If you can be the best from Queensbridge and actually make it out, then you must be pretty good.
— Metta World Peace
I didn't realize Oklahoma had so many fine women.
I'm not afraid to improve myself spiritually, emotionally, economically. I'm not afraid to take on that challenge.
I coach a couple players. But it's not a thing where I'm going to hide and be that perfect mentor. I just give them the best advice I can and live my life accordingly.
People can never question how hard I work. That's all I care about.
Honestly, for me, when the Pacers win a championship, I'll feel a little bit better.
I don't care who I align with. Things happen naturally.
I don't feel bad about telling somebody I see a psychologist. I don't feel that you should feel bad about improving yourself.
I'm too direct.
Whatever is in the best interest of the Lakers, that's what's important to me.
I think, at the end of the game, guys gotta trust themselves more. I think sometimes - not myself, but sometimes, guys - they look to Kobe too much.
I've learned a lot from my own kids. Actually, my son was the reason why I got involved in other things outside of basketball.
I've had so much great teaching, and I'm one of the best defensive players to ever play the game on the wing.
Gluten-free pasta is not a focus, which I would rather have gluten-free pasta. Hey, if I have to have regular pasta... It is what it is.
I think coaches really do matter because they see the game, and we just play the game from a different point of view, so they're able to give us a lot of tips and a lot of pointers, and I think coaches are really, really important.
I think in the history of basketball, people get hired and people get fired, but the main thing is people enjoy their careers and enjoy that they have jobs, so you really have to stay positive about everything.
I feel like I let people know I'm not a toy.
I'm not a 'real rapper'; I just like to talk about what I've been through. When I was younger, I just said random, stupid lyrics and censored myself because I was worried about what people would think. But now I've become more mature with my words and uncensored.
For me, I saw a psychologist because I wanted to connect more with people, with the earth, my environment. I want to connect more to my family.
Everybody has different issues, good or bad, that they carry with them on the court. It affects you. And for me, it affected me to where sometimes I would be overly aggressive and, in other ways, it would affect people to where they can't perform on the court.
I can play, it's not even a question, man. But, you know, sometimes you don't get in the game, man. What are you going to do? I'm not going to be upset; I'm going to support.
I'm a goofball. I'm always going to be that. I'm not going to change. If I got a head coaching job, I'm going to continue to laugh and have fun.
I didn't know how to get along with others. I didn't even know how to be in the same room with other people. Then, after a while, you learn.
A live feeder is somebody who is trying to eat everybody in the room.
I'm one of the best all-around small forwards in the world.
I started to music when I was about 19 years old. Most people that do music, they get training, or they develop themselves before they let their music out. For myself, I was actually developing myself and putting my music out at the same time.
I don't really talk about myself. I always talk about what could make the team better.
Now I will bop my head to gangsta music - I'm not going to lie.
I'm from Queensbridge. It's the largest housing project in New York. And growing up in Queens, it was different because I wasn't really experienced in traveling to the City. I never really got used to the City.
I'm not afraid to address anything ever.
Nothing will distract me from my focus, my galactic mind.
Kobe is amazing. He's extremely competitive.
You can't prepare for something that you can't prepare for.
I feel like I had a great career. Had some big games... I feel like I had a great time.
I grew up in the 'hood, but it was like growing up in Beverly Hills because there were so many superstars around.
I have a street mind. My whole mindset when I first got to the NBA was, 'I'm bringing that street to the game,' and, 'I'm going to be the hardest guy on the court; I'm going to be the hardest guy on the planet.'
What happened was, when I got into the brawl in Detroit, I was transitioning into a different type of person, that person that I've become, but that game had so many emotions involved.
I had this ego that was unstable. If you said anything about me good or bad, it really went to my head.
When Kobe talks, I shut up and stay out of his way.
I'd heard of the name 'Big Brother' before. I didn't realize that it was on TV for 20 years. My manager told me, ''Big Brother' wants you.' I said, 'I don't feel like watching it, and I don't know what I'm getting into.'
I'm just happy that Jesus Christ, um, did not let me lose my teeth when I was 20 years old. 'Cause I was wondering, like, what if you kept your baby teeth until the age of 18 or 20, and then you lose 'em? That would look pretty bad.
If someone is not playing defense or not giving effort, that's my specialty. I don't hold back on my words.
I'm going to watch basketball regardless of whether I coach or watch it on TV.
The Lakers, they did a lot for me, so I like it here.
I don't want to get stuck practicing basketball all day, so that's why I'm always moving: because I don't like to be stuck in one mind-frame.
Now, you can bring up the past, but anybody can bring up the past. Even my daughter brings up the past sometimes. She makes a lot of jokes about the things that I've done.
I'm not a player; I'm an alien.
My focus is on winning championships. I don't focus on anything else.
I'm always excited about life in general.
Big Brother makes a game where it's competitive, not just a handicap match. Mentally, physically, strategically, emotionally, it's an even match. When you compete 100%, it's a real competition.
