SLAM: You’re at present the frontrunner to win MVP this season—based on Vegas odds, based on the media, and many others. How a lot do you take note of stuff like that, and the way huge of a purpose 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. Loads 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 taking part in on the degree that I’m, to be acknowledged, to my crew profitable—issues are clearly stepping into the best course. I haven’t reached any of my targets but, so I’m not glad. I’ve much more to perform. The work gained’t cease. However yeah, headed down the best path, for positive.
SLAM: Anthony Edwards made a remark just lately that you simply had been the clear-cut MVP this season and will’ve been the MVP final season. What’s it like having different star gamers provide you with that sort of reward?
SGA: Your friends do it at a excessive degree. They perceive the grind it takes, perceive the everyday. No one 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 similar degree and perceive what it takes. So it’s a great feeling.
SLAM: Do you agree together 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 provide final 12 months my all, tried to be the most effective model of myself. And I suppose 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 folks on-line who examine you to Allen Iverson. Have you ever seen these comparisons?
SGA: I haven’t heard these, however I attempt to not get into social media and scouring via social media whereas I’m going via the season. However that’s a tremendous feeling as properly. Allen Iverson was, like, my favourite basketball participant rising up—the rationale why I had braids as a child, wore a scarf, the rationale why I began taking part in basketball. So, it’s a cool feeling. The issues he’s performed 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 recreation whenever you had been rising up?
SGA: I by no means actually studied a lot of his recreation, 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, unhealthy shot. He made 4 in a row, 5 in a row. He all the time performed the identical means. Performed exhausting. And off the courtroom, he clearly had the utmost confidence in his style. His swag. A narrative that all the time caught with me was him taking fines to put on suits. That’s all the time one thing that stood out to me. He all the time made positive he did it his means, and he went out swinging.
SLAM: You talked about there’s nonetheless much more to perform. What does that listing of targets seem like?
SGA: My greatest factor is, I simply wish to win a championship. That’s why you play the sport. Once I was in ninth grade and tried out for the crew, I needed to win a metropolis championship. I all the time simply wish to win—on the most important and highest stage of basketball on the earth. That’s my predominant and solely focus. All I actually care about. If I get that in the future, I’ll be all proper.
SLAM: You had been lower out of your JV crew 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 unhealthy 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 believe I did a fairly good job at that.
