DeMar DeRozan Quotes

I played sports in high school and in college.

I have nothing but respect for the Lakers. So many of their legends shaped who I am as a person and player.

You see what happens in college and high school games today - a three-point shot or a dunk. I think that's the reason that you see a lot of that in the pros today.

First time we played together was when I was in seventh grade, he was in eighth. There was a lot of buzz in the city about Jabari Parker, rightfully so. He's obviously a major player. I was just blessed to have him one year ahead of me, so everything I did, he already finished. I've been really blessed to have him by my side.

I went to school to Washburn to play basketball, and I always believed if basketball didn't work out I could fall back on golf.

I played with Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph. They were my high school teammates.

I always wanted to play with Kobe Bryant. I used to tease him all the time. Every time I was a free agent, I was like, 'What's up, bro? You got a chance to get the pit that you need. You feel me? This is your chance.'

I respect everybody who goes to Kentucky. You know that once you sign with Kentucky, the same thing with Duke. You know each and every night it's going to be a team's Super Bowl. You're going to get their best.

I remember the Vince Carter Raptor days: playing all the video games with him. Playing against him is one thing; having a chance to learn from him is a whole - another level of excitement.

When I got to 10th grade at Booker T. Washington High, I had a teacher, Miss Geraldine Nesbitt. I think she came from New York. She helped me begin to question things.

I went to Brighton College, Shoreham College for one year, then to Spring Valley High School in Las Vegas for a couple of years.

I learned a lot of stuff from Jae Crowder.

I started high school in L.A., but I went to public school in New York.

When I started Giants of Africa, I envisioned providing African youth access to the game and empowering them to achieve their greatest potential.

I loved the Lakers in '09 and 2010. I used to get up early with my brother Janis, and we watched them win the titles.

Everybody says Jalen Rose is somebody I have to watch, even though he's a little older than me. It started back in high school. Everybody called me 'Little Jalen.'

I wanna make uniforms for my high school basketball team through brand Yeezy.

I learned a lot about my parents, who were both teachers. I had known that my parents were very strongly in favor of education. I had known that they had an impact on a lot of people, but people came out of the woodwork who have said, "You know, without your father, I would never have gone to college," very successful people. And so I learned how widespread their educational evangelism really was.

My dad took me to a high school basketball game and this very, very famous coach in Michigan, by the name of Lofton Greene - he was a guy that my dad was familiar with. He was from our hometown. And I watched the game and I said I didn't see this guy doing a lot of coaching. And my dad told me, well, it's just like a teacher - which he was - he said if you do a good job teaching during the week, when they take the test on Friday, that's not the time you have to do a lot of demonstrative things.

I played against him (Wilkins) in college. Getting nominated with him, that's pretty cool.

I need to work with great directors and actors, people who are better than me, so that I am challenged. It is like playing sports - surfing, basketball, it doesn't matter what it is, if you play with people who are better than you, then you get better too. It is the same thing with acting.

I love teaching I think more than anything. It's the opportunity to just teach young people and teach the game. You teach more than basketball. You teach life skills. The teaching part of it is something that I am passionate about. I look forward to every practice. A lot of people say well, I enjoy coaching, but I see myself as more as a teacher.

When I walk along with two others, from at least one I will be able to learn.

I have two college degrees, four honorary doctorate degrees, and am in three Halls of fame, and the only thing I know how to do is teach tall people how to put a ball in the hole.

In those days great teachers at Shortridge [High School] were celebrities. I would look up to them.