Then and Now

SLCC was a chance for me to get my grades up and to get some recognition as a player—SLCC was one of the best conferences to play in. It's been a grind ever since high school when I decided to put everything into basketball.

Going to SLCC was just another piece of the journey. I got into a good rhythm and routine and focused on what I had to do. I was used to adjusting to new places from growing up with my dad in the NBA. I'm used to taking things how they come and adapting to adversity.

My dad used to tell me to be a 'dawg' over and over, but I had to figure out who I was on the court. I had to aim to just be me, not some superstar, but to be anything that the team needs. I'm my own kind of player, not my dad, not others, just best at me.

Right now, I'm playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, before that I was with the Golden State Warriors when we won the 2022 NBA Championship.

"Just do the best for you and do everything you can to be prepared—adversity will come and so will opportunity."

Advice

Not many say, 'I'm going to choose the most difficult route possible.' You don't know if you're going to reach your dreams but you do know it is going to be difficult. You've got to promise yourself that you are going to buy in and take the punches as they come and enjoy the journey—the journey depends on how much work and effort you put into it. You got to have the mentality to never stop, never quit learning and growing.

Just do the best for you and do everything you can to be prepared—adversity will come and so will opportunity.