I was just a big fan of tattoos always growing up, and I wanted something cool that symbolizes what I've been through in my life, and everything on my chest and my back is like a collage.
Russell... I love you. I thank you so much man. You made me better. You know, Your work ethic. I always wanted to compete with you. I always wanted to pull up into the parking lot of the practice facility, And if you beat me there, I was always upset. I always wanted to outwork you. And you set the bar. You set the tone. And thank you so much man. Thank you. You had a big piece of this MVP trophy. You're an MVP caliber player It's a blessing to play with you man.
It's not always like I'm right, and you're wrong. It's both ways.
I've learned that it's harder to try to put on this goody two-shoes persona when that's not me.
It's part of my game, getting to the free-throw line and being aggressive. If you say that I get superstar calls or I get babied by the refs, that's just taking away from how I play. That's disrespectful to me.
Everybody. No matter how they feel about me, everybody on Oklahoma City, on that team, of course I watch them. I support them. I want them to do well.
This means the world to me that you guys are here with me celebrating with me. Thank you. Thank you. I can’t express it enough.
With everything I do, I just try to be myself.
I'm just content with myself, happy with myself.
I Tweeted Keri Hilson the other day and she actually wrote back! I was so excited.
I'm tired of being second.... I'm done with it.
I'm a basketball player. That's what I do and what I love but that's just not all who I am. I'm talented in a lot of different areas.
My mother taught me to always be strong and always work hard. She's been working hard her whole life for me and my brother. I'm a lot like her in that I work hard for what I want. She taught me that.
I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord.
I want to show people who I really am, especially aspiring basketball players who want to be at this level. That's what I'm about.
In the game of basketball, I play first off because I love it. I love to have fun. I love to run up and down the court.
I'm not trying to be like what I thought an NBA player is supposed to be growing up.
I'm always hungry. I want to be the best.
With a versatile player, there's no spot on the court you can't pass him the ball. You can do anything.
You hear all these stories about, 'There's one in a million guys that make it to the NBA and stay there.' To see people cheering for me and when they say my name, it's just crazy. It's still crazy to me.
Set the goal and work all days for it, until you achieve, I want to be a champion, the best!
I've been more content with just who I am.
I miss Seattle a lot. It was my first city that I lived in on my own. It was a great city to play for. It was unfortunate for the fans what happened, but it’s time to move on. I’m sure they’ve moved on. But in the back of my mind, I still have a thing for Seattle and always am going to remember what they’ve done for me.
If I'd gone straight to the NBA, I don't think I would have been ready as a player or a person.
I ride for my guys. That's the bro code.
I don't mind talking about the game. I don't mind talking about what we go through as players, because I want people to get a deeper look inside instead of looking at stats all the time or looking at numbers or just watching the game. I want them to get a pulse on us as players, and a lot of players might not want that, but that's what I want.
I would describe my style as off the wall. I like stuff that doesn't match. I just like to stand out.
If it's controversy out there, or if it's some false stories out there, I want to clear it up. That's just what I'm all about.
I probably play games more than I practice.
I learned how to pass when I was real young. That's one thing I always knew how to do was find the open man.
If I continue to just get to the playoffs every year, I guess you could say I arrived, but right now I'm just trying to find my way.
I always want to win because I never want to sit out on the sidelines outside.
I like the nucleus that we have. I'm excited. I want to be here as long as possible. It's like family. I love being here.
The clothes are not making me If I like it, that's all that mattersIt's not about the clothes. It's about how I am as a person and how confident I am.
Our best years are only ahead of us, so we got to continue to keep pushing.
I just loved being in the gym. It was tough at times. Sometimes I wanted to quit, but I'm glad I stuck with it.
You sacrificed for us - you're the real MVP.
You can't speak openly about everything.
I feel good doing it. It's not like guys are stripping me at half-court or I'm just losing the ball dribbling. I think I'm handling the ball pretty well, just trying to make good passes, man.
I play because I have fun. The vets of this team, I just wanted to say thanks to them. You guys mean so much to me. I can have a terrible day and walk in the gym and have Hasheem smile at me. That will change my day.
Me as a person, I'm not the president of the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association). I don't even know what to say. I'm not like this perfect, buttoned-up, suit-and-tie guy.
I’ve been second my whole life.
This city, all they want us to be is ourselves. You love us how we are. We’re all a work in progress as men and you still love us and I thank you so much for embracing us.
Last, I just want to thank God again. He's the first and the last. Alpha and Omega. I thank you for saving my life.
For me, as a 14-year-old aspiring to be in the NBA, I wanted to hear from players.
Music has always been a big part of my life. It's kind of like a refuge for me. I just use it to get away.
There's a lot of falses - out there and if I take up for myself, it's a bad thing. Sometimes you just got to live with it, but for the most part, I'm like look, I don't want no problems with nobody.
It's easier for me if I'm just open and transparent to a point.
Basketball is just a platform for me to inspire people.
I look at my jersey and see the NBA logo, I'm like, 'I didn't think I'd be here.'
To all the staff members that take care of us every single day, From Donnie Strack, to Joe Sharpe, Tony Katz, Dave Bliss, Josh Longstaff, Will, Wilson, St, Mark, Dwight, I could down the line, All you guys have made me a better player. I wish I had a Sharpie, So I could write all your names on here 'Cause you had a hand on this. You made me believe in myself. You made me a better person, A better player. Your words of encouragement, Your love, Your positivity, Got me through. And I thank you guys.
All this stuff is kind of surreal to me - Ididn't think I'd be in the league or none of that. It was making it to college. That's about it.
All the support from all my friends, All my family over the years, I appreciate it.
Hopefully before I'm done, I can be on an Olympic team.
Some guys like to talk. What's the problem with that?
I'm going to show you my faults, I'm going to show you my insecurities, I'm going to be real.
I'm just more content with myself. Like, if I've got something to say, I want to get it off of my chest.
My dream was to become a rec league coach. I love basketball so much, I love playing it, I just never thought I'd make it to college, NBA, or be standing up here today. It is a surreal feeling. So many people doubted me and motivated me. I failed so many times and got back up. I got through the toughest times with my family, but I'm still standing.
You know, I think more people should watch women's basketball. It'd do so much for the game.
I'm obviously not going to give you everything about my whole life, but as far as my personality, you see me all the time from watching the games.
If I come to work every day and do my job, work as hard as I can, be a great teammate, the rest of that stuff will take care of itself.
I know when somebody is trying to get something out of me for clicks. And sometimes I feel like giving it to them. Sometimes I feel like being real and open to them, but at the same time, I know how much I can give you.
I like what I like, I am who I am, I know what I want to do, you know what I'm saying?
Last but not least my family. My brother Tony, I love you. Thank you for beating me up when I was a kid. I always wanted to follow in your footsteps. I pray for you every night. You’ve taught me to feel confident in myself, believe in myself that I can do it when I didn’t think I could do it. Dad, it’s been an up-and-down road for all of us, but you’ve always been there supporting from afar, texting me Bible verses every single day, telling me you love me every single day. That builds me up and I thank you so much. I love you. I’m just glad you’re part of this journey with us.
I was always in the gym. People would look at me crazy because I spent so much time there. But that's what it was about. I'm glad I did it.
I'm not out here to be showing you I'm this perfect person.
I ain't got no beef with nobody.
I'm just trying to grow. That's one thing I told myself is, 'Don't worry about who people say is the best player'.
I know that the hard work got me here. And the day I stop working hard, this can all go away.
Every memory I have from when I was a kid involves basketball.
I've learned what it feels like to lose, believe me. But I think, in the end, that is just going to make winning that much better.
Reggie when I first met you, You didn't say two words to me, I didn't know who you were, But we instantly clicked, And you became one of my best friends man... Words can't express how much I care about you, Your well-being, How you feeling, Not even just basketball man, But off the court, I always make sure you're alright. You're such a humble person man. You do everything for the team. You always put yourself last. And I learned a lot from you. Thank you man, thank you.
How I grew up, everybody was telling me, "You can't do this, you can't get tattoos, you've got to look a certain way." Now, I'm like, "Why?"
I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord. I'm keeping strong at it, just trying to make my walk with faith a little better.
Perry, Jeremy, Man, Just knowing that you guys look up to me, And I can help you out so much, I could pull you to the side when we're working out. And just as much as you think I'm making you better, You elevate my game.
Scott Brooks you mean the world to me. I love you. You as a man, I never met anybody like you. So selfless. You don't take the credit for nothing, Even though you deserve all of it. I love you and your family for always taking me in, Believing in me, Texting me late at night when I was going crazy. Thank you. Thank you.
Everything has been such a whirlwind ever since I stepped foot in the league and everything has been like a dream, so I'm just blessed to be in this position.
Chemistry is important. If you like your teammates, it's going to be easier to play with them on the court.
Beautiful fans of Oklahoma City, I can’t say enough about you guys. All the support you give our team. The home-court advantage we have is the best I’ve ever seen. We disappoint you sometimes, but we try our best every single night to win for you guys. And we want to win a championship for you guys.
I'm a big competitor.
My friends are happy for me, and that's all that matters.
Whoever want my spot can play me one-on-one for it.
I'm not going to act like I'm this person that I'm not, because I operate bad in that space, you know what I'm saying?
Mr. Bennett, for just giving me this opportunity. I thank you for always being there for me when I need you. Every time I see you under the basket for a game, I feel confident. No matter how the game is going, I look at you - I say, if our owner's behind us, we can do it all. I thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
I'm going to be real as hell and show you who I am, because I want the kids to see who I really am and the basketball players to see who I really am, and that's all that matters to me.
I'm not out here to be beefing with nobody.
My mom just wants to make sure that my heart is always in whatever I do and I'm in things for the right reasons.
I fell so many times and got back up. I been through the toughest times with my family, but I’m still standing.
We're talking too much about what goes on in the stands, nothing about what goes on on the court.
I like to sit on things and digest them and then I'll figure out my next move, but I never said I was right for doing anything.
I didn’t fall in love with it just because it was me playing. I fell in love with it because I’ve got guys like this – like these guys every single day that push me to be the best that I can be.
I'm an old-school type of guy.
Every memory I had growing up was involving a basketball. I didn't go to the prom and stuff like that. It was always basketball for me.
So many people doubted me. They motivated me every single day, to be, who I am.
I play basketball. I can't control the media, the way I play. I can't control all of it.
I'm busy working on every aspect of my game - defense, shooting, rebounding - but I really want to become a better overall team player. Help my teammates become better players out on the court in order to win more ball games.
First off, I'd like to thank God for changing my life. It let me really realize what life is all about. Basketball is just a platform for me to inspire people, and I realize that.
I want to be one of the best players in the game.
The grass is not always greener on the other side. You learn to appreciate these people.
My acting coach I've got here, Richard Lawson, he's been doing good, just telling me to calm down sometimes and just be me.
I go to sleep at night, like, ’Am I gonna be alone forever?’
I'm not this tough guy, I'm not this super hard person.
It's fun that I get to live out my dream every single day. It's a blessing. I can't lose sight of that and I've just got to keep pushing.
In this league, experience means a lot.
I was the second-best player in high school. I was the second pick in the draft. I've been second in the MVP voting three times. I came in second in the Finals. I'm tired of being second. I'm not going to settle for that. I'm done with it.
I'm like a chameleon. I adapt to my situation. It's very slowed down here. I like it that way. I'm a guy that's very reserved, quiet and shy myself.
When people are used to you doing something, they want you to stay in that lane.
I don’t watch a lot of other basketball away from the gym. But I do look at LeBron’s box score. I want to see how many points, rebounds and assists he had, and how he shot from the field. If he had 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, I can tell you exactly how he did it, what type of shots he made and who he passed to.
I'm here to shine a bright light. I'm not here to be a guy of death. I just like 'KD' better.
Sometimes you have to know when to shut the f - - up.
It's hard to play well, but it's easy to work hard.
I want people to know what they didn't know about me. I just wanted them to know the real side.
I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow. I just know for sure I'm going to keep playing basketball.
I can score the basketball, but I think I can pass pretty well or I can make the correct pass. I'm not the type of guy who's just going to throw the ball inbounds to a guy who's wide open. I can make the right pass.
People always think women meet us in the hotel lobby, but it's the opposite. The majority of the time, you go out to eat with your teammates, then rest for the next day's game. It's not a vacation - most guys view the road as a business trip.
I'm not into no basketball beef.
My style has changed and evolved mainly because I've grown to have more confidence in myself.
I've just got to let my teammates know in practice, without even telling them, that I don't think I'm ahead of anybody.
And last, my mom. I don’t think you know what you did. You had my brother when you were 18 years old. Three years later, I came out. The odds were stacked against us. Single parent with two boys by the time you were 21 years old. Everybody told us we weren’t supposed to be here. We went from apartment to apartment by ourselves. One of the best memories I had was when we moved into our first apartment, no bed, no furniture and we just sat in the living room and just hugged each other. We thought we made it.
I believe I'm enough, you know what I'm saying?
Experience is the best teacher. I've been through a lot - going to the Olympics, going to the Finals, having a lot of good games and having a lot of bad games. It's a rollercoaster ride and I'm just happy I'm a part of it. If it was easy, then everybody could do it.
When you got people behind you, you can do whatever.
Work harder than your opponent.
I don't have to be anybody I'm not.
I'm going to be me at the end of the day. And I think my family appreciates that. They're happy for me that I'm finding out who I am, and I'm content with that.
