I could have skated by as an athlete, but the world is so much bigger and more interesting than any one thing. I didn't want to be pigeonholed as just a jock. I'm also an author, a student of history, and I collect memorabilia from the Wild West. I'm also a son, a father, and a friend.

We want to show how hip-hop, which kind of fuels today's basketball stars, is directly related to jazz.

The transition was difficult. It's hard to stop something that you've enjoyed and that has been very rewarding.

When a rap song glorifies violence, death and sadness and loss is inflicted because of the violence.

All the courage and competitiveness of Jackie Robinson affects me to this day. If I patterned my life after anyone it was him, not because he was the first black baseball player in the majors but because he was a hero.

We don't have selfish guys here, which sometimes leads to problems.

A lot of young players don't really know much about the history of the game and a lot of them are missing out on what the game is all about, especially the whole concept of sportsmanship and teamwork.