I was lucky in my rookie year to play in the NBA Finals, to have that experience, to see what it was like to get to that stage.
When I signed with the Oilers, I felt like a rookie. I was 33.
A lot of rookies don’t come into the league and have that type of leeway that Coach Walton and his staff really gave me.
For the majority of my rookie year, I had to lug around a fake baby doll in a pink stroller whenever I was entering and leaving Staples Center.
There are two big adjustments you have to make as a rookie. I think the biggest adjustment you have is to know your playbook, and playing fast once you learn it. And then, every cornerback in the league, they’re all good. In college, you might have some who are good and some who aren’t.
I want to be on the All-Defensive team, be rookie of the year, make the All-Star team, all that type of stuff.
I’ve been wearing Zegna for a while. It started a long, long time ago, my rookie year.
There are a lot of things that you learn as a rookie and you grow the most, I would say as a rookie from your first year to your second year.
I’ve been told a million things in this league. I was Rookie of the Year, and then got traded… So it’s hard for me to sit back and believe everything I hear.
Some of the money going to the rookies can now be spent on people who have proved their worth. After all, the average playing life of a pro football player is about eight years and it is only fitting that the veterans get something for their efforts.
