At age 31, in 1981, I was voted the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player in the league.

Because of the makeup of the NBA, it cannot afford for the public to turn on them.

When I went to Philadelphia I was 26 years old and really sitting on top of the world. Family life, a professional career, plenty of friends and associates, and a good reputation, a wish list that could be the envy of many.

If you don't do what's best for your body, you're the one who comes up on the short end.

I think I was chosen by basketball, although I never really physically got drafted to any team that I played for.

I pulled the plug on it at a time that I thought was right for me to exit.

That was just my own personal program: I didn't want to get too high over the good moments because I didn't want to be saddened and depressed when things didn't go as I had planned.