I consider myself a little weak.

A little adversity can't hold me down.

You've got to play with pride and guts.

I've always felt that I'm a natural leader.

When I'm on the court, it's like I'm in heaven.

My grandma always said bad things don't last forever.

I don't think nobody's doubting I can play basketball.

My mother and grandmother raised me. Queens raised me.

Negative publicity makes people forget your best times.

Being humbled has been a part of my life for a long time.

I've got a winner mentality, the mentality of a champion.

We all have regrets, but the thing is to learn from life.

We're all products of our environment. The key is not to fall.

Me. I like to have fun. I'm like a kid in a candy story out there.

I'm a role model. I have overcome the negativity, and I'm playing.

People have always told me, 'Yo, you're too unselfish. Shoot more.'

I'm just a basketball player, you know? Just put me where you need me.

The thing I love about the NBA game is that it's a playmaker's league.

I think a lot of the media love the game and hate the people who play it.

Most people don't want to get married. Being married, that's a responsibility.

If I put my mind to something and really want it, I'll go after it and get it.

I'm always going to be under a microscope, and I haven't always handled it well.

I just try to focus on the basketball game and not get caught up in all the media.

I'm going to say my favorite thing is to eat salads, and I'll be like the altar boy.

Either you can do it or you can't. I think I can overcome anything I put my mind to.

My grandmother was always upbeat, a naturally happy person. I think I got that from her.

The Lakers have been nothing but great to me, and I want to keep the relationship great.

When I had to bury my child, I probably didn't start grieving until a year and a half later.

Where I'm from, you're a square if you go to church or if you decide to read the Koran or Bible.

If your dad always has candy, how cool is he? Coolest dude in the world. My kids think I'm cool.

Organizations are trying to save extra money. Players are trying to get extra money. That's the way it is.

I have candy around my bed. I just kinda like reach over and eat it and then go back to sleep, no problem.

People tell me that I'm always smilin' on the court. I don't think about it. I just get emotional out there.

Perception rules the world. Everyone knows that. Where we live and where we're from, you just can't escape it.

In New York, the dunk is not the thing. To break somebody down and shoot a J-that's as big as a dunk in New York.

Remember when Jay-Z wore a Che Guevara T-shirt? Nobody knew who Che was. Then Jay-Z wears it, and it's everywhere.

The Mavericks and I have mutually agreed that it's in the best interest of both parties for me to step away from the team.

I've always been taught to care what other people think. My grandmother and mother taught me to project a positive image of myself.

People making it like I sit there and eat a whole plate of candy before I play a basketball game. I don't think anyone could do that.

I did some things I regret, and I know there are people who think they know me. I've heard the things they say, and some of them are hurtful.

Sometimes I still don't know if I'm prepared to go through the entire season, dealing with the different personalities, the crowds, the politics.

You walk in our locker room and you see Pau Gasol, you see Andrew Bynum, you see Kobe, you see Ron Artest ... we have so many players that can play.

There was a possibility I could have been out of the NBA. It's taught me something that was a little deeper than basketball. I'm talking about life decisions.

Respect goes a long way when you carry yourself a certain way and show manners when you first meet someone. If you do that, then it's hard for somebody not to like you.

I was going to fight for what I wanted first, and that was being in L.A. and being a Laker. L.A. was the first place that came to my mind. That's where my heart was at.

Lamar is just Lamar. My teammates probably can explain that a little better than I can. If I just go out there and do what I do and be myself, it shouldn't be a problem.

It's good that I put my personal ego aside. My basketball ego was, 'Why we negotiating?' But my personal ego didn't take it personal. I put my personal ego aside a little bit.

The young men in the inner city are without guidance, robbing and shooting each other with no remorse... Our system is crazy because we're planning to fail. Everybody needs something to grasp on to.

For years I've been seeing my young brothers wearing Scarface T-shirts, John Gotti T-shirts, Rick James T-shirts. We don't have any icons or idols to look up to, just rappers and professional athletes.

The Lakers are family. My kids don't have to switch schools. Little things like that are important. People don't think about things like that. I feel like something special is going to happen in this town.

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