I never tried to prove anything to someone else. I wanted to prove something to myself.

The hunger [to success] is the same, no matter what it is that you're doing. It's like an unquenchable thirst to learn more, or to feel like you could have done more, and to be brutally honest and self critical, which is very hard to do. It's easy, and human nature is to just blame somebody else. It's very, very hard to self assess.

I was shooting 45 times a game. What was I supposed to do? Pass it into Chris Mihm & Kwame Brown?

Nobody in the world can guard me one-on-one.

I didn't expect this award [the 2008 MVP] would come to me. I'm surprised. I've played pretty well in other seasons. Our team hasn't been as good. Things just fell into place.

Everyone looks at your watch and it represents who you are, your values and your personal style.

The only thing I'm afraid of is bees. I don't like bees. I'm allergic to them.