Athlete

I've been in the frame of mind in Charlotte that, O.K., I'm going to play defense. But I've never been in a frame of mind that my defense is going to generate my offense.

I just don't want my offense to carry over to my defense. I want to help the team win and be a team player.

I think we sometimes think, 'it is just preseason. These games are for the fans mostly.' It's for ourselves to get in shape and play against more competition. Let's face it, this is preseason, but you can develop bad habits during preseason.

I'm a big Jeff Van Gundy fan.

As far as me going out to a movie or going out to eat, and people coming up, that's fine. I love that. I'd rather have it than not have it.

I've turned down several assistant jobs in the NBA that I just didn't feel good about. I would love it at UNLV.

I want to play 11, 12 years right here and then retire - and win us some national championships, and be the Michael Jordan of Charlotte. This is the place that drafted me, that paid me. This is the place I should be loyal to.

There's a roller coaster effect when you're playing good. Everything seems to go your way. But once you start playing bad, you're playing bad.

I hope people understand that Jerry Tarkanian gave young black males a chance to better themselves and the lives of their families when no one else would. The way Coach talked to me, he spoke my language. I needed that type of voice in my life.

If I'm hurting the team with my play, then maybe I have to sit out a game. If I think I can be effective knowing what I can and can't do, I'll keep going at it.

I'm not going to take too much credit for what's happened in my life. When we're playing, the things I do are because of my teammates. So I'm not going to take too much credit.

When it comes to the younger generation, anything on the floor I'll criticize - not playing hard, not doing this, fighting, not giving your all. Off the floor, you guys are on your own.

In Vegas we thrived on being the hated team, on being the bad boys. That's definitely not my personality. If that helps my team, helps me play better, then so be it.

The key for me is the way I take care of myself off the floor.

To become this N.B.A. player was fun; it just got to be work when I got here.

This is a beautiful country, the best country, but it's not holy, it's not righteous.

In Dallas, I eat bean soup and bean pies every day. On Saturdays, I treat myself to a veggie pizza.

Don't come to me and smile and then stab me behind my back.

When you first come to a team, no one wants to come down and take three or four shots in a row. You want to pass the ball around and get the feel of each other.

JC was good for me. I had a coach who kept me into things and thinking positive. It was good basketball, but more than that it prepared me for the academic scene at a university.