THE WALK-IN

F O R W A R D

Thanks to an online rap-name generator, our reporter now goes by Ponderous Choppa Sammy Wrath, aka Mista Chill.

You ever chat up the music titans sitting courtside, like, “Can you listen to my stuff and hit me back?” [Laughs] I never have, but Migos was at the game in Atlanta, and they said they were fans of my songs. Is it true that Lithuania will host your first concert? I want to do some shows this summer. I don’t know about Lithuania yet, but everybody there loves my family, so I figure even if I suck, they won’t tell me. [Laughs] Maybe they won’t even know what I’m saying. Let’s talk ball. What letter grade do you give your rookie season? I give myself a B. I don’t think I did tremendously well, don’t think I did bad. But missing the playoffs is tough. That was the goal. We thought we had the talent to make it. But I’m happy. We won more games than we won last year. You know I bleed purple and gold. Been a fan since— Before I was born? [Laughs] Would you like to know what Lakers fans talk about at bars when we talk about you? [Laughs] All right, cool. We wonder, do you want to be great? GREAT—all caps. For sure. I want to be the best player to ever play. That’s why I play. LeBron wants to be the best. Kobe wanted to be the best. That’s what you do. I ask because, as fans often point out, you don’t show a lot of emotion. I know I play with a lot of passion, but from the outside looking in, people say, “He’s passive. Doesn’t play hard.” And others say, “It just comes easy to him. He’s smooth.” That’s just how I play. Always been the same person. I’m not loud. Not gonna be crazy with the refs. And we’re always talking about your funky shot. This summer, will you reconstruct it, tweak it or keep your form? It’ll stay the same. If I change it, it won’t be for the better. I’m confident in it. If I’m open, I’m shooting. I just got to work on it until it becomes consistent. I also want to focus on my midrange. With all the pick-and-rolls in the NBA, getting in the lane and shooting floaters or pull-ups will help a lot. And physically, gotta get stronger. I guard bigs with all our switching on defense, so the weight room will be big this summer. Your improved shooting aside, most fans are praying for two other things this summer: max-salary

“ I L I K E O U R T E A M R I G H T N O W. W E ’ L L B E S P E C I A L I N T H E F U T U R E .”

guys—one being LeBron. What would you like to see happen? If LeBron comes, great. If not, I wish him the best. But I like our team right now, to be honest. Got a lot of young, growing talent—myself, Kuz [Kyle Kuzma], Brandon Ingram is growing a lot, Julius Randle really evolved this year. I love those guys, and we’ll be special in the future. There’s one topic that divides fans across America: your dad. [Laughs] Yeah, definitely. Frankly, I don’t want to talk about LaVar today. I want to hear from you, about you. But I will ask about your album cover art: Why did you rock that pic of baby Zo and LaVar? I found it going through old pictures, and I was like, “That’s dope.” Since I was that big, he talked the way he’s talking now. I just let him live his life and be free. I wouldn’t be here without him. He’s shown me everything I know. Got me involved in music early, put me in basketball early, trained me my whole life. I owe him a lot. You’ll soon be a dad yourself. Boy or girl? Can’t say yet. What’s going through your head as baby Ball’s arrival nears? When you first hear it, it’s kind of crazy, you know? Your life is about to change—quick. I talked to my dad, and basically he said, “I tried to be the best dad I could. Now it’s your turn to be the best dad you can for your baby. Just take care of yours.”