Marcus Banks interview
By InsideHoops.com | Mar. 7, 2008
On Wednesday, the Miami Heat hosted the Toronto Raptors, and despite Chris Bosh being out, Toronto dominated, winning 108-83 in a shockingly easy blowout. Although it was a bad day for the Heat, point guard Marcus Banks played well, coming off the bench to shoot 7-of-11, including three 3-pointers, for 21 points and 5 rebounds. InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner met with Banks after the game for an exclusive interview.
InsideHoops.com: Things didn't go well for the team today, but at least you as an individual did well out there.
Marcus Banks: I felt decent. I would trade it in any day for a win, and see my guys on the team smile and have a good time. But an opportunity came today for me to knock down some shots and I did it in the minutes I played, and it's simple as that.
InsideHoops.com: As you said, of course a win for the team is more important. Ideally, eventually you'll step up like today and the win comes, too.
Marcus Banks: I'd love to get both. Get a win and a good game. That'd be even better. But sometimes, that's the way the ball bounces. You got to live with it. Get up tomorrow and forget about it, go on and try to get the next one.
InsideHoops.com: You're still pretty new to the NBA and still coming up, but is there anything so far in your short career that stands out for you as a personal highlight? Or not quite yet?
Marcus Banks: Not yet. I look at it as, it's a business, it's a job. I'm an employee. I'm going to do everything in my power to keep working hard. All I can control is what I can control. That's on the floor. And that's my work ethic every day. Coming in and being a player.
InsideHoops.com: And off the court, how's Miami? A fun place?
Marcus Banks: It's cool. I'm from Vegas, so I've kind of seen it all and done it all. But it's different. It's nice, the people are nice. A little fast. But nothing I haven't dealt with in Vegas.
InsideHoops.com: Similar places. Hot, and famous for being packed with entertainment.
Marcus Banks: It's life for me. I see it every day. It's really nothing too big. I don't really hang out at all. I'm just here to work. And I enjoy my job, so I'm going to do everything possible to help myself for the future.
InsideHoops.com: And back to the team, what about Dwyane Wade has impressed you, perhaps more than expected? He's obviously a super-talented star who has been playing hurt. What have you seen from him that deserves extra praise?
Marcus Banks: I like D-Wade for his will to win. He will get out there and practice. He works hard. For a superstar, [some of] those guys don't really practice a whole lot, but since I've been here he hasn't missed a practice. He's always up, he's smiling, having a good time, letting these guys know that there's light on the other side.
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