I don't think that players learn how to play any other aspect of the game in high school or college.

It's a sad commentary when I have to say that sometimes in our country we are real sensitive to race.

You've got to learn the footwork, the positioning, how to box out, how to pass, how to shoot your free throws. All these things are necessary, not to be the No. 1 player in the world, but maybe you can play against him.

This is where young players today want to land. They want to be NBA players because of the money.

If you're a basketball player, you've got to shoot.

You need a teaching coach who understands the game of basketball, not just some guy coming on the court talking about Xs and Os.

I'd like to think that the nature of the two teams - Boston being a championship team over the years and the Lakers, same thing - was a lot bigger than Larry Bird or Magic Johnson.