<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Question: Were you surprised by how well last season went? Answer: In some kind of way I was surprised I was able to contribute right away after three years sitting on the bench and watching games. Q: How did you go about preparing for the opportunity, since you hadn't played much with the Pacers? A: I just worked hard every year, every summer, every practice. I continued to work on my game. The summer league (with Charlotte in 2004) really helped me a lot. That really turned my confidence on. Q: During those seasons here when you didn't play much, did you question your ability to play in the NBA? A: For sure. You trust in yourself, but if you're not playing, you lose your confidence. I think that happens with everybody in this league. I mean, they're lying if they say, 'I'm good, I'm the best . . .' I was down and ready to pack my bags and go back to Europe, just to play. But it turned out great for me. Q: So then what did you get out of your experience with the Pacers? A: I learned the NBA life. I learned a lot playing behind Jermaine (O'Neal), Brad (Miller), Al Harrington and Austin (Croshere). And playing with Reggie (Miller), that was great. Q: How did that prepare you for the opportunity in Charlotte? A: It would have been different if I had been drafted by Charlotte and had to play right away. I had three years in Indiana not playing and could learn what the NBA life is about. You have to play 82 games in a short period of time. In Europe, you play 35 games in a year. That made the transition easier when I got to Charlotte.</div> Source
