Full-Court Press
Wizards wunderkind Caron Butler tips off Lauren Paige Kennedy about his Midwestern roots, Oprah and why he loves D.C.
Photo: Ned Dishman/Wizards Photos
We have a lot of cheese and milk out there, so I definitely believe that. We're made tough. Midwesterners are just raised a little differently, but it's made me who I am. You faced considerable obstacles as a youth to achieve NBA success. What lessons from the past do you bring to the present, and to your game?
I preach the three Ds: determination, dedication and discipline. I went through a lot of adversity as a youth. I brought that from my early years, carried it onto the court and just try and apply it to my game. You appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to speak about overcoming those hard times. Any razzing from the guys, or is Oprah a giant even among basketball players?
Oprah is one of the biggest entrepreneurs in the world. Everyone is always laughing and cracking jokes about me going on the show, but that was a big deal around the league. Oprah is a giant everywhere, even in the NBA. Name the up-and-comers who have earned your respect. Rookies, college kids...
I really like Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley. Durant is showing what he can do on the NBA level now in Seattle, and everyone is becoming familiar with what he can do, but if you haven't heard of Michael Beasley yet, you soon will. Another guy I like is Jerome Dyson, a Connecticut guy. You once called Kobe Bryant the hardest player in the league to guard. Still think so?
Definitely. You're a veteran of the Miami Heat and the L.A. Lakers. East Coast vs. West Coast: Which is cooler?
East Coast. I began my career in Miami, and I'll always remember that experience, and now I've found a home in D.C. I'm East Coast all the way now. Where in town might we spot you and your pal Gilbert Arenas hanging out? Lucky Strike. Gil can really bowl. I love D.C., so you can probably find me all around, but Lucky Strike is right next to Verizon Center, so I obviously spend a lot of time in that area. Hey, how's married life?
Great. I'm blessed with a beautiful family, and I consider myself to be extremely fortunate. Flyer is a travel magazine. What is your favorite destination on the planet?
That's a tough question because there are too many incredible places to just pick one... My wife and I got married in Vegas, and I played in my first All-Star game there last year, so Vegas is special. And we took vacation in Puerto Rico this summer. I loved it there. Finish this sentence: If the presidential race were like a game of hoops...
There would be a lot of technical fouls.