Just hearing somebody's voice in center field, it helps our guards out to know where they need to go, when the screen is coming, when the back door is coming, when the flare is coming. When different things like that happen and we're talking, it helps us all out in the long run.
I think I'm a good offensive player, good defensive player. I do it on both ends of the floor.
Whenever I'm out on the basketball court, I lace up and just hoop. Whether it's in summertime, at practice, in the games, playoffs, every time I step out on the basketball court, I approach it the same way.
I believe I'm better than everybody when it comes to footwork, timing, reflexes, defense, you name it.
I'm not the strongest, I'm not the fastest, I can't jump the highest, so for me, it's doing it in other ways: changing paces, using your body to get open, knowing your defender. A lot goes into it. You have to study the game.
Most of basketball is in the mind. But it helps to have big hands.
There's a lot of ingredients go into being a good tennis player.
As for my speed, I'm not the fastest, but just like in other sports, you learn to stay away from your weaknesses and make more use of your strengths: my shooting ability, court awareness, rebounding, and helping out defensively.
One-on-one is different than actually going through picks, hitting the floor, playing 5-on-5, getting back in transition, making quick moves without thinking about it.
Sometimes, I see the guys driving and they don't even look at the rim, they just dribble out so it's as good as a block or even better because I'm kind of laughing when I see that. That's what it's about.
You can't just sit back and think you're gonna pack the paint in and win games. You've gotta guard that three-point line.
That's one part of my game that never leaves - the defensive part.
You have to defend the perimeter guys otherwise you're going to struggle getting playing time or staying on the court.
Knicks fans are the smartest in the world and they know you can't just play one end of the court.
I wasn't a bad basketball player, but I was far from the world's greatest. Good defense, no offense - that was me.
Basketball is basketball, so from a strategic standpoint, having a players' perspective is valuable.
I try to work on my defense every game, every practice.
I run my routes like a crossover dribble. It's about taking angles, faking one way but going the other, and being savvy. And then, instead of running to the basket, I'm running away from the defender.
There is so much that goes in to being a good tennis player. It's not just what you can do well on the court, it's between the ears as well.
LeBron James - I'm such a big basketball fan, and to be in his body for a day and be able to just dunk at will, have that level of court awareness and size, oh my goodness, that would be a treat.
The thing that you don't understand about college basketball until you're one or two seasons in - and something I've struggled with - is that you have to be 100 percent connected to your other four guys on the court at all times.
Tennis is a mental game. Everyone is fit, everyone hits great forehands and backhands.
You can't surprise LeBron any more. He's such a smart player. His intellect has caught up with his athletic ability.
I think a lot of people have the idea that all I do is dunk and all I do is make layups.
I'm just a basketball player, you know? Just put me where you need me.
