The best player I've ever played against is Kobe Bryant. I have seen him do some stuff that is just unbelievable.

When I think about my MVP season, I will also think about the loss to Golden State. But winning the award as Most Valuable Player of the NBA is just a huge honour. I didn't really realise how big it was until Mark Cuban had tears in his eyes at the award ceremony.

I wanted to avoid service, because I was on the road to becoming a professional basketball player.

This feeling to be on the best team of the world is just indescribable.

Of course parents want their children to confide in them.

As a star you never know when people are really serious.

I played all kinds of sports when I was young: tennis, handball, basketball, some soccer. I focused on basketball when I was 16 or 17 and then came to the U.S. when I was 20.