There are basically five ways to score in the half court. Layups, mid-range, three-pointers, free throws - and then what I call 'tough shots.' Tough shots come anywhere on the floor, under difficult circumstances. The ability to create that shot is a special skill in the NBA.

One of my big influences as a young player was Allen Iverson. All I wanted to do was the left-to-right crossover, because that's the one he was doing most.

No matter what the trends are in the NBA - teams going big, going small, getting more efficient with analytics - the ability for a player to create his own shot, then convert tough shots, will always be a weapon, particularly when you get to the playoffs.

When I was younger, I used to always think making it to the NBA would be the coolest thing in the world. I'd dream about it every day. But as you progress and you attain that goal, then you realize the coolest thing is the effect you can have on people, and kids especially.

I was always a giver by nature. I wanted to make sure the person next to me or maybe even the person I don't know didn't go without if I could help it. That's always been in me.

The NBA makes you become a bigger version of what you already were. If you were somebody who was not so nice and you came into a lot of money and fame, then you're probably going to abuse that in the wrong way. But if you come into those things and you were doing the right things, then chances are you're going to do more of the right things.

I'm into people, especially kids and making sure they have a fair shake and making sure they reach their potential. So that's important to me.

When you have a guy like Chris Paul, who's the best point guard in the world, saying I should be an All-Star, and other coaches and players coming up to me and saying I should be an All-Star, it's an unbelievable compliment.

The goal is to win a championship, but when you win and you play pretty well, and you start hearing 'All-Star' and 'Sixth Man.' That's really unbelievable.

There's nothing like winning and winning at a high level.

You know, my first nine years I only played for two teams, Chicago and New York. And the only reason I got traded from New York was the 2010 free agency period, when they had a chance to sign LeBron and D-Wade and that whole class, and I understood that. But from there it's kind of been a roller coaster.

I don't want to go to a team that's only won a few amount of games, but it doesn't have to be a contender.

At the end of the day, only one team wins.

I've been blessed enough where all the rules that come with age don't apply to me. People were saying I was old at 32.

You want to put yourself in the best position to try and win.

I've always loved coach Brett Brown. I've been on record. I've been a fan of his for years.

To me, the Northwest is the best. The air, it feels cleaner. The people are so nice and caring. Every time I fly in on a plane, I say, 'I'm never leaving here.' It's just different. People who aren't from here don't get it. It just fits certain people.

Honestly, I want to be known as a great ball player, but it's more important for me to be known as a good person. Like seriously, the greatest gift you have as a person is to give something to somebody else.

I don't want people to receive me because I scored 20 points. I want it to be because I made an impression on them that lasts forever.

I give Seattle credit for grooming me, making me the person I am today.

I mean, the hardest thing to do, I think, in the NBA, is to put the ball in the hole.

I don't have to play just against NBA guys. No, I'll play anywhere, anytime.

I think there's a role for everybody. Even a guy who's not known as a scorer, like a DeAndre Jordan - he sets the best screens, he blocks the most shots, he gets the most rebounds, he's great for your team, he helps you win games. Like, he helps you win big.

Shooters shoot. The worst thing a shooter can do is think. That's the best defense out there.

When you love the game, playing is easy.

I'm a baller, I'm a hooper.

Sometimes it's more about the journey than the destination.

It's hard not playing.

When you're in love with it you're willing to do whatever it takes, whether be it cold tubs, or massages, acupuncture, whatever it might be. I think when you love the game purely all those things you're willing to do is sacrifice.

I'm not talking about any one team but everyone knows how I feel about New York. I really enjoyed my time there.

Playing shooting guard is different. On defense you have to chase guys around more. On the point I'm just guarding guys on top.

As long as you can worry about the stuff you can control, that's always best for you.

I think if you're in love, you're willing to do anything that comes with it.

If you're good to the game, the game is usually good to you.

The love of playing trumps all of that, to be honest with you. Even the day I retire, I'll still be playing somewhere.

I didn't turn 40. I turned 20 twice.

It's weird watching games and being apart from it but seeing teams that could use you in certain situations. You see where you could help different clubs in different ways.

Whenever I retire, I'll still be playing the game, whether that's at an L.A. Fitness or somewhere else.

My first toy hoop was a Dr. J model!

No one grows up wanting to be a sixth man.

I would get mad if Kobe was like, 'I'm not going to shoot that much tonight.' No, no, no, that's your gift. The people want to see you do what you're going to do.

I'm not a fan of analytics. When I was a kid, I couldn't tell you what percentage Allen Iverson shot, or Michael Jordan.

I don't take time off. If you've been out of a house for six months and then you come back in and you turn the light on, it might explode. It isn't used to be used. I keep my energy going. It's not a shock to the body when I start playing again. I don't have to 'get in shape.'

I do what feels right.

I always say in my tweets, don't do something for credit. Do it because it's the right thing to do.

I tell kids to be as passionate about your education as you are about anything else in life.

When I was in college going through the draft process my dad was like, 'Hey Michael Jordan loves your game,' I'm like dad? This is before social media; this is before any of that so I'm like, 'Dad, get out of here, there's no way you can know that Michael Jordan likes my game.'

Like, I don't do drills at all. I think that's why a lot of people who handle the basketball, I think mine looks different. You know, 'cause I've never done a drill. I've never done 'get to a chair and go through your legs,' or 'get to a spot and a cone and go through your legs or behind your back.'

You know when you put two great players together, you're going to have to work through some things.

You look at my career, when the fit was right, I contributed on the court.