My upbringing prepared me as a player where in the NBA I was an undersized center, giving up three, four inches and sometimes 40, 50 pounds to some of the most dominant big man that ever played his game.
To survive I had to be stronger, tougher, faster, a lot more relentless than my opponent. I scrapped, I battled, I defended, I played every game like it was my last.
And occasionally I threw an elbow or two. And by the way, I have fun doing it. I played that way because I had this deep hunger and passion inside of me to win.
I also felt a tremendous obligation to my teammates, and I just tried to fulfill that by any means necessary. Bill Lassiter, my coach at Indian River High School, who has been living the past 17 years with a heart transplant.
He preached it values of lockdown defense, played father figure when I needed one and he kept me grounded. Coach Lassiter was taught the game by John B. McClendon, a pioneer among black coaches, who enjoyed a connection with James Naismith himself.
Coach McClendon is in the Hall of Fame. Thank you coach. You know from there, it wasn't just coach Thompson demanding better me,
I was playing and studying hard to all my Georgetown teammates, such as Dikembe Mutombo, who truly is a brother, who survived it with me, such as Patrick Ewing, a lifelong mentor and friend.
And the rest of the Georgetown family, who helped make what I consider for the best years of my life so successful. You know in the NBA and the USA Basketball, I was taught by a host of extraordinary coaches and executives,
mentored by some of the greatest players ever and I befriended countless others. I want to especially thank Micky Arison and the Arison family.
I know he's not here but I know he's watching. Mickey, I consider you the greatest owner in all the sports.
