"what you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player."

what i think this quote means is that being yourself matters the most and is more important than anything else. for example, if you were to have a chance to be famous and rich you'll have a mansion all to yourself no family or would you rather be the nice person who might not be rich or famous but still have food, family, etc..).listen to yourself and who would you be?