Let's just say the genes were there for me to excel athletically.

Zach LaVine

Categorized in : Me Just Say Genes

I feel like I'm supposed to be a shooter.

i-feel-like i-feel feel like

When I was younger, me and my dad used to do different things. I don't think I would call it community service. It was more just us doing nice things. We used to donate to Goodwill or do can drives. Give people money if they needed it. Little things like that.

me service money people

I have really high expectations for myself, so I just want to go out there and compete.

go myself expectations want

I've always been taught that hard work doesn't fail.

always hard hard-work work

I'll always have something to prove.

something always prove

Regardless of what the record is, what the score is, you always go out there and compete.

compete go you always

My ultimate goal is whenever I go on the court, I just want to be known as one of the better players.

better just go want

I remember when I was in third grade, I was in a classroom, and the teacher said, 'What do you want to do when you get older?' We were going around the room. I said, 'I want to be a professional basketball player.' She's like, 'That's not realistic.' I thought to myself, 'OK, watch.'

myself you remember teacher

It was a big-time change, coming off the bench.

coming bench off change

Lunchtime and recess, that was a big part for me growing up. I think it's important for kids to have that.

think me growing-up important

If I get to spoil myself, I'm going to DQ. I always had it growing up, so I stick to it.

myself always spoil growing-up

Lunch was my favorite part at school.

favorite part lunch school

If there are negative people around me, I just try to distance myself from that.

myself me people negative

You have to handle adversity well. There are roadblocks you will have to fight through.

will fight you adversity

Every year is pressure. You need to put in on yourself to go out and perform.

yourself go you pressure

There are going to be good days and bad days... and you have to learn to fight through that.

fight bad good you

Michael Jordan was that guy - he was Michael Jordan. So whatever he did, we followed.

michael-jordan whatever he guy

I've never seen hard work fail.

never hard hard-work work

Whether it's backing up or starting, I have the confidence to go out there and do good, so I'm gonna play my role.

good go confidence play

I feel like I've accomplished everything I could in the dunk contest. It would be hard for me to go back and outdo myself.

feel back myself me