On getting his degree ... "It feels good. The past five years I've been coming back taking a couple classes each summer. It's gratifying. I'm sure myself and my family will be happy to see me walk across that stage."
On what his degree is in ... "Business Marketing."
On if he ever doubted he would finish his degree ... "Once I get my mind set on something I usually do it 99 percent of the time. When I left school early - I wasn't sure that I would leave early - but when I did I made a commitment to myself and my family that I would do it. It just feels good to have it done now."
On encouraging other players to complete their degree even after they become professionals ... "Yeah, definitely. One thing I don't do in basketball, but especially in life is take things for granted. You never know how long your career will last, but once you have your degree you can have it forever. I think (I) can do a lot of stuff with my degree. Once I get out of playing basketball I'll be able to do that."
On managing a lot of commitments in the summer while taking classes ... "It's kind of therapy for me. Here it's quiet. Nobody really bothers you. If they bother you it's in a good way. Picture, autograph, it's nothing. In L.A. it's all about glitz and glamour so to get away from that is fun. For me it's not hard, just to come here and focus for four weeks. Then I go live my life, go on vacation and do whatever I want to do. I work out while I'm here, and see the (UK) coaches, see old friends and family. For me it's kind of therapy to get away and clear my mind."
On thinking about the 2009-10 Kentucky season ... "I think about that too. I don't think we would have lost a game in my opinion. It would have been a fun team. Sometimes I think 'what if I would have stayed? Would my life have been different here?' But I felt like it was a good decision for myself. They had a great team, and they've had great teams the past five years. I've kept up with them. I still keep in touch with the coaching staff. I think for me personally it was a good decision and it's worked out well."
On his future career plans as a free agent... "Right now I'm trying not to think about it. It's still early, it's only May. I'm not officially allowed to talk to anybody until July. Right now I'm just focusing on this last class, and this degree. I will think about basketball in July, August, September and things like that. I should be in a good situation. I had a pretty good year, put myself in a good predicament for next year. I'll just have to make the best decision for myself."
On what this season was like with the team struggling but him playing well individually … “It’s kind of bittersweet, individually I played well but we had so many injuries and a lot of stuff going on that – actually the past two years, this year was a lot of injuries, last year was a lot of drama going on within the team and a lot of media scrutiny and things like that. It’s been – I grew up a lot in these last two years, knowing what to do and not to do, playing with future Hall of Famers. So it’s been a fun two years for me, just to kind of learn the ins-and-outs of the NBA and just growing up a lot. And then this year was fun for me because I got a chance to expand my game.”
On advice he has for James Young and Julius Randle as they are going through the NBA Draft process … “I’m sure those guys will do fine. They’re very talented; I watched them play a lot this year. My advice is to be just, you know, not taking anything for granted. I’m sure they’ll be lottery picks and go to a team where they can, you know, play their game. The NBA is a league where, your opportunity doesn’t last the whole time there so when you have a good opportunity, take advantage of it because there is always somebody there trying to take your job from you. So when you have the opportunity, make the most of it and don’t look back.”
On if people immediately recognize him in class … “No, they usually recognize me right off the bat and look at me like, what am I doing here? I just look at them the same way. It’s always fun, it’s always fun seeing people’s reactions and, you know, I’m a regular person just like them so when I’m trying to get my degree I just ask them, what are you doing here? I’m doing the same thing.”
On if he been taking summer classes for five years … “Yeah, since – this is my fifth summer so 2010 was my first summer coming back and this is my last summer.”
On if he’s taking classes this summer and walking this weekend … “Yup.”
On if he has started kickboxing … “Yeah, you know I actually did that for the commercial, specifically for the commercial but now I’m going to be doing that in the summer time before I actually start working with basketball. I got introduced to it a couple weeks before that and, you know, the guy said it was a good way to stay in shape when you’re not playing basketball so I’m going to try it out this summer but nothing too heavy. I’m not going to be Roy Jones or anything.”
On if he’s had a chance to talk with any of the guys staying at UK … “I haven’t yet, I’m not sure if they’re still on campus. But I thought it was a good decision for the guys that stayed. The NBA is not going anywhere and they still have some time to develop on a really good team, so I thought it was a good decision and next year I’m sure they’ll have a tough decision to make again. I’m looking forward to watching the team play this year.”
On what it was like watching the NCAA Tournament … “Yeah, I was happy. In our locker room, in the NBA we always have competitive pools and stuff like that so I was a little nervous before it started and then when they made that run I was the last man standing so I was happy.”
On how much talk there is in NBA locker rooms about their college teams … “Yeah, guys wear, you know hats, hoodies, shirts all the time. So in 2012 I got to wear my championship shirt and this year I was hoping I would but – nah, they had a good run, I was happy for them. They came up a little short. UConn was just a veteran team that clicked at the right time. But they had a good run, they were very young too. Hopefully next year we can get it done.”
On his relationship with John Calipari … “I see him when I’m back. He always tells me that he’s happy for me and that my decision worked out. He tells me that he wishes he would have been able to coach me, but things happen. He’s happy for me and I’m happy for me. This will be his sixth year and every year he has had a team that is very talented and going a long way in the tournament. It has come a long way since the Billy Gillespie Era.”
On if his family is coming into town … “Yeah, they’ll be here tomorrow night. They’ll get in and I’ll take them to a couple of restaurants that I like going to or something. I’ll watch some basketball games. They’re happy for me, too. I’ve got friends and family coming up and I’ll spend some good time with them.”
On 42-point game with LA and how that compared to his game vs. Tennessee … “Yeah, it felt the same. It just feels like when you shoot, the ball is going in. I was happy I did it against a good team like the Thunder and we won. That was the important thing. I think I told you guys when I had 54 (against Tennessee) I was glad we won. It felt the same and I was just in one of those zones. It’s good to see your teammates getting happy. You yourself are trying to stay calm so you can stay calm when you shoot it and not get too excited. It was a good feeling.”
On summer camps … “I was thinking about it. I think I’ll probably have it in July, but I’m not sure about the dates, though. I like working with kids, I like helping out, so probably within the next few weeks or so I’ll figure out some dates and let you guys know.”
On when he first heard the rumors of John Calipari coaching the Lakers … “I was excited that he could be coaching me. If I was him, I wouldn’t leave here. It’s a great place to coach and play. He has it made here. That would be up to him, but I wouldn’t leave here. I was excited to hear that, but you never know.”
On the Big Blue Nation … “I never took it for granted when I was here. Everywhere I go people, and even in LA, look at me. When I was in Philly and Washington it was like Kentucky fans everywhere. I went to China and there was Kentucky fans and I was like ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ The fans here and around the world are great and they know their basketball.”
On the effect of the new Lakers coach on his future in the NBA … “I don’t think it will have a big effect. I think that I can play for anybody. It’ll be interesting who they (LA Lakers) pick and hopefully soon so everybody knows. We still only have three players contract for next year, so the draft will have some effect, obviously the coach a little bit, but I think other teams know what I have to offer and I’ll be put in a situation where I’ll know the effects. In May, it’s hard to say.”
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