Zach LaVine

If there are negative people around me, I just try to distance myself from that.

I've always felt I had the ability to be a good, elite defender in this league on the wing. I just need to lock in. I feel if I pick that up, I can be a very good all-around player.

Sometimes you have to understand your place.

You go into each game looking to win. We're not looking at wins or losses because it proves something as a team. We go into every game trying to get better. As long as you compete, we're gonna play our hearts out; we're improving every day.

You never know what's going to happen. In a game where you're down by 20, you're still trying to win the game.

Regardless of what the record is, what the score is, you always go out there and compete.

I'm not going to change my game because I got hurt.

When I was younger, me and my dad used to do different things. I don't think I would call it community service. It was more just us doing nice things. We used to donate to Goodwill or do can drives. Give people money if they needed it. Little things like that.

In high school, we used to sign to each other during the game, signaling different plays and stuff like that. It was kind of fun. It was definitely unique.

I just have a connection with sign language. I always thought the deaf community was a different community to be a part of. In high school, me and my friend took sign language.

I know where I want to get to, and I know where I want to be still in my career.

My main thing is I'm going to compete on every play, try to be focused on both ends of the court. That said, I'll always bring my excitement, my swag, to the game.

I always felt like I'm a good one-on-one defensive player.

There are a lot of critics out there, a lot of people that you want to prove wrong. But that's what your hard work is for in the offseason, spending hours and hours in the gym.

I try to let my game speak for itself.

I've always been a very confident person, and I know how important it is to take advantage when life gives you opportunity.

If I have a bad shooting day, my dad will take me to the gym.

Some people may have their doubts about me. But I feel like there's no shot too hard for me to take.

I feel like I'm supposed to be a shooter.

I've made a lot of game-winners.

I know everything about Michael Jordan.

I don't want anybody to feel like they're different.

I'm not the best at video games, but I play them a lot.

Whether it's backing up or starting, I have the confidence to go out there and do good, so I'm gonna play my role.

I feel comfortable whenever I step on the floor.

I've never seen hard work fail.

I've always thought I was talented.

I pride myself on definitely being more than a dunker.

I have the highest goals for myself. That's going out there and being the best player on the floor every time. That's my mentality. If it's Michael Jordan, you know, that's the mentality I take to the court.

We want to be two-way players; that's the best thing.

You look at Kawhi Leonard, Tony Allen, Draymond Green: they are great on ball, and they are great team defenders as well. You want to be both of them, not just one.

You have to communicate with your teammates; you have to be on a string. There are a lot of things that go into a play. And then you are guarding a two or three, which is probably one of their better players on the team, so you're focused on them.

I play baseball - 'The Show' - a lot. I'm pretty good at that. I go 'Road to the Show,' where you build your own player. I build myself when I used to play as a center fielder. Power, speed, stealing bases.

While taking sign language in high school, one of our assignments was to go out and participate in the deaf community, so I really got to know a lot of the group from that. I felt like they needed a little bit more of a voice because people treat them different just because they're hearing impaired.

I try to space the floor and use my athletic ability to get to the rim... I try to get the best of both worlds.

There's so many different styles to it. I use my athletic ability to create shots for open people, I run the floor, then also space the floor as well. That's what I try to do.

I've always been able to shoot the ball, so it's just about continuing to work on your shot and shoot the ball. That's the main thing. Got to get those shots up.

I just try to attack the rim as hard as I can. Try to get the crowd pumped up a little bit.

A lot of people I've played with see me as a scorer and a shooter. I'm still fast and everything like that, but then, when they see me dunk, it's like 'Oh, damn.'

I had no clue about taxes at all. I didn't know they hit your paycheck. There's something that you've always got to put money away for. I didn't know you've got to put money away for it, even though it's coming out your own money. It's like, 'What the heck?'

Taxes suck. They really stink.

You're on your own in college, but you get sheltered a little bit more with the coaching staff and everything.

I will forever be proud to call myself a Bruin and will never forget the memories that were made here.

I usually start my day with a light breakfast of fruit and eggs and take granola bars with me to eat after practice. Lunch and dinner usually consist of chicken over pasta or rice and beans.

My mom, Cheryl, worked two jobs to support me. She really helped the family stay together.

My dad, Paul, is, like, my best friend.

I remember when I was in third grade, I was in a classroom, and the teacher said, 'What do you want to do when you get older?' We were going around the room. I said, 'I want to be a professional basketball player.' She's like, 'That's not realistic.' I thought to myself, 'OK, watch.'

I feel like people who know me, my fans, I want them to know I'm just a regular 21-year-old kid who likes movies, who likes to have fun. It lets people see the other side of you and not just the basketball thing.

It's always good to be known. You want to build your brand up, want to build your name.

I've never been a shy person. I've always been able to talk pretty well.