"Basketball, naturally, in its own way, grows out of the soil. It bears fruit based on growth conditions. Depending equally on material and social production of the land in which it is – tied to countless vines to the ground. Our sport, reached Olympic heights."

"It is easy to be mean. You don’t need human qualities for that. As soon as human value is lost, everything is in danger, everything collapses."

"All the awards and praises came in handy to finish my College career. Despite all professional offers I answered the same way – I said no. I was drafted for the NBA by the Los Angeles Lakers. I just couldn’t accept becoming a professional player in which case money would control my life and being. I didn’t want to subside just to basketball and only be a basketball player. I was aware that life had wider, deeper and higher dimensions than the game. I knew that true magic was in real, not bought, competition. So, at an early age, I decided that money, fame and vanity can’t mean anything. I will play, live and in that I will succeed."

"In professional sports, the psychological intensity is extremely high. Every day you become more and more aware of your flaws and weaknesses. It is natural that I tried to answer existential questions."

"If all that sports have to offer is fame, and pleasure in it, then this is giving up too much for something that doesn’t attract you that much in the first place."