Don't disrespect me, lie about it, and then come smile in my face and act like nothing's wrong.

At the point when I lost my father, it really made me want to be like a father and be like my father. It was a real turning point for me because it helped me mature - it made me think about being responsible because I wasn't the only one I had to think about.

Everything was a lesson learned and a step forward for me.

When I got to Central Arkansas, I was a small, slim guy with little chance of playing in the NBA. Then, I went through a two-year growth spurt, and suddenly, I was 6-foot-7.

The odds were against me when I arrived at Central Arkansas. I was barely 6-foot-2 and didn't have a scholarship. But I always felt I could make it to the NBA; it was as if I had foreseen my future, and I knew I would make it.

It's not always about getting better on the basketball court. This game teaches you how to become a better person as well. It pushes you into the team concept.