Nice game … Senator? Blessed with all-around skills and an impeccable image, Ray Allen has the Bucks shooting for an NBA title on the court and his own lofty aspirations off it - Interview: Ray Allen - National Basketball Association - Statistical Data Included - Interview

Basketball Digest, Jan, 2002 by Brett Ballantini

BD: What's the best and worst thing about playing for George Karl?

RA: George doesn't throw compliments around too loosely, that's one thing. [Laughs] We come out here to win games, and that's what people expect us to do. George will bring the best out of you and make you play good basketball, and that's one of the best things about him.

BD: You have an impeccable image off the court, having been the first winner of the Magic Johnson Image Award. Are you happy with that balance in your career?

RA: Yes. I give all my praises to God because I've always been the type of guy who appreciates the people I come in contact with, the people I meet along the way. I don't feel like I'm any better than anyone else. I used to always question myself. Would I be good enough? Would I be one of the best players? Finally I just remember thinking that I'd just work hard, and one of these days instead of other guys getting talked about as one of the best, they'd be talking about me.

God gave me this opportunity. He put me here. Now, how am I going to treat the situation? I always figured that once I got there, I'd be the same guy I was outside of the spotlight Now I can affect people more because I'm in the spotlight and people appreciate me more. People will wait for every little word that comes out of my mouth.

BD: Do you ever find yourself getting too negative about something before you catch yourself?

RA: I made a mistake some time ago with a friend of mine. I wrote on his ball, "You got no game," and one of his kids was devastated by it. I felt bad because I was just joking with him. It was one of those things where if it's negative, people are going to take it and harp on it. The more positive I am, the more it's going to make them remember the things I said. [Whispers] A lot of the guys in the locker room don't understand that even with the smallest things you say or do, people are still watching.

I'll be sitting in a room and have people watching me the whole time, won't take their eyes off me, just to see what I do so they can go and tell somebody. If it's bad, you can imagine how people will intensify it. If it's good, same thing. I'm going to give people good stuff to say all the time--not to say I'm going to change or put on a facade, but I want to let people know I'm not such a bad guy.

BD: You talk about your dreams of NBA stardom. Did you ever envision Milwaukee as the launching pad for that stardom?

RA: This is an ideal situation. I have a good life. I have friends that I trust, who I like being around. I have teammates who want to be here and like being here. Despite weather [laughs] and location, this is a great place to play basketball. When we come off a road trip, I'm glad to come home. Milwaukee is where I play, and I'm happy to be with this organization.

BD: Your film debut was "He Got Game." Next we'll see you in "Harvard Man." Was acting any easier the second time around?

RA: You just have to have confidence and know that you can get the job done. Acting, that's pressure. You've got everyone on the set trying to get you done so they can get their lunch or some overtime, or get home to their families. And you've got to be a machine. You've got to do scenes over and over again, with people looking at you like, [puts his hand to his forehead, shakes his head, and sighs] "Oh, this guy, he's a `thespian.'" [Laughs]