A lot of people who've been athletes have come here and not been able to just pick it up right away. I hate using this example, and I love her to death, but Eva Marie. She was an amazing soccer player and athlete, but coming to WWE and getting in the ring was a whole different ball game for her.
At Duke, I wasn't able to score like I did in high school, just because we had so many great players, and I had to accept a role, which I was fine with, but it gave people another look at my game.
When I move to second after playing right field, I feel like my action has gotten too deliberate, and I have to switch back into that quicker, boom-boom infield mode.
I think my ability coming into the NBA is going to make it that much easier for me with the space and the different type of players here. I think just by the spacing alone is going to make my game that much easier and that much better for my teammates.
I guess when people ask what is the biggest transition to the NBA from college, it is definitely defense and the mental part.
Even I'm a bit surprised with how easily I've adapted to European football.
I started faster today which was good. I returned well but my serve was good, which was the key. I think I'm getting used to the conditions.
I think any player at any position their rookie year, they're trying to figure out how to process all the information we give them, how to process what the defense is doing and then actually physically play the game and the position that they're playing.
For me, as a pocket quarterback, there wasn't much adjustment as I got older.
In my career, I played for four different teams in a lot of different systems, and it's like learning another language.
I think the biggest adjustment I've made before coming here was going from High A to Double A. I was going in facing pitchers who had more experience and knew how to throw all their stuff for strikes and in hitter's counts, things like that.
Fitness is important, but the most important thing is how you adapt and the way you feel physically. To adapt to a new position. To try to change your game.
I lost the good stuff on my fastball. I had to come up with something to keep me in the league. The knuckler rescued me then.
