Bench Role Quotes

Coming off the bench behind a fine young center like Alonzo Mourning fits my style.

Coming off the bench, I'm able to view the game, see how their bigs are playing. And what I bring to the table is energy. The starters go in and run their bigs for a bit. When I check in it's time to punch the clock and play hard.

All I can do is my best for the team, whether that's from the bench or if I start.

To those who don't think defense is important, you'll get the best seat on the bench.

Whether I'm starting or coming off the bench, bigs have to protect the rim and can't give nothing easy to nobody.

Even if I'm the 15th man on the bench, the first man off the bench, or I'm starting, I'm still part of that team.

Actually I think it's better for me to come off the bench, because for them first couple of minutes when that first five is in there, you can see the little things and what you need to do when you get in there.

Most of my career, I've always kind of been off the bench, so, for me, it's not about if I start or not.

For me, being a starter doesn't matter. Of course, I'd like to be in at the end of the game, to be a big part of the team, and to play as many minutes as I can play. But starting and coming off the bench are two different challenges.

I've started. I've come off the bench. I've not played. I've been on the worst team in the NBA. I've won championships.

Let's say I have a new respect for guys who come off the bench every day. That's not easy to do.

I think you just have to be more aggressive when you come off the bench.

I think when you're starting you have more of a luxury. You know you're going to play 33, 35, 37 minutes per game, so you can kind of feel the game out. When you come off the bench you have to be more in attack mode. You have to make something happen immediately.

The advantage of not starting is you're sitting back, looking at the game and saying, 'OK, we need rebounding,' or 'We need hustle points.' Coming off the bench, that's what you try to do. The disadvantage of it is you gotta catch that flow. You're coming off the bench, you gotta come ready, warmed up already, catch the flow of the game.

I'm trying to keep a good spin on it...But at some point you have to look at a guy like me and ask, 'How effective can I be if I'm not playing on a regular basis?'

As a goalkeeper, you can't come off the bench for 10 minutes and prove your worth - it's either you're in or you're out.