Age • 21
His dream one-on-one opponent • Isiah Thomas (“in his prime when he was scoring 50 on the Knicks and dunking on people”)
Learning from LeBron • “He’s taught me so much. The biggest thing would be preparation and the way you mentally approach a basketball game. I’m kind of just laid back, out there having fun, smiling. He said that’s all cool, but in the end understand the task at hand.”
On wearing No. 1 • “It symbolizes the best,” he says. “If you wear No. 1, you understand that’s what goes with it, and you won’t accept [anything] less than being the best player you can be.”
Being “Boobie” • The nickname started by his mother and grandmother went away for a while once he got older. “When I went through puberty, I decided everybody just can’t be calling me ‘Boobie.’ When I got here, it came back. [My teammates] embraced me like the little brother on the team.”
Favorite restaurant • Just Like Mom’s on Superior Avenue for their chicken wings, fried shrimp, greens, yams and mashed potatoes
His secret talent • Bowling (sort of). His highest game was 222. “I play to the level of my competition. If you start bowling strikes, I’d probably start bowling strikes.”
Favorite TV show • “The Contender.” “If I wasn’t in basketball, I would probably be a boxer. I like fighting, getting out there and beating up on somebody. It looks pretty fun.”
His biggest splurge • His two German shepherds. “I was a second-round draft pick, so I try to save my money a little.”