There are a lot of things that you learn as a rookie and you grow the most, I would say as a rookie from your first year to your second year.
I'm trying to be a sponge. People say, 'Well, that's what your rookie year is.' I still feel that way in my second year.
When I was a rookie, what motivated me was trying to win Rookie of the Year and play the best that I could that I would compete so hard.
Personally, I want to win rookie of the year.
One goal I want to accomplish is I want to be known as the hardest-working guy on the team my rookie year.
Ultimately I want to win. That's my main focus as my rookie year.
I'm not big on rookie hazing. I didn't wanna be hazed as a rookie, so I definitely didn't want to do it to others.
For me, I spent four years at Duke, and I was 22 my rookie year. For a lot of guys, I was old as a rookie, but nothing could prepare me for the NBA, both on the court and off the court.
Rookie year you get out there and want to make as many plays as possible, then second year you want to be perfect, and then you kind of find a combination between the two - making a lot of plays and trying to be as perfect as possible.
Veterans get priority in the training room and better parking, but there is not a whole lot of difference in terms of how they're treated in the competition for playing time. To me it doesn't matter if a guy is a 10-year veteran or a rookie. If the rookie is better, he finds his way onto the field.
I almost got traded my rookie year or my second year in the league.
I want to be on the All-Defensive team, be rookie of the year, make the All-Star team, all that type of stuff.
I think I had a good rookie year, but at the end of the day, I want to be one of the best tight ends ever to play, and I'm going to set my standard for that and work toward that goal.
I would say the greatest challenge, for me, had been my rookie year and learning my spot. It is an emotional battle, as you have good days and bad days. Being young and thrown into this big business is challenging.
I was 22 my rookie year.
Two years ago, of course, I was just a rookie and listened to everybody. In a way I am still a rookie. I'm only 23 and I'll be surrounded by great players who have played in a lot more Ryder Cups than myself. But the rankings say I am the best player at the moment and so that brings a responsibility.