When I was 17, I worked in a mentoring program in Harlem designed to improve the community. That's when I first gained an appreciation of the Harlem Renaissance, a time when African-Americans rose to prominence in American culture. For the first time, they were taken seriously as artists, musicians, writers, athletes, and as political thinkers.

If not shown appreciation, it gets to you.

The first time I shot the hook, I was in fourth grade, and I was about five feet eight inches tall. I put the ball up and felt totally at ease with the shot. I was completely confident it would go in. I've been shooting it ever since.

I got all A's and was hated for it; I spoke correctly and was called a punk.

High school dropouts are forfeiting their opportunity to pursue the American Dream.

A lot of players think the game is all about individual performances when it's really all about a team game.

My choosing Islam was not a political statement; it was a spiritual statement.