Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
A lot of people think you go to a top college, you come into the NBA and it'll be all a breeze and easy. It's not like that.
It's not always fun. It burns inside to play defense. But you have to keep working and eventually defense is something you get used to.
I see a lot of people judging me and my rookie season, but I'm not really worried about struggling. I know I'm only going to get better.
My game really complements what the NBA wants - a long guy who can really handle the ball and shoot the ball and make multiple decisions.
My first time at Staples Center - it was a great win, great experience. It was fun to play there - a lot of big games have been played there.
I like to watch a lot of Kevin Durant, Brandon Ingram and Giannis Antetokounmpo - those tall lanky wings that can handle the ball and shoot it.
Most rookies coming in, they're a little short on the 3-point line because it's a little further back. But once you adjust to it, you'll be fine.
A lot of people say you can't make the league if you can't play defense, so I really play really good defense. That's something I really pride myself on.
The spacing is so much different in the NBA... There's more spacing, more 1-on-1. I got more space to do work - something I didn't get to show at Kentucky.
Of all time, my craziest fan experience was signing a little baby's forehead, like a newborn baby. The parents came up to me, they wanted me to sign his forehead.
Everyone who's great - play any sport, tennis, basketball, football, volleyball, swimming, don't matter, everyone's failed. Everyone's gonna fail. It's how you bounce back.
My dad coached pretty much my whole life. I think he stopped coaching me when I got to the seventh, eighth grade, serious AAU, when I started getting recruited and stuff like that.
My dad really pushed me, my brother and my sisters from young to be great. We've taken the time and put a lot of work in, so I'm sure we can all go on and achieve some great things.
I would love to join Big Blue Nation and play for Coach Calipari at Kentucky, and I would love to join my close friend Michael Porter Jr. and play for coach Cuonzo Martin at Missouri.
Football is a little bit different as far as lifting weights. We lifted weights every day. It's a different type of sport. So those things, different aspects, they help you in basketball.
Playing quarterback you have to have quick reactions. You've got to be able to know pretty much everything that's going on on the field, lateral quickness, lateral movements in the pocket.
No matter whether you're hurting or it's just a precaution, you gotta eat right, make sure that you're protecting your body because 82 games and all those road trips - it's going to be a lot.
You got to be able when you get the ball, slow it down, read the defense, call for a pick, and go off a pick-and-roll instead of going isolation all the time. Just be able to use that screen.
I would love to play for Leonard Hamilton and follow in the footsteps of my father at Florida State, where he played wide receiver and after a great career as a Seminole was drafted into the NFL.
Guys in the league have grown-man strength. They're not going to move off when you bump them. They know your moves and are going to cut them off. You have to be strong and have counters. You have to slow down.
Playing at Kentucky, before 24,000 people, you have to learn how to grow real fast and play under pressure and playing on ESPN with millions of people watching. Right away, you learn how to play under control.
In pick-and-roll situations, I feel like the NBA is all pick-and-rolls, so I want to be able to handle the ball in pick-and-rolls and make the right read, make the right passes, and make plays for my teammates.
I found out some of the spots on the floor that I like to shoot - do my little floater shots, my pull-up shots, being able to get all the way to the rim. By me doing that, it's kind of opened up my 3-point shot.
When I used to get the ball on the wing, I'd go fast and I'd go right. Veterans in this league, they watch film. They're definitely going to strategize. They know you like to go right. They know what your moves are.
I'm going to have to work it, compete for that starting spot, compete for that job. I'm willing to come in and work, willing to compete and go at people in practice so I can have that ability to start in the starting lineup.
At Kentucky, the environment and the coaching staff is going to prepare you for the next level, but the way we played in college... there's not a lot of spacing in college at all. So, I mean, you've just got to be able to play off the ball.
My family's big on discipline, respect, manners, make sure that we respect our elders. So that's kind of what the military is. You have to say, 'Yes sir,' 'No ma'am,' 'Yes ma'am.' All that stuff. That's kind of the mold my dad has for my brothers and I.
I would love to add to the rich tradition that Duke University holds on and off the court, and play for one of the all time great coaches, Coach K. I would love to go up to Chapel Hill, play for Roy Williams, and chase back-to-back National Championships at North Carolina.