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I was born in a slum, but the slum wasn't born in me.

I tell people to look at me and understand that everybody first told me that I couldn't be a 6-foot, 9-inch point guard, and I proved them wrong. Then they told me I couldn't be a businessman and make money in urban America, and I proved them wrong. And they thought I couldn't win all these championships, and I proved them wrong there as well.

I used slam dunking as a tool for intimidation.

When you put yourself out into the world and say, 'Hey, look at me,' you're going to get criticized.

I don't mind being called snobbish, a pain and a social climber, but being called unkind really hurts.

Somehow whatever I play ends up being sleazy.

I try to understand people who aren't as smart as me and not be hateful.

I used to play basketball and I was pretty competitive, but I was never a bad loser. I never got angry. For me it was always about doing my best and devoting myself to a challenge.

That arrogance of youth and that kind of ignorant confidence can get you through a whole lot of things, and then life does its stuff, and you get smashed around and beaten up. You get full of doubts, and you end up making a person out of those bits and pieces.