When you still have something in the tank, it's really hard to let it go.
I love basketball, and I didn't get a chance to finish my career the way I wanted.
To be able to bring an entire city together is not easy, and we definitely have one thing in common in the city - that's the Tigers. The history of the school is well-noted around town. It is an SEC kind of country with all the SEC schools, but Memphis trumps all of that in the city. I embrace that.
I am used to the hype because I played in the NBA.
I don't think about the money side. I just think about how I can create a culture of winning.
I was a sneakerhead before I even made it to the NBA.
Recruiting is tough because you have to stay in the battle. You've got so many guys that are going after a certain amount of kids.
The college kids are recruiting each other. When they go to a school, they start recruiting each other.
Playing the game at a high level, understanding what it's like to get to where I've already been and where they want to go. I tell those kids that we're going to develop you, we're going to teach you, and we're going to have you ready off the court and on the court to be an NBA player.
There are a lot of people who came out of adverse situations and made it. Use it as motivation. Use it to drive you.
I was blessed to get the contracts I had.
It's amazing to see these young guys come into the league and want to wear my shoes.
I think it's a huge compliment from the younger guys understanding what I did for the game and wanting to represent me by wearing my shoes.
I've coached grassroots for eight years, I coached middle school, and I coached high school.
Kobe has a different temperament than me. We're both competitive, but he was much more outspoken. I would let anything roll off me. Nothing bothered me. I never complained.
I was an introvert.
I wasn't trying to make First Team All-NBA. I just wanted to win.
I haven't felt like I ever had a chance to blossom into the player and the person I want to be in Orlando. It's almost like I've been held down every time.
People who weren't watching basketball were still fans of Lil Penny.
The NBA is my history.
