Heeeeeeeyyyyy world!!!! I had all of the fellas laughing today when I slapped on a long blonde wig and went to take my NBA Drug test with the hair on. They show up four times a year for our drug tests and I just had to go into a room and pee in a cup. I just thought I’d spice things up a little bit with my wig and get a few strange looks from everybody.
I didn’t know until this afternoon that I got a Community Assist award from the NBA for the work that we’re doing with Florida Hospital to create a room for teenagers who are sick and hospitalized. I was down there a few weeks ago and had some fun with the kids and their smiles just give me so much happiness. I handed out a few Superman capes and played some video games with those guys and it was so much fun. And by winning that award I guess it means that the NBA Cares folks will be donating $5,000 more to the foundation.
Thanksgiving is coming up in a couple of days, and I thought I’d talk to you guys today about giving back. I have so much to be thankful for from basketball, to family, to life in general, and I want to show my thanks for that by trying to help others. Plenty of people helped me coming up, so I want to try and touch as many lives as I can as well.
The media asked me a bunch of questions today after practice about why I spend so much of my free time doing charity work in the community and the answer is really pretty simple: It’s because I just enjoy giving back. I’ve been given everything in this life that I could ever imagine. So a big part of my life outside of the NBA is giving back to other people less fortunate than me. So I take pride in giving back.
This is just something that I’ve been doing my whole, entire life. You can ask my parents, my homeboys back in Atlanta, or the people at my church – that’s just the way I’ve always been since I was a kid. If I had $5 I’d give my last $5 to somebody else who needs it more. If I saw you with no shirt on and you were cold, I’d give you my shirt.
I’ve tried to never change who I am as far as giving back and wanting to do for others. It’s just me, wanting to give my last so that others have enough.
We got a couple of tough games coming up with Miami and Atlanta, so if I don’t holla at ya’ll before Thanksgiving, ya’ll eat some turkey and dressing for me. Have a good holiday!!! Peace out to ya’ll all around the world!!!
—D-12
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