I think about what I say. I don't give stock answers. I'm not trying to cultivate an image with the public, like several of the top players do.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
But I think the image that's thrown out on television is a bad image. Because you see players who want to imitate hip-hop stars. And the NBA is taking advantage of the situation.
Some of football's gaudiest displays of manliness are purely aesthetic. It's not what players do, it's how they look doing it.
I also think there's too many players who say the same boring answers, they don't even have to turn up to interviews because journalists answer their own questions the way they ask them. Unfortunately the way it is now players are so afraid to say anything, but I'd like them to be honest.
The image that the public gets is whatever they perceive it to be. Everybody has an opinion, everybody has their own vision, so I don't know what my public image is. I have no idea.
I don't really take into account what the media says. People have their own opinions about what goes on, but they don't see what goes on behind the scenes with an athlete and their preparation.
Every top player has his own style, just as every painter has his own personal signature.
I've never worried about what audiences would accept or had a game plan regarding the career. I never had an idea of how I should look to my fans or anybody else.
I look at athletes in all sports and try to picture what kind of football player they'd be, what position they'd play and so on.
I actually think some of the rappers can help our image, because the thing I'm concerned about is the NBA's image. I always want our image to be on the rise, and if the rappers can help young players get business-minded, then I'm all for it.
I don't care about image and all that nonsense. I'm in sweat pants every day. I don't play the game at all.