Shawn Kemp
I've made my share of mistakes, but I've learned.
Sometimes I don't realize the things I do on the court.
A lot of times, the spectacular play the fans see is not always what I tried to do. It just happens.
I feel I've proved I can rebound, block shots, get steals and pass the ball, too.
If you have a goal, you have to step forward and try to get it accomplished.
I wasn't in the right place at Kentucky, and I don't think I ever would have been comfortable in college.
The NBA fits my game.
It doesn't matter who's under the basket, I'm going to try to slam or block the shot.
I've always enjoyed playing in the summer.
I started jogging, jogging and jogging. I ran this weight off.
I've always appreciated basketball. I never tried to disrespect the game.
You don't work your butt off for 90 yards of a 100-yard dash and then just quit.
Anytime you struggle, people are always going to say something.
When you lose you try to learn from your mistakes and build on them.
Making it to the Finals was the hardest work. You have to go out and play the physical and mental game.
I like to try to get around the younger generation to just encourage them. But I've always been afraid of coaching because I was always hard on myself as a player.
You have to challenge yourself and things happen from there.
I've always thought I could shoot from the outside.
I actually felt bad because I was dunking the ball so much. I led the league in dunks one year, and they told me that was the wrong thing to do.
When I got into the NBA, the thing of it was, if you won, you got a new arena. But if you lost, you had to work to get the arena.
You can't be a losing team and get a new arena. That's not fair. That's not fair! That's how I see it.
I'm afraid that if they bring the Sonics back, what kind of team are they going to put on the court? Are they going to put the effort out? If they bring the team back, are they going to really put a good team out there? Or do we just want any team?
I am not a savior.
I can play full-court or half-court. It doesn't make any difference.
You won't see me doing a lot of talking, but you'll see me doing a lot of playing.
You know, I'm not going to be on a losing team. That's just not going to happen.
People, when they sent me to Cleveland, what they expected was for Shawn to go to Cleveland and us to lose, you know what I'm saying? It's not going to happen.
You don't play eight years and all of a sudden let your game go down just for a trade.
I have always been able to handle situations well once they've happened to me.
I'm drug-free. I don't drink.
I make sure I stay in full contact with the kids. It is my responsibility to make sure these guys are taken care of and loved. That's what I have to do and will continue to do.
Trust me, I have had my days where I don't feel great about myself. You have those days where you kind of get down. But for the most part, I have been able to stay focused and happy and use my time wisely.
I learned so much from the people in Seattle. They taught me everything from community to business relationships.
I'm relentlessly aggressive.
People are always going to be negative when they mention my name, but I can accept that and that's what makes it easier for me to go on.
Anytime you're playing with a team that's losing, the main guy is going to take a lot of the heat.
My thing is to just go out and play.
It'll be a challenge for me to come in and fit with a team that's already good.
Most of the time when you're going for a championship, unless you have guys who are willing to sacrifice, you're not going to win it.
I never want to be considered a guy who made a lot of money who didn't earn it.
I played so many years without having a big contract, to have the big contract and not win and not have the appreciation, it hurt.
I think most young players who take off from the start are usually put in a situation where they are surrounded by good, veteran players.
I don't always have to dunk the ball.
I'm just getting wiser as I get older.
Anytime you play basketball and your backs are to the wall, you have to come out and play aggressive.
I don't go out looking to make spectacular plays. I just try to come in and be a physical presence inside.
Spectacular plays just happen. That's just part of the game.
I see myself as a winner. I'm not one of those guys who say, 'Let's come back next year and maybe give it a better shot.' The shot is now.