Rodney Hood

“I'm a guy that can stretch the floor, make plays in pick-and-roll, and then play off the ball as well.”

“I hit a big growth spurt between my 10th and 11th grade years.”

“To see old faces, to give back to the kids and let them know I come from these same schools and streets, and they can make it out, too, that's my biggest message to them.”

“A lot of times in our jobs, we go day-to-day, we're in a routine, we sometimes become robots.”

“I'm trying to win a ring and that's what it's about.”

“I didn't get down on myself even when a lot of people did.”

“You want to put on a good performance for yourself.”

“Being a part of a trade doesn't always mean you're not a good player. It means they want to do something different for their organization.”

“It's always good to feel wanted.”

“Some of the best players in the world have played in the Rising Stars game, and to be a part of that really meant a lot.”

“I'm happy just to be breathing. I'm joyful for life, my kids running around and waking me up every day. I got a lot to be thankful for.”

“As long as you have a job, I'm providing for my family, I'm blessed and you move forward.”

“I've had great times in Utah, but regardless of where I'm playing, whether it's there or somewhere else, I'm going to stay professional.”

“My 10th grade year I was 6-foot-4 and I grew to like 6-foot-7, but I still had my guard skills. I was playing point guard, I was a big guard. People started calling me 'Penny Hardaway' - comparing me to him because I was a big guard.”

“I'm a guy who just wants to win and prove myself.”

“I've got to be strong for my family. I've got to be strong for my kids and everybody.”

“It's extremely tough, going day-to-day, not knowing really what you're working for, but for me, I just learned how to set small goals for myself.”

“When I'm asked to be aggressive and shoot the ball, I gotta take advantage of that.”

“I'm just grateful that I didn't give up on myself and I just kept plugging at it.”

“I told my wife, 'Look, I'm going to ask y'all to sacrifice. I need to go to Portland. I need to lock in.' At that time, I felt like my career... was on the line. So I told her, 'This is what I need to do. I'm going to be without y'all for a while. Y'all can come out and visit. But this is what I need to do.' She understood.”