Chicago, IL — The NBA's best gathered together for media day Saturday morning, and our own Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) and Matt Moore (@HPBasketball) were on the scene.
Yesterday, we asked the Rising Stars about a time they bet on themselves. Today, we're mixing it up and asking the NBA All-Stars…
"What's the best part of having haters?"
Here were their answers…
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
"I love it. Anyone who knows me knows I thrive off of it. I love it. The whole season I've been quiet — before I was on social media and acting crazy and people said that I was immature. I stopped but now everyone says I don't have passion for the game, I don't care about the game … it's a lose-lose situation.
"So I just have to be myself. If you rub some people the wrong way, so what? I just gotta be myself, and I think it's going to help me a lot."
Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder
"I'm gonna tell you the truth: If there's not somebody who hates you or dislikes you or something, you're not doing something right. I'm just telling you, seriously, if you look around at your friends and they're never jealous or talking about you or something like that, seriously, you're not doing something right.
"Because at the end of the day, all of the people who are loving you — they love that you ain't doing nothing to push them."
James Harden, Houston Rockets
"[It means] you're doing something right. If you don't have haters, if you don't have people not wanting you to succeed, then you're just not doing what you're supposed to be doing. It's a part of it. It's a part of being on the top and doing what you're supposed to be doing."
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
"That's a good question. I think the best thing about haters is that … I forgot who said this, it's a movie quote … 'They hate us cause they ain't us.'
"I think the biggest thing is you're not in my shoes, ya know? At the end of the day, we live in a world where sometimes people prefer to hate as opposed to applaud you. So for me, just go out there and continue to be yourself. You can't control other people's opinions; you can't control other people's perspectives. Go out there and do your thing.
"And I think the more haters you have, that means you gotta be doing something right. Know what I mean? If you have millions of haters, you've gotta be doing something for them to be angry or jealous."
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
"[The best thing about haters is] that they're there. I mean, you need them. I love my haters."
Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets
"The haters are a fuel to the fire. I think if you don't have people being critical of you, then you probably haven't done a lot."
Devonte' Graham, Charlotte Hornets
"It just motivates you. They always say, 'If you ain't got haters, you ain't poppin.'"
