You have good games, you have bad games. You have good years, you have bad years. I have always been kind of philosophical about that.

What really excited me at the end was the challenge of being the best I can be and prolonging my best level and playing against the best players in the world. But now that I don't have the opportunity to play against the best players in the world when it counts, in front of fans, it doesn't excite me as much.

We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.

Professional athletes die twice.

My closest friends in the league are Dirk Nowitzki and Rex Chapman. Although I think Michael Finley and I will be friends forever.

I don't think coaches should have to wear mic's. It is an invasion of privacy. We are trying to accomplish things, and wearing microphones may hinder development by straining the nature of relationships coaches and players have.

It feels great to have my hard work pay off, especially when the fans made it hard for me.