How many All-Star weekends you been to now?
This is my second one. Last year, in New York, the experience was trying to soak everything. Fashion Week was going on. First time in nine years getting invited. This one, my mindset’s more like, I’m trying to win the three-point contest.
What did you learn last year that you think you can use this year?
I grabbed the balls from the wrong side of the rack. I didn’t practice at all. I shot Wednesday [when] we played in L.A. against Houston and then I didn’t touch a ball again until Saturday night. So this year I’ve tried to stay in the gym a little. Hopefully that will be the difference. As a shooter, you always want to be in a rhythm.
Where are you going to put that money ball rack?
I actually looked at it from a very analytical point of view, and I looked at a shot chart—
That’s a total Duke thing to do by the way.
Yeah. [laughs] I shoot my highest percentage from the right corner, and it’s also the shortest shot. So I figure, even if I’m tired, it’s the shortest shot, it makes sense that that would be the last one. So going into the last spot, I know that if I need to make 6 or I need to make 8, or whatever it may be, it puts some pressure on you that way.
In college, you made a lot of enemies on the road. I feel like in the NBA, you’ve become more lovable. Do you miss the hate?
I haven’t gotten as much lately. I think it was a byproduct of me playing at Duke and also when I was in college, I acted like an asshole on the court. So I’ve calmed myself down a little bit. But when you play at Duke, man, it’s part of the whole thing. You feel the necessity to act a certain way. I’m very proud of my time at Duke, my career at Duke, but as you get older and become an adult, you lose some head bobs. That’s not part of the routine anymore.
Was it more because you were an asshole or just because you were so damn lethal?
Everyone has an opinion on it. Look, man, I think I matured. If you had told me ten years ago, that I’d still be playing basketball at 31, I would’ve taken that. I would’ve thought you were crazy. I feel really lucky to still be playing ball.
Did you thrive off of the jeers?
Oh yeah. I enjoyed it. In a very sick way, I enjoyed it. It’s funny because I am like a self-motivated person. So I already feel like I’ve got some fire to me and that would just pour more lighter fluid on the fire.
It’s Kobe last All-Star game. What will you remember most about him?
I played against him and had to guard him a little bit in the 2009 Finals, and he hit some shots over me, obviously, and they won the series. So that’s a really bad memory of him. But I think the takeaway I get from his career is the level of sustained excellence over such a long period. You see so often, whether it’s in sports, entertainment, business, when someone achieves the highest level of success, they get complacent. Kobe never got complacent. He always wanted more. And I think, ultimately, that’s going to be his legacy.
This interview has been edited and condensed.