Jahlil Okafor

There's a lot of pride I have coming from Chicago because so many great players have done so many great things in the league. I definitely want to keep that tradition going. So yeah, I want to represent Chicago in the best light possible.

Shaquille O'Neal was probably my favorite athlete growing up. I loved how dominant and unstoppable he was, but also his charisma off the court. He was someone I gravitated toward.

I've always been a basketball player. My earliest memories are of playing basketball. I was born playing it. It's why I'm so comfortable on the floor.

I've always gotten credit for being a big man who doesn't want to shoot threes. Throughout my entire basketball career prior to coming to the NBA, I was praised for doing that.

I always knew I wanted to be in the NBA and play myself in a video game. That was my goal when I was a kid.

My goal is to be the best. That's my thing I want to achieve - the best that I can be - and hopefully, that's the best player in the NBA.

I want good players around me because it's all about winning.

I never had to worry about putting a target on somebody else's back. Usually, the target was on my back.

I can play with my back to the basket, but I can face up as well.

Rankings, for most players, are like adversity because we all want to be the best. So you've just got to approach it like you would a tough situation on the court. You just have to respond.

In college, when you lose one game as a top team, it's like the end of the world.

That's always been my interest - things of the unknown.