believe in myself 100 percent. I believe in my game, and I believe in my work ethic.
Jae Crowder, he's like my big bro.
