I always wanted to be a Sixer. My dad was a Sixers' fan. I never wanted to leave. I wanted to start my career in Philly and finish it here.

I just wanted to set a good example. I wanted to do things that I hadn't done before. My whole thing was to just try to be professional. I think when you work hard, good things happen, so obviously, because we're going to the Finals.

Believe me, I am not even that brave enough to miss that many practices.

I'm not perfect. But I am trying every day to concentrate on being better.

My whole thing was, just being me. Now, you look around the NBA and all of them have tattoos, guys wearing cornrows. Now you see the police officers with the cornrows. I took a beating for those types of things.

People think that I'm some tough renegade, black-hearted being, evil, but that ain't me.

If that many people recognize how hard I go every night and what I put into my game, to make myself and my team better, it means a lot to mean. I'm fortunate; I'm blessed to be in the situation that I'm in right now.