SLAM: You’re at present the frontrunner to win MVP this season—in response to Vegas odds, in response to the media, and many others. How a lot do you take note of stuff like that, and the way large 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 fingers, a few of it’s laborious work. Lots 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 workforce successful—issues are clearly getting into the proper path. 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 proper path, for positive.
SLAM: Anthony Edwards made a remark just lately that you simply have been the clear-cut MVP this season and may’ve been the MVP final season. What’s it like having different star gamers provide you with that kind of reward?
SGA: Your friends do it at a excessive degree. 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 similar degree and perceive what it takes. So it’s a superb feeling.
SLAM: Do you agree along with his assertion that it’s best to’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 one of the best 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 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 taking part in basketball. So, it’s a cool feeling. The issues he’s carried out for the sport, for the tradition—on and off the court docket—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 court docket, he performed the identical manner. 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 manner. Performed laborious. And off the court docket, he clearly had the utmost confidence in his vogue. 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 positive he did it his manner, and he went out swinging.
SLAM: You talked about there’s nonetheless much more to perform. What does that listing of objectives seem like?
SGA: My greatest 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 workforce, I needed to win a metropolis championship. I at all times simply wish to win—on the largest and highest stage of basketball on this planet. That’s my predominant and solely focus. All I actually care about. If I get that someday, I’ll be all proper.
SLAM: You have been minimize out of your JV workforce 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 adequate. I believed I used to be adequate; 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.