"I'm a guy who can score the ball and shoot the ball." — Rodney Hood

You're sitting at home in a cast or a boot and it's tough, because all you've got is negative thoughts going through your head. Once you start to move and run a little bit, the confidence comes back, and then it's just a matter of time before you come back to be yourself.

It's refreshing to see my family. I know they can't always come out and see me play and see me throughout the year.

My 10th grade year I was 6-foot-4 and I grew to like 6-foot-7, but I still had my guard skills. I was playing point guard, I was a big guard. People started calling me 'Penny Hardaway' - comparing me to him because I was a big guard.

I know guys look at me for advice. I reach out to Kevin Durant or Wesley Matthews, DeMarcus Cousins... the guys who have been through it, and I just get confident more and more every day.

If I was going to start over, then I wanted to go somewhere I could get better and win and see if I was a really good player. That's why I came to Duke.

It becomes second nature, you know when it comes to life or death and loved ones leaving, having to be there for your family, not just emotionally, but financially or physically.

I'm just grateful that I didn't give up on myself and I just kept plugging at it.

I haven't played well regardless of what minutes I get, I gotta have a positive impact on the game and that's the frustrating part.

Showcase

Show all

I'm a guy who can score the ball and shoot the ball.