Do you think you lucked out by getting drafted by the Hawks since you're from Atlanta?
It feels good. Some say that I should of gotten picked before Atlanta. I guess it was Gods inhabitation for me to be here but to still have my family around, a home cooked meal and having someone around to talk to has been a blessing and privilege.
With you going into your third season, what role do you think you'll play on the team?
My first two years, I was mainly used for defense, rebound and blocking shots but now as my offensive game starts to open up, the coaching staff is expecting me to produce more on the offense of end as well as the things I was doing the past two years. Your going to see more scoring this year out of me.
Since winning the dunk contest, and being known for your dunks and your jumping ability, do you think that people really don't see you as a scorer?
Yea exactly. When you win something like that, people seem to have one mindset about you and see you just as a dunker and I think the second half of the season last year they saw that I could knock down the open jump shot that I could shot the long rang jump shot, so I think teams are starting to realize what I'm capable of doing. Now they're guarding me a different way, where as of my first year they were sagging off me wanting me to shot the jump shot.
How do you feel about the new age limit to enter the NBA with you coming out of high school?
You know obviously I don’t agree with it because if it was in a couple of years back, then I wouldn’t be able to come out early and a lot of other cats. I think most of the guys that came out of high school are the stars of the league and I don’t think that they should of did that because most of the excitement comes from the high school players. If the age limit was in a couple of years back, there wouldn’t be Lebron James as of his first year and a lot of other cats like Tracy Mcgrady and Jermanine O’Neal. All those guys came out of high school and they keep the league entertaining.
I'm like everybody else. I don’t think College has nothing to do with getting you stronger. I mean everybody never has as many games we play in a NBA season and I went to Oak Hill Academy which was like a college experience. I stayed in a dorm where I didn’t have my family there. All we did was play basketball, study, and lift weights which is where I got my strength from. We played the same amount of games as a college schedule if not more.
Do you think you had to mature quicker than other 18 years coming out of high school being in a mans league?
Absolutely there are no kids in this game. When you decide to make that choice, you have to step out into new boundaries. Now you have to pay rent or mortgage. You have to learn how to cook or find a chef so that makes you grow up a lot quicker than you want
The Hawks have made some changes and additions over the summer. Do you think made they the right picks and moves?
I think they did well in the off season. We picked up Speedy Claxton. We really needed a point guard that could push the ball up and down the floor because that’s what were looking to do this year. I really didn’t know Solomon Jones until I worked out with him. I think he will be a great asset to this team with blocking shots, rebounding, and making spectacular plays and lorzen Wright and Sheldon will be a great help with rebounding and on the defense of end.
If you could go back into time and play with any player that has played the game, who would it be?
I would have to say Micheal Jordan because he’s been my favorite player growing up. I had always been a Bull fan as long as him and Scottie Pippen were on the team. He brought a lot to the table. He made everybody around him better and I think everyone needs a guy like that on a team.
What are endorsements looking like for you right now?
I have card endorsements like everybody else. I'm sponsored by Addida’s and that’s my main sponsor as of right now.
What are some of your goals for the upcoming season?
I want to make the playoffs. I want us to grow as a team but I also want us to make the playoffs because I think this team we have is capable of making the playoffs and just grow together. I know everybody sets goals for themselves but my main focus is making the playoffs. I think as a player I'm going to grow and reach boundaries and different things in the league that I haven’t reached so I'm not worried about me right now. I have been working hard this summer and I expect big things out of me this season but from a team aspect and what I have grown to know, its all about the team and for the past two season its been losing season so I think it will a big plus for me and my teammates to make the playoffs.
Any last comments you want people to know or look out about you?
Just look out for us to be more mature and jell more this year as we come to know each other.
