What was it like playing professional basketball, both in the NBA and internationally?
Professional basketball is basketball at its highest level, and I was excited to prove to myself that I could do it. And, playing one season for the Philadelphia 76ers and several in Europe, I did that. Basketball opened a lot of doors for me; it enabled me to see a great deal of the world. It can be a great vehicle if used properly. But, the professional game is very much a business, and, sometimes, that can take the fun out of the competition. Who were the major influences on your career in basketball, and why? Coach K. was a major influence, but also my high school coach, Carl Spraggins. He talked to me about college, and encouraged me to think about college basketball and scholarship opportunities. I came from a small town [Drewry, N.C.] and not a lot of people had gone away to college. It wasn’t like New York City, where players would compete in college and then come back to the community every summer. We didn’t have that kind of example. As a foundation, I had a strong family tha
