People be too strict on their kids and take their childhood away. Of course I'm going to teach him life things—pay attention in school, learn, be book smart and all that. I want to teach him life, and let him live. I don't judge nobody on how they raise their kids or what they do with their kids. I just know what I'm going to do with mine.

Were you shy as a kid?

I had my times when I was shy. I couldn't just go on a stage and perform. I meet a lot of rappers now. They always say, “How are you not shy playing in front of all them people?” I'm like, “Dude, you gotta go on stage and rap in front of all them people. It's really not a difference. I love basketball. You love rapping.”

Coach Stevens told me that when things don't go your way, you get hungrier. Where do you think that comes from? Why is it when you face challenges it suddenly makes you better?

That's just part of my life. The way I play is the way I was brought up. I'm from Youngstown, Ohio—but I grew up at a recreation center. I was the smallest guy. We always played a game of 33. Everybody for themselves. Everything is a part of my childhood. My rebounding comes from me playing that game. I had to play with bigger guys. I had to push and get my own rebounds. Nobody felt sorry for me. Nothing was given to me.

Blazer, by Gucci / Turtleneck, by Todd Snyder / Pants, by Rag and Bone / Watch, by Cartier / Rings, his own

I was never ranked. Nobody really knew who Terry Rozier was when I was young. All I need is that opportunity. I don't care about no rankings. I don't care if a guy has been spoon fed. You still have to go through me when we playing in between them lines. And I'm hungry. I want it. I'm trying to destroy you. I don't care if I'm playing one-on-one with my son, with my little brother. You gotta set that for yourself.

I read somewhere that you used to practice throwing yourself on the court?

At the rec center, I'd be there by myself. Lights shut off. [I] always had access to the gym. I used to make sure I'd get in there when nobody else could. I used to just fall. I loved D-Wade. D-Wade is my idol. I'd go crazy over him when I was young—he and Michael Vick. D-Wade had a commercial, "Fall six times, get up seven." He used to always fall a lot. I'd throw up a crazy shot and just fall. Get up, practice it again. That's just who I was. Everybody used to say, “Why is he falling?”

You were saying that you notice yourself getting recognized a lot more. Was there a moment where you had to pinch yourself: “Damn, I got recognized by that guy?”

Man, Urkel. We were out to eat in LA. He was with his bodyguards. He got up to leave and he tapped me. “You had a great year.” Everybody knows who Steve Urkel is. That was nuts. It's been crazy all summer. People can take it two ways. They can either be satisfied or it can be a thing where, “I want this to happen forever.” It's definitely humbling and it's a blessing. I want this to always be like this.

Coat, by Michael Kors / Jacket, by Gucci / Pants, by Rag and Bone / Sneakers, by Puma

You played in the G League in Maine—what was that like?

If I tell you it was fun, or it was good, I'd be lying. It was depressing. It was everything that a person that wants to be in the NBA—wants to do good in the NBA—doesn't wanna do. It was a reality check for me. It was something that I needed. I couldn't even get a bottle of water when I wanted it down there. Reality set back in. Sometimes you need to fall on your face to know: You got drafted but you still got a lot of work to do.