GV: Well, obviously, the first man is Michael Jordan. I grew up watching him, although I was really young. The reason I like Jordan is that he did it both on and off the floor. But he’s a different breed. His mindset was different. He didn’t want to be like anyone else, not even his peers. If you really understand who MJ was as a player, you can see his competitiveness and how far ahead he was from the rest. There were good players, and there were great players, but at that moment, he was the super great player.
The second man, my idol, my hero, and someone who means everything to me, is Kobe Bryant. Unfortunately, he’s no longer with us physically, but his spirit lives on. The Mamba Mentality is a lifestyle. Kobe’s approach, education, and willpower were extraordinary. He’s the definition of a winner.
For me, Kobe is even more significant than Michael in terms of lifestyle. He was a different guy. He spoke three or four different languages and even spoke to me in Spanish a few times. Coming from Caracas, Venezuela, and playing against your hero – money can’t buy that. I don’t take that for granted.
Then there’s LeBron James. Some people may dislike him, but you can’t take away the fact that he’s a winner. Going to the NBA Finals eight times in a row – neither Kobe nor Michael did that. What LeBron is doing now, being the face of the league and empowering basketball worldwide, is something no one has done before. He’s also setting an example off the court, running his business. In my opinion, he handles himself better than Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
The fourth guy is Steph Curry, and maybe it’s because I’m a guard. What he has done is incredible. I worked out with him before he got drafted, played against him in college and the NBA, and now his family is like my family. I was with Under Armour, too, and I was the second signed after Brandon Jennings. People don’t always put that out there, but I’m proud of it. Steph is the definition of winning in every aspect – great personality, great guy, best shooter in the game. He set a tempo in basketball that no one else did. Shooting from half-court – no coach would’ve liked that before, but Steph made it possible. He changed the game.
Last but not least, Kevin Durant. People criticize him on Twitter or whatever, but KD is a winner. He’s probably Top 3 right now, and talent-wise, he might be the best player in the league. You can’t take anything away from him. He’s a mellow guy with a great heart and work ethic. He loves winning.
KD also runs his business off the court, which is impressive. He knows how to use his platform. The biggest thing about KD is that he doesn’t want to be like everyone else. He wants to speak his mind, and why not? I’d do the same. One thing I know about KD is that he’s very respectful. I played with him, know his family, and know how hard it was for him growing up.
Now, people expect stars like him to live a certain way, but KD isn’t going to fit into anyone’s box. He speaks his mind, whether it’s on Twitter or elsewhere. People don’t always like that, but he’s a human being, and you have to respect that. He’s not going to pretend to be someone he’s not. He’s loyal to his roots and his family, and that’s why he’s a winner.