The NBA is becoming a global game.

After spending more than 17 years playing for the NBA, in the summertime, I always came back to community service and different basketball clinics.

I've always felt obligated to help those less fortunate than me. It's an obligation that anyone who has a chance to be in the NBA should feel and act upon.

My heroes always are mostly my parents - my father especially, and my mom, who's passed on already. My dad is a very strong man, and by him being educated, and a principal and school superintendent over 37 years, he plays such a big role in my life.

I am not in politics. 'President Mutombo?' No, no, no. There has never been a politician in my family, and I am not going to try to be the first one.

When you take the elevator to the top, please remember to send it back down so someone else might use it.

Me as a backup center? Hell no.