Fuck it give me Dwight.
https://theathletic.com/1067788/201...oward-about-whats-next-for-him-in-his-career/
There has been a perception about your dedication for the game — has that wavered and how do you respond to it?
Back in my younger days, I would take whatever anybody would say, and I would think of it as them hating on me and put me down. What I really realized is that I can’t think that way. I can’t move that way. I understand I had to really focus. I had to realign myself with the goals that I have. I have to focus. It really woke me up and told me that I have to be better at everything that I do in life.
First it starts with myself, then it goes to my relationship, my kids, basketball. This last injury that I had with my back, I really got a chance to step back and get structure for myself. I have completely changed who I am. I’ve changed who I am. I always have the same personality, but as far as my mentality, it’s way different.
How has your mentality become different? What have you learned?
When you come into the NBA at 18 from a real small school, a sheltered way of life, I didn’t understand a lot of things. I had to grow up in front of everybody. I always still wanted to be a kid because I never really had a chance to be one. Then I realized the things that I want to accomplish … there are times I can still be a kid, but I have to grow up.
Have you changed that ‘kid’ aspect, from joking and smiling a lot early in your career?
I can be a kid when I’m home, when I’m with my kids. But when it’s time for business, time for basketball, time for learning, that is not the time to play around. You can have fun doing this stuff, but you got to be locked in. This is how I view things now. I’ve grown up. I’ve been through so many messes that I had to learn, where it put me in a position to understand the next position in life.”
I really want to study the brain and study how to be one in body and mind.
How does your body feel?
I feel really good. Before I was traded to the Wizards, I sat down with (interim general manager) Tommy Sheppard and I was telling him that, ‘I know I didn’t get an opportunity to play, but I made a promise to myself and you that next season I will have a different body, mind and spirit.’
Are you fully cleared or still rehabbing?
I’m a full go. I’ve been running, I’ve been playing. I’ve lost 25 pounds in four weeks and my conditioning has gotten better. I’ve leaned out and changed my diet. I’ve added a new team around me as far as management. Everything that has happened in my past, I’m not upset about it and I don’t blame anyone about it. It’s lessons I’ve needed to learn to level up.
I’m just going to keep my head down and just keep working. I want to be the best father I can be.
There were allegations toward you that circulated on social media during the season. How was dealing with that, and how do you respond to it?
When that situation came out, I was extremely, extremely upset and hurt. For the person to come up with a story like that, it hurt. It caused a lot of hurt to me. I’m not going to allow that to affect me. I was mad at a lot of people for joking and saying the things that they said. A lot of words are just words, though, and I can’t let people’s words impact my energy.
I got a chance to see how a lot of people in this world may feel about whether they’re gay, straight, or whatever. Everybody has something they may be afraid to talk about. I saw pure hate from millions of people who never even met me; all because of a supposed decision that I would make. There are millions of people and kids in this world affected, who are affected by that thought process. They can’t even be who they are. If someone likes the color red … people can’t be who they are. I felt so bad about it.
Just be free, just be you, and just enjoy life. Don’t be afraid.
This person walked up on my mom and tried to apologize to my mom. My mom didn’t know what to do, because she was like, ‘This is a person who tried to destroy my son’s career.’ And I told my mom that it’s okay. We’re not going to stoop down and allow that to change who we are.
I never wanted it to a distraction to my teammates. I’m a survivor. I’ve been through a ton of situations, where if I wasn’t strong enough, I would not have survived. I’ve survived it all and came out on top.
What do you envision from a new team now?
I want to be whatever a team needs me to be. I’ve played in every situation so far. I used to really hate how Draymond (Green) plays, but what I noticed watching him during these playoffs was that he does everything for the team.
He’s everywhere. He’ll get a tech, he’ll take a charge, he’ll be everywhere on defense. He’s talking. He does everything. It doesn’t show up in the stat sheet, but it shows up in the mind of everyone watching. I want to be that person.
What is the mindset for your next team?
Winning. Winning. Winning. I want to win. Nothing else. Just win.
