Grant Hill is a seven-time NBA all-star basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. Before he played for the Suns, he played for the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic after playing at Duke University and winning back-to-back NCAA Championships. As an athlete, Grant knows how important it is to eat healthy and stay active. Without eating well, Grant wouldn’t have the energy to be the great athlete he is. Grant eats a lot of fruits and vegetables, and only drinks water. Off the court, Grant is a dad and a husband and likes to cook with his daughters Myla and Lael. Myla interviewed her dad to get the inside scoop on what he likes to eat.

MYLA: My name is Myla. I am nine years old and I am going to interview my dad, Grant Hill. So, Grant Hill, what is your favorite food?
GRANT: My favorite food of all time is probably fish. I like salmon and sea bass.

MYLA: What fish do you not like?
GRANT: I don’t like tuna fish.

MYLA: Just like me.
GRANT: Just like you. High five.

MYLA: What other sports do you like besides basketball?
GRANT: I like to watch football. I like to watch my daughter play softball. I used to play soccer so I was a big fan of soccer—I enjoyed playing and watching soccer. You know, as an athlete I enjoy and appreciate all sports. I like tennis. So I really like them all. Especially the ones I can go out there and play myself. Any more questions, Miss Myla?

MYLA: How often do you train?
GRANT: Great question. I like to train 5 or 6 days a week, then take a day off. I like to sweat and do some sort of activity every day, either lifting or running or riding a bike. I like to get exercise, as you know.

MYLA: Who was your favorite athlete when growing up?
GRANT: Magic Johnson. Dr. J, who played basketball long before you were born. And then my father, who is your grandfather…

MYLA: Who is the awesomest.
GRANT: He was the awesomest, yes. He played football for the Cowboys and the Redskins. He was by far my favorite athlete growing up. Who is your favorite athlete?

MYLA: Hmmm…
GRANT: Don’t answer. Don’t answer.

MYLA: What is your favorite dessert, Mr. Hill?
GRANT: My favorite dessert is vanilla cake with vanilla icing. Yes, nothing too exciting. Kind of boring. But that’s probably my favorite dessert. And sugar cookies. You know I love sugar cookies, right? But, as an athlete I don’t eat a lot of those things. So every once in a while—birthdays, special occasions.

MYLA: How many meals do you eat a day?
GRANT: I usually eat three meals a day, but I like to snack a lot, maybe a handful of almonds or chips and salsa. I try to snack with something healthy.

Grant and Myla’s Quesadilla

When Grant isn’t playing basketball or watching football or joining Myla at her softball games or eating salmon, he likes to make quesadillas with his girls. Quesadillas are quick, easily adaptable and, above all, completely delicious.

Kitchen Gear

• Large plate
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoon
• Skillet
• Spatula
• Serving plate

Ingredients

• 4  10-inch whole-wheat tortillas
• 1  cup grated sharp cheddar or
• Mexican blend cheese
• 4  teaspoons olive oil
• 1  cup toppings, including a combination of black beans, cooked turkey bacon, diced tomatoes, chopped olives, sliced scallions or chopped cilantro leaves
• Plain yogurt or sour cream, for garnish
• Summer salsa, for garnish
• Guacamole, for garnish

Instructions
Wash your hands with soap and water. Clean the counter top. Gather all your kitchen gear and ingredients and put them on the clean counter.

1. Put one tortilla on the large plate and sprinkle ¼ cup grated cheese on one side of the tortilla. Try not to get it too close to the edge.
2. Top with ¼ cup toppings, then fold the tortilla in half to make a half-moon shape.
3. With the help of your adult, put the skillet on the stove and turn the heat to medium. When it is hot, carefully add 1 teaspoon olive oil.
4. Carefully, add the tortilla to the hot skillet and cook until the bottom is lightly browned and the cheese is all gooey, about 2 minutes. using the spatula, turn the tortilla over and cook another 2 minutes. Move the cooked tortilla to the serving plate.
5. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, cheese, olive oil and toppings.
6. Garnish and serve right away.

Some of the benefits of vitamin C are that it:

• Strengthens your immune system.
• Fights free radicals in your body.
• May reduce the risk of cancer.
• Helps maintain bones, teeth and cartilage.

Foods like oranges, cabbage, broccoli, pineapples, watermelon and blueberries are just a few NATURAL sources of vitamin C for your body. While supplements and tablets may be the next the best thing, natural sources are still the best way to consume this nutrient. What matters most is that you’re providing your body with vitamin C.

Then he answers himself:

Because he still can. And he still can do it surprisingly well. And he feels great.

Hill, at age 38, has given himself an extension on a basketball career that almost ended years ago, reaping the benefits now of the seasons he lost in his prime.

Anyone waiting for his pre-retirement tour around the league, and his expected start in politics, better prepare to wait a lot longer. There are too many career milestones out there awaiting him.

Hill is the third-oldest player in NBA today, trailing Shaquille O’Neal in Boston and Kurt Thomas in Chicago (who both also are 38), but he likely will outlast the other two.

“The way I feel now, I want to go another couple of seasons,” he told FanHouse Thursday night before another very efficient performance for his Phoenix Suns. “I’d like to be playing when I’m 40.”

Hill is expected to receive an unusually warm welcome for a visiting player when his Suns play in Charlotte against the Bobcats Saturday night. Hill spent four years at nearby Duke University, leading them to back-to-back NCAA titles (1991, ’92), and his return to the area as an elder statesman has been marked by increasing admiration.

Where he was once an extremely athletic, high-flying headliner — once billed as the next Michael Jordan — he has transformed his game into a more grounded, more well-rounded variety, playing a key but more supporting role for a team led by Steve Nash.

Hill is the Suns second-leading rebounder (4.9 per game) and third-leading scorer (12.2), coming off a game in Orlando where he made 8 of 9 shots and 5 of 6 free throws for a team-high 21 points in just 31 minutes.

“Sometimes, there is a little feeling of disconnect with the young kids, but mostly it’s a pleasure to be around them. My legs feel good. I still enjoy what I’m doing and my enthusiasm is up there,” he said. “You take it year to year — and I’ll wait to see how I feel at the end of this season — but it’s fun playing this game when you’re healthy.”

Most impressively has been Hill’s recent durability, particularly with all the problems he once had. He played 82 and 81 games, respectively, the past two seasons for Phoenix.

He became just the 11th player in league history over the age of 36 to play in 80 or more games in back-to-back seasons. He became the first player since Cliff Robinson (2003-04) over the age of 36 to play in all 82.

He has played in all 12 games this season, saving his best for the second-half of back-to-back nights when he has averaged 19 points and shot 68 percent from the field. Where most older players have lagged, he has shined.

“Grant takes care of himself. We don’t talk about age, we talk about fitness,” said Suns coach Alvin Gentry, who also was Hill’s coach in Detroit from 1997-2000. “He and Steve (Nash) are probably the two fittest guys on the team. That’s how he’s been able to be so consistent for us.”

Hill was once a dominating player for Gentry in Detroit, averaging 25.8 points his final season there when he sustained a left ankle fracture in the playoffs that haunted him through the next six years, requiring multiple surgeries as doctors struggled to correct the problem. In what should have been the prime of his athletic career, he missed 292 of a possible 492 games, ruining his years in Orlando after arriving as a celebrated free agent.

His three seasons in Phoenix have been much happier ones, making up for all the frustration he felt going in and out of the lineup during those painful years in Orlando, often feeling the wrath of angry fans there.

He is making only a fraction ($3.3 million) now of the big money he once made during his earlier years, but he is perfectly content, knowing how close he once was to walking away from the game after repeated surgeries.

“I’ve talked to former players, coaches here who have played, my father (former NFL running back Calvin Hill), too, and the one thing they all say is ‘once it’s over, it’s over. There is no going back once you walk away,”’ he said. “They tell me, before you turn that page, make sure you’ve given it your all, played all you want to play. And for me that time hasn’t come yet. I’m not even close.”

One of the toughest mental and physical hurdles to overcome in the NBA is performing well on the second night of back-to-back games.

Picture this. You’re playing the Lakers in Los Angeles and after chasing Kobe Bryant around for 48 minutes, you board a plane that gets back into Phoenix at 2 a.m.

After talking to your wife about the sale of your Orlando home, you attempt to go to sleep at around 3:30 a.m., but your 3 year old won’t let you because she’s 3 years old. At 4:30 a.m. you finally start drifting off, but now you can’t sleep because you have visions of Carmelo Anthony, the very player you’ll be defending in approximately 15 hours.

That was the exact scenario that Suns forward Grant Hill faced the yesterday. And while that predicament would be difficult for any player, it’s even more daunting for a 38 year old.

Considering his age, his position and those circumstances, conventional wisdom would predict that Hill would most likely be fairly atrocious on the second night of those back-to-back games. Think again.

Coming into last night’s contest against Denver, the 16-year veteran was averaging 20 ppg and 7.5 rpg on 67 percent shooting from the floor on the second half of back-to-backs this season. It’s a positive trend that first began with Hill at the tail end of last season.

So what has been the secret to Hill’s success? He eats more meals, doesn’t sleep in and remains active on game days.

After the first game of the back-to-back set, Hill and his teammates usually don’t arrive at their hotel or their homes to sleep until about 3 in the morning. With the team’s breakfast meeting scheduled for 11 a.m., Hill would normally sleep in until the team meeting in the past.

However, because Hill would sleep in and eat his first meal at around 11 a.m., he would only be able to fit in two meals before game time.

“I didn’t feel like that was enough food, especially after coming off a game the night before,” Hill said. “So what I do now is I get up early (around 7:30 or 8:00 a.m.), whether it be at home or on the road, and I eat breakfast. So now I’m eating three meals because I felt like I needed to up my caloric intake.”

In addition, the Duke graduate doesn’t allow the late nights to give him an excuse to stay in bed all day. Instead of spending the day watching TV or messing around on the computer, Hill gets out and moves around.

Whether it’s taking a walk or going for a light swim, Hill uses the morning to get his blood going before taking a two-hour nap in the afternoon.

“I’m trying to make it as normal of a routine as it is on a regular day,” he said.

Also, when Hill knows there’s a back-to-back set of games facing him, he’s more conscious of what kind of fuel he puts in his body. Although he’s already nutritionally savvy, he’s extra mindful about putting clean, healthy foods into his body before and during days of back-to-back games.

“It’s all trial and error,” he said. “Last year I didn’t feel good at all, energy-wise, on those back-to-backs.”

Besides altering his routine via his sleep and diet, Hill is also using technology to keep the spring in his step. Before games, after games and after practices, the Suns tri-captain puts on a pair of NormaTec MVP (Most Valuable Pump) “space boots,” which provide a pulsating dynamic compression on the legs in order to help an athlete recover faster from fatigue.

“They’re like these moon boots that you put on your legs and they shoot air in,” Hill said. “I do it for an hour. I learned from a lot of triathletes.” Ironically, Hill said that his legs felt better against the Nuggets than they did the night before against the Lakers.

“I have a plan,” Hill said. “I have it sort of figured out what I want to do. It’s only three games, but it appears to be working better than last year.”

By NBA.com
Posted Jan 7 2010 6:47PM

After 15 years in the NBA, Grant Hill just reached a major milestone — he completed his first calendar year without missing a game. Quite a big deal, considering it appeared Hill was on the brink of retirement due to ankle injuries earlier in his career, playing in only 47 out of 264 games during a five-year period.

Perhaps no NBA player understands and appreciates the importance of healthy living and physical fitness than Hill, who went six for six in All-Star appearances with the Pistons and Magic before the injuries struck.

To commemorate NBA FIT Week, Hill, 37 (but who says he feels like 30), spoke with NBA.com’s John Hareas and discussed how his approach to working out, diet and nutrition has evolved over the years and why it’s important to him being an NBA FIT member.

NBA.com: You just completed your first year without missing a game in the NBA. How much has your approach to physical fitness played a role in being more durable as you’ve gotten older?

Grant Hill: I think it’s played an important role. For me, it’s been an ongoing discovery learning about your body and what it takes to stay healthy and certainly that was tested during some of those challenging years when I was hurt.

Instead of feeling sorry for myself at that time — I’m a seeker by nature — I really used it as an opportunity to learn more about the body, more about nutrition, more about health overall in general, not just in regards to getting back and playing on the court but having an active, healthy lifestyle as I get older in life.

NBA.com: What did you learn during this time?

Grant Hill: Learning to listen to your body. Your body talks to you and you have to learn how to listen to it. When you’re young and your ego is involved, you think you can overcome or override anything.

Also, understanding diet and nutrition and the role it plays and constantly trying figure out what’s best and what works for me. I think diet plays an important role. Managing your body, little tricks, such as using ice, massage theraphy, sleep, stretching, how you work out — all of these things, you become smarter and you figure out sort of what works and what doesn’t work.

I’m constantly trying to learn as much as I can. I don’t feel like I know it all but I certainly have learned a great deal over the last five or six years.

NBA.com: How has your diet and food choices evolved over the years?

Grant Hill: I think early on you learn the importance of cutting out fast food. As you get older, you stay away from sugar and a lot of the sugary drinks and drink nothing but water. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, fish, occasionally chicken.

I think the thing for me is that it’s not so much what works for everybody but what works for me. I think certainly there are some things that are consistent. I think a lot of the bad foods, the heavy foods, the fried foods, I think those are things everyone can learn from, stay away from or at least in moderation.

I don’t pretend to know the answers necessarily or pretend to have the perfect diet but I know certain foods that are good for you or are healthy don’t necessarily work well with me. I don’t feel as good when I eat those foods. Everybody is different. Everybody reacts differently to different foods.

NBA.com: How different is your offseason now than earlier in your career?

Grant Hill: When I first came in, the offseason was an opportunity to play a lot. I played a lot of basketball. I played year-round, whether it was pick-up games or playing with some of my teammates in the NBA. Whatever the case may be, I was always on the court.

Then I spent many years in the offseason doing rehab and trying to get back out onto the court, recovering from injuries, surgeries and things of that nature. Now, I’m at the point where I’m healthy, which in the last few years has been kind of uncharted waters.

What I’ve found is that cross training is a neat way to stay in shape, staying away from the physical and mental grind of playing basketball every day. What that consists of — and I try to do a lot of recreational activities outdoors — kayaking, standup paddle surfing, tennis, cycling — fun, outdoor activities that you can’t do during the season.

Living in Florida in the offseason exposes you to the sun, which I think is good. Things that I’m getting a workout in but it doesn’t feel like I’m working. It feels like I’m going out and having a good time.

Sometimes, you can just go out for a nice five-mile walk, going out for a walk with my wife. I think the important thing is to try to get the body moving every day. Obviously, I will lift weights and I will use the elliptical machine. If I don’t have access to weights or if I’m in a hotel room, I’ll do push ups, sit ups. The main thing is really trying to get a sweat every day, get the body moving.

The body is meant to be moved. If you don’t move it, you certainly lose it. I know it’s a bad cliché but it really hit home for me when all of those years I’m in a cast and the muscles in the cast around the ankle atrophy and that’s because they’re not being used. Seeing the visual of that really reinforced the importance of getting a sweat every day, getting out and moving and getting some exercise. You don’t always have access to a bike or a health club, but as long as you have a little bit of room, you can get a work out right in your hotel room or right on your living room floor and that’s what I try to do.

NBA.com: Is working out year-round a motivating factor to end your career on your terms opposed to an injury?

Grant Hill: It doesn’t drive me necessarily. Freak things can happen and obviously I’ve been through a lot and I don’t want to go out that way. I would like to be able to say you know I’ve had enough, it’s time to move on. I do understand that as you get older, it’s more important how you train. You can’t not do anything for two months and then expect to pick it back up and be able to play or work out at an intense level and not risk a chance of getting hurt. You really have to be smart. You don’t necessarily have to work long but you have to work smart at what you do. My motivation is, I want to be healthy. I want to fit in my clothes when I’m 50 (laughs). I figure by then whatever’s in fashion now will be back in fashion at that time.

As you get older the one thing that you have to fight is gaining weight and certainly weight gain has a lot to do with a lot of the diseases that are out there. How you eat, how you move and exercise, your attitude toward life, how you train, how you get your rest — all of these things are factors, I think, in how you age. Not that I’m vain or anything like that but hey, I’m an athlete, something that’s been great to me my whole life. Up until now, I’ve benefitted greatly having a father as a professional athlete — being one myself — and I would like to continue to be active as I get older in life.

If there is one thing I’ve learned throughout the ordeal of my injuries was how to take care of myself and how to hopefully prepare myself as I get older.

Look, retirement is going to happen. Injuries — you can do everything right and something freakish can happen. I certainly lived that, actually my colleagues have told me that as well, but the main thing is that it’s not a sprint but a marathon and life is a marathon and hopefully I can be as active as I can and be healthy as I get older in life.

NBA.com: Why is it important to you to join the NBA FIT cause?

Grant Hill: I think anything that spreads the message — I like to say that the NBA is one of the biggest PR firms in the world and the fact that they are putting their name, their brand behind the idea of staying in shape and being fit is important.

Look at the issue in our country with healthcare — certainly that’s been very polarizing. Even childhood obesity — you look at a lot of the problems in our country as it regards to health, wellness and fitness and certainly getting out, eating right, staying in shape, being fit, studies have shown reduced the chances of all different types of diseases and so forth.

So, if we can get young people, older people to get out and do that, then that’s great. The fact that the NBA’s doing it, I’m so excited to be a part of it and hopefully with more and more interviews, we can continue to spread the message.

Grant was drafted 3rd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He entered the league to high expectations, where many expected him to be the future face of the league in a time when Michael Jordan was retired. In his first season, he averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.77 steals per game, and became the first Pistons rookie since Isiah Thomas in 1981–82 to score 1000 points. Hill ended up sharing NBA Rookie of the Year Award honors with Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, becoming the first Piston since Dave Bing in 1966–67 to win the award. After signing a lucrative free agent contract with the Orlando Magic, Grant was hampered by career-threatening injuries. Overcoming adversity, Grant worked his way back through strenuous workouts and rehabilitation. In 2007, Hill signed a free-agent contract with the Suns. Since being with the Suns, Grant career has been turned back around. In the 2008–2009 season, Hill appeared in all 82 games for the first time in his career, and averaged 12.0 ppg, 4.90 rpg, and 2.3 apg, scoring 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Phoenix Suns season finale.

Off the court, Grant’s life is equally interesting. He is the son of former Dallas Cowboy Calvin Hill, a 3-Time All-Pro running back and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1969. His mother, Janet, was a Wellesley College graduate who shared a suite with Hillary Rodham when both were freshmen there. Grant Hill has been married to R&B singer Tamia since July 1999. They have 2 children: Myla Grace, 5, and Lael Rose, born August 9. Along with being a 7-time All-Star and a 5-time All-NBA selection, Grant is also known for being active off the court. He won the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2005 and 2008. Hill also has a great love for the arts. He owns a substantial collection of African-American art, centering on the work of Romare Bearden and Elizabeth Catlett. A selection of 46 works from the collection was featured in a touring exhibition at a number of American museums from 2003 to 2006.

Living a healthy lifestyle is important to Grant as well. Recently, Grant sat down with NBAFIT.com for a Q&A to discuss fitness, nutrition and tips on living a healthy and active lifestyle and how fitness and nutrition has played a major part in his career.

Below Is Questions & Answers

The NBA is known for its tough 82 game schedule. With all that goes into completing an NBA season, how important is it for you to remain active during your downtime during the season and during the off-season?
It’s very important to stay active and busy in the off season to stay in shape. As soon as the season ends, I try to participate in sports and activities that I don’t normally get a chance to do during the season. I do everything from playing tennis to cycling, paddle surfing, swimming, chasing around my 7-year old and two-year old daughters. I find those recreational activities to be fun, I like being outdoors and it’s a way of working out and getting your body right as you prepare for the upcoming season. As the summer rolls into late July and August, I start to get back on the courts and play basketball, but there never is a downtime. I’m always doing something; the body was made to be active. The reasons I do it are to stay in shape, it feels good, and its fun and I enjoy it.

What you put into you body is very important to your overall performance. What foods or beverages do you incorporate into your daily routine that helps you perform at your maximum level?
I drink a lot of water and I think that a lot of people miss out on drinking enough daily. It’s important to stay hydrated. For me it’s been a staple of my diet for a very long time. I try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and some sort of protein like fish and chicken. You can eat healthy at your meals, but your snacks can get you in trouble. I have incorporated a lot of nuts, goji berries, and just healthy snack items. I try to eat organic, but that’s not always possible and much easier when I go home than when I’m on the road. I eat a lot, but the key is to make healthy decisions. You want to say no to something that’s unhealthy. I was just in Philadelphia, and a lot of the guys wanted to eat Philly cheese steaks, but I know if I eat it, I’m going to feel horrible. I am pretty disciplined what I eat, not everybody has to be that hard core, if you eat healthy the majority of the time, I think you’re on the right track.

NBA players are some of the best conditioned athletes in the world. Other than playig basketball, what would you say are some of the benefits of being and eating healthy?
I think other than playing basketball, in general you feel good when you work out. When you work out and eat right, your body is feeling better. If I go a day or two without working out or if I have too much birthday cake or put something in my body that’s not the best for me, I feel it. I like to feel good; I like the release of the endorphins that naturally occurs when you work out. I like the feeling of my body not being sore and tired. I like waking up early in the morning and having the energy to start the day. It’s pretty simple I enjoy how I feel when I eat right and work out.

Many people around the world do not eat healthy and that goes for athletes as well. How have you changed your diet since becoming an NBA player?
I was one of the people who did not eat healthy first coming into the NBA. I ate a lot of fast food, but everything I eat now, I pretty much did not eat then. It’s been a learned process, but my dad (NFL legend Calvin Hill) was always particular about what he ate and exercised. I certainly have picked his brain and people in my life over the last 16 years of my playing career have influenced me to eat right. At first it was all about becoming more efficient on the court then it was about learning about nutrition and diet. Finally it was about an overall healthy lifestyle. I want to be active when I’m 50 or 60 years old and play with my kids and grandchildren. It didn’t affect you before to have 3 Philly cheese steaks like it would now so I’m glad I’ve learned and spoken with a variety of people and tried different things. My teammate Steve Nash is very particular as well about what he eats so we bounce things off each other. What works for him works for me sometimes, and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s process of elimination and what works for you. Generally, the thing that’s similar between the two of us is that we’re both conscious of what we put into our bodies.

The NBA game is fast paced and physical. As an NBA player how important is it to develop a strong core since running, jumping, physical play, endurance and athleticism are key to having success?
My 20-year high school reunion is this year, and when I think back to high school, the workouts are somewhat archaic. They didn’t focus in on the core, and certainly a lot has changed since that period of time. Now, we understand just how important the core is. You don’t have to go to a health club and bench 300 pounds; it’s about having functional strength. In terms of basketball, there is a lot of running, jumping, cutting, and a lot of very intricate movements. It’s imperative that you work on core. The core is what holds you together, the core is what enables you to land and to jump, and it’s your power base. That’s something I spend a lot of time on every day. Every NBA strength coach now understands and realizes the importance of core work across the NBA.

As an NBA player how important is sleep to your overall performance?
Sleep is very important! The older you get it’s harder. When you’re getting the right amount of rest, your body heals and recovers. It’s tough because of our schedule and late nights. In essence, we’re really nocturnal. We perform at night; sometimes travel at night after games. You arrive at home; you arrive at hotels at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning. You certainly learn how to nap and get your rest. It’s important and you have to get rest in general, not just as an athlete. So many people are sleep deprived. Whether you’re running down the court playing with the world’s best athletes in the NBA or you’re in corporate America, you have a family and kids at home, if you’re not getting the right amount of rest, it will affect everything you do. A lot of people talk about diet and exercise but somehow, some way sleep gets lost. I think sleep is just as important as those two.

In order to reach your maximum performance level for games, what meals do you eat pre-game? Post-game?
It’s easier at home to control what you’re eating. At home I eat an oatmeal batter made into a waffle and use agave nectar as a syrup. Agave is a natural sweetner that doesn’t have the rise in sugar levels that syrup or honey has. I tend to eat that in the morning for breakfast and usually a salad and some sort of fish, a sea bass or salmon. I may have that once or twice before a game, and then usually an hour or two before the game and in the locker room we have a fruit platter or tray of some sort. That’s what works for me. Since I’ve become really particular in the last few years about what I eat, my energy level and my recovery level post-work out are so much better. I try to eat afterwards a salad and try to get some protein in my body, but keeping it simple, staying away from heavy pastas, sauces, butters, all those types of things I feel great. I feel better now than I did 5 years ago. My body feels better as I go through the season. I’m not as tired and sluggish and I sleep better. I’m not sore. A lot of that has to do with what I eat.

It’s harder to nap now. You might have a game in Phoenix late tonight and tomorrow night in Portland, you don’t get to Portland until 4 in the morning and then you have a breakfast meeting at 11am. There have been times I can’t sleep in the morning after that meeting. I am sleep deprived before the game. There are times in the morning when I’ll get up and go for a nice walk before the game. We played a back to back in Washington and then Philly. I woke up in Philadelphia and went on a 20-block walk and went to a bookstore just to get out and get the body moving. It generally helps me feel better later on in the game. Even if I’m not out sweating, I’m getting the body moving. I tend to feel better after that.

Growing up, what kind of exercise activities did you participate in? How often did you go outside?
Growing up exercise and strength training were pretty archaic. I think back to when I was a child and I compare it to my children’s experiences. I had so much more unsupervised playtime with my friends. We would go out at night, and not come back until you heard your mom calling your name. Football, hide and go seek, dodge ball – we had all these different activities we’d do in the street. We were getting a great level of fitness by working out, by being outdoors, by playing. We were developing ourselves as athletes; I think that was a time of innocence. My 7-year-old can’t go anywhere unsupervised. She has a bike, and she can ride it, but it’s hard to go anywhere. Times are a little bit different, and it wasn’t as organized, having individual instruction and if you played outside you were active. That’s the one thing as I look at my life from childhood, through adolescence and now, I’ve always been active. My wife calls me a busy body, I’ve always been active. Even on vacation I don’t want to just sit by the pool, I want to hike or swim in the ocean or scuba dive or try my luck at surfing. I have to stay busy, and I ask myself why, but it’s because I enjoy it and feel good as a result.

As you played basketball in school, what kind of routines did you perform in order to stay in shape?
Basketball wasn’t my first love; it was my first love during basketball season. I was always active; it might be racing somebody during recess or the whole classroom playing soccer, basketball, dodge ball or kickball. I think it helped that I was a gifted athlete so you tend to gravitate toward something you’re good at, but I was always developing myself as an athlete. I never thought or dreamt that I would become a professional athlete, I was just having fun. You know what? I’m still having fun. When I’m done playing basketball and hang it up for good, I think I’ll find a way to have fun with something else.