I was always tall, but I had a real growth spurt between 12 and 14.

When people ask me where I'm from, I say I'm from the Sudan. But when they ask what my hometown is, I say London. It's where I lived, and it's where my whole family lived.

I was very skilled at football at a young age in Egypt. I never played with a real ball. We used rolled-up socks or a balloon with a towel ducktaped to it, and we played on concrete in bare feet.

In the States, I get recognised all the time. I met a fan once who had a tattoo of my face on his arm. I can see how some people get carried away with it, but I don't have trouble staying grounded.

Even in high school, when I had injuries, I tried to play with them. When I shouldn't have worked out, I worked out.

Throughout my career, I've never really been a guy who created drama or wanted to deal with drama.

There are so many kids in Africa who adore these athletes in the NBA and see themselves in them, even though we're so far removed.

A lot of basketball players have tendinitis. It's known as jumper's knee, and it just comes from all the pounding our knees take.

I always said if I didn't focus on basketball, then it would have been football. I was pretty good and was asked to go to England trials.

I play the same, contract or no contract, because trade-talk is part of basketball.

South Sudan is my home, and I am humbled to be in a position to help those suffering from lack of access to basic needs, especially the children facing severe acute malnutrition.

I've seen a lot and experienced so many different cultures, and that's helped me a lot in my career and helped me mature as a person.

If someone shows me love, I always want to double that love.

What I try to do is to look ahead of me and not look back. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing, I'm just focused on trying to get better.

When I look back at 19, coming here to Chicago, some of the things that were said, some of the stuff that you deal with - at 19 years old, it's a lot of pressure.

I remember when we were in Egypt as refugees. It was tough, but there was always hope - hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

I try to let my highs not be too high and my lows not be too low. And I do that just because I try to control my emotions.

No matter what I do for the rest of my career, I think I'll always be a Bulls guy.

I think everyone in this league should aim to become good enough to shoot for the MVP. Not everyone can do it, but you've gotta try your hardest.

Men from my tribe in Sudan - the Dinka tribe - are very tall, so you could say I was born to play basketball.

It's not easy not to play.

Knowing some guys are way bigger than you, way faster than you, you have to find other ways to do what you want to do.

If you see me, you're going to hear some type of music coming out of me.

I'm going to have confidence in myself. That's how I try to play.