SLAM: You’re at present the frontrunner to win MVP this season—in accordance with Vegas odds, in accordance with the media, and so forth. How a lot do you take note of stuff like that, and the way massive of a aim is it for you?
SGA: It’s one other blessing. So many issues [happened] from then to now for me to get right here. A few of it’s luck, a few of it’s serving to arms, a few of it’s exhausting work. A variety of stars should align and issues have for me, and I’m tremendous blessed for that. The sensation is superb. Clearly, nothing is gained in January, clearly. However to be enjoying on the stage that I’m, to be acknowledged, to my staff successful—issues are clearly stepping into the correct course. I haven’t reached any of my objectives but, so I’m not happy. I’ve much more to perform. The work gained’t cease. However yeah, headed down the correct path, for certain.
SLAM: Anthony Edwards made a remark just lately that you just have been the clear-cut MVP this season and will’ve been the MVP final season. What’s it like having different star gamers offer you that kind of reward?
SGA: Your friends do it at a excessive stage. They perceive the grind it takes, perceive the day after day. No person understands greater than them. To me, their opinion holds probably the most weight as a result of they do the very same factor that I do on the identical stage and perceive what it takes. So it’s a very good feeling.
SLAM: Do you agree along with his assertion that you must’ve gained final 12 months?
SGA: Umm, I don’t actually care about [not winning it last year] a lot. It’s one thing I can’t management. I can’t management votes. I attempted to present final 12 months my all, tried to be the perfect model of myself. And I assume that wasn’t sufficient. So, my mindset within the summertime was to attempt to guarantee that this 12 months it was sufficient.
SLAM: There are individuals on-line who evaluate you to Allen Iverson. Have you ever seen these comparisons?
SGA: I haven’t heard these, however I strive to not get into social media and scouring by way of social media whereas I’m going by way of the season. However that’s an incredible feeling as effectively. Allen Iverson was, like, my favourite basketball participant rising up—the explanation why I had braids as a child, wore a headscarf, the explanation why I began enjoying basketball. So, it’s a cool feeling. The issues he’s carried out for the sport, for the tradition—on and off the courtroom—are second to none. In order that’s fairly cool.
SLAM: Did you examine his sport if you have been rising up?
SGA: I by no means actually studied a lot of his sport, simply ’trigger I used to be youthful and I simply wasn’t learning [yet]. I used to be simply watching as a fan. However one thing that stood out about him was his supreme confidence. On the courtroom, he performed the identical means. His confidence by no means wavered. Good shot, dangerous shot. He made 4 in a row, 5 in a row. He at all times performed the identical means. Performed exhausting. And off the courtroom, he clearly had the utmost confidence in his trend. His swag. A narrative that at all times caught with me was him taking fines to put on suits. That’s at all times one thing that stood out to me. He at all times made certain he did it his means, and he went out swinging.
SLAM: You talked about there’s nonetheless much more to perform. What does that checklist of objectives seem like?
SGA: My largest factor is, I simply wish to win a championship. That’s why you play the sport. After I was in ninth grade and tried out for the staff, I needed to win a metropolis championship. I at all times simply wish to win—on the most important and highest stage of basketball on the earth. That’s my major and solely focus. All I actually care about. If I get that in the future, I’ll be all proper.
SLAM: You have been minimize out of your JV staff in ninth grade; how a lot did that impression the best way you went about pursuing basketball?
SGA: I used it as motivation. I by no means sulked or was down dangerous about it or was in my emotions about it. I simply took it as, I wasn’t ok. I believed I used to be ok; clearly I wasn’t. I needed to guarantee that I by no means had that feeling once more. And I feel I did a reasonably good job at that.
