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When I played, I received racial abuse but I was just one of a few black players and we weren't backed up by the authorities.

The one thing that always bothered me when I played in the NBA was I really got irritated when they put a white guy on me.

I always enjoyed playing ball, and it didn't matter to me whether I played with white kids or black. I never understood why an issue was made of who I played with, and I never felt comfortable, when I grew up, telling other people how to act.

I sometimes get very protective of the people I play.

I have always been small, so defenders have always been taller and tougher than me. So that's difficult for me; they foul me sometimes, but there you are - that's what the rules of the game are for.

When I was a kid, like 14 or 15, I played with the waiters from the hotel, 'cause that was the best game. And these guys, they'd let me play. And they were black guys.

It's good to play something that's black and white, and a guy that sees right and wrong. I've never played a character like that.

I'm a little concerned I'm always going to be playing a black guy, you know what I'm saying?

Those days were very tough. All my teammates are white, and it was a different time. I couldn't go out to eat with the white players; I had to wait until someone brought something out to the bus. We couldn't stay in the same hotels.

I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager and never, ever your uniform.