(CRAFT)[DOUBLED DOWN]

I would—this is no secret—take the ball to the basket. That’s just what I would do. I relished the challenge, the contact, the decision making. In response, opponents would prepare for my hard takes by collapsing and swarming me with two, three, four defenders.

When they did that, it was a wrap for them because I was in control. I was in control of the action and the whole flow of the game. I was in control of whether I would finish strong or pivot back around and find open shooters on the perimeter. A large part of that in-air decision was based on scouting individual and team tendencies. I would know who would jump vertically and allow me to finish. Likewise, I would know who was more confrontational and likely to foul me or leave an open passing lane. It all depended on who was waiting for me at the basket and what the smart play was going to be.