ROBERT COVINGTON

A lot of people didn't think I would be here. But I put myself in great positions and I always had the mentality that what is meant for me is meant for me. The only person that can stop you is yourself.

My roots are in Chicago, and ensuring the West Pullman community has the greatest potential to improve long-term health, wellness, economic, and social outcomes is a personal mission.

Fans were booing me at one point. I just kept working, that's the main thing. I'm not going to let that deteriorate my game.

I always feel my next shot is good.

I like giving back to the community, because it lasts a long time.

My mom laid the foundation that in order for you to be successful, you have to take care of the books first. That's one thing she preached about, because at any point, other stuff can be taken away.

I've always been working with my rehab people, just to keep my body loose and fluid.

A lot of people throughout my life didn't believe in me, but I have a great support system - my mom, my dad, my AAU coach, Kevin Dockery - I just have a great support system of people who really pushed me and brought the best out of me.

Imagine two years worth of stuff that you've been holding on to and everything just keeps piling up to the point where the pot just overflows. You know what happens when a pot overflows? It hits the side of the pan and it hits the fire and the fire just explodes.

To be at the forefront of something that can spark a major change as far as kids going to an HBCU and learning about our history and learning about our culture and learning about our ancestors, where we came from - that's a big thing, that's a really big thing.

I don't want to be just sitting on the couch in front of the TV all the time. I want to be learning stuff.

I am not one to get into people's opinions, because if I were to be that way, I would not be where I am today.

Nobody can stop me from being what I want to be.

In college I played power forward because I was one of the biggest guys on the team and my versatility allowed me to do that.

There is nothing like playing in the actual games, compared to simulating it, working out, playing some five-on-five. It's not the same.

Sometimes I go back and listen to the very first day I went to church. I listen to that sermon all the time, because that was the sermon that was life changing for me.

I felt like, honestly, seeing a therapist was kind of weak. But it helps. It helps a whole lot, because it allows you to decompress and restart.

There's many times people told me I couldn't do something or couldn't work for it - it just made me more hungry.

As a kid, you get told you can't - either you're going to believe it or not.

That's one thing I've really taken in pride in, is becoming that two way player, because that makes me that much more valuable for the team.

I'm a very humble young man. I've always had to work for everything that I had.

Knowing about my body, different aspects of my body, it's been a big thing. It's really helped me as far as injury and whatnot, so I know exactly if something feels funny, I know what I'm capable of doing to help myself get back stronger and get back healthy.

I've always carried the burdens of everyone I love and try to make sure everyone else is good rather than focus on myself.

My favorite player growing up was Scottie Pippen.

I don't let a day go where I'm not doing something that enhances me or allows me to sit up here and keep my spirits going.