Joe Dumars Discusses the Importance of Knowing Who You Are
Joe Dumars is a former NBA Executive and All-Star player for the Detroit Pistons. The NBA Sportsmanship Award is named the Joe Dumars Trophy, and in 2006 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Always be true to yourself. If you try to fake who you are, you will not accept yourself for who you are. I’ve always really been true to myself; I’ve never tried to be anything that I was not. It is an important life lesson to know and be exactly who you are at all times.
Video Transcript: Thank you guys so much, I appreciate having you guys having me here. So first of all, you have to be true to yourself. I think that’s really important in life and anything that you do. You have to be true to yourself. You got to be able to wake up and look in the mirror and like the person that you see in the mirror. You can’t do that if you’re faking and being something that you’re not. You’re just not going to like yourself. You’re really not. You may fool yourself that you are at times but more than likely at some point, you’re not going to like what you see. I’ve always really been true to myself; I’ve never tried to be anything that I was not. I had a great mom and dad, I had a great household, and they taught a lot of values and respect and integrity. Those things were huge in my house. I heard that from a time that I was kid, all the way through. I just never got away from that. I knew exactly who I was at all times.