B/R Exclusive Interview: Marquis Daniels Talks Basketball, Charity and Jewelry

A few days ago, I was given the benefit of an interview with Sacramento Kings guard/forward and current free agent Marquis Daniels.

Daniels has been in the league since 2003 after being signed as a free agent by the Dallas Mavericks. Despite not being drafted, Daniels was able to start in 15 games and surprised many by proving to be a viable starter or role player after averaging nine points and three rebounds per game.

He would play two more years with the Mavericks, including being a key member off the bench on the team that made it to the 2006 NBA Finals, and would average as much as 10 points, four boards and three assists per game.

Daniels would go on to play for the Indiana Pacers and would average career highs with 14 points, five rebounds, two rebounds and a steal per game. He would also start a career-high 43 games in his final season with the Pacers before being signed with the Boston Celtics.

Daniels played two seasons before getting shipped off to the Sacramento Kings.

With so many players hosting charity events with the lockout in place, Daniels has decided to follow in suit by throwing the Southern Hospitality Showcase, which will be held on September 30th at Forbes Arena at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., at 8 p.m.

It's presented by SLAM Magazine, Victory H20, C9 by Champion, The V Firm, Q6 Entertainment and the Club Lounge and will be used to benefit the American Heat Association, Sickle Cell Anemia and Research, Green Boy and Morehouse College Athletics.

The game will stream live on slamonline.com as Daniels and a cast of All-Stars join together for the benefit of charity and giving the fans something that they have missed out on over this enduring lockout.

Marquis and I speak of the event, charity, the lockout and life in this exclusive interview.

You can follow John Friel on twitter @JohnFtheheatgod

On His Injury

Marquis suffered a catastrophic injury on February 6th last season when he ran head first into Gilbert Arenas' shoulder that immediately sent him to the floor without movement. It was revealed that he had bruised his spinal cord and I needed to find how he had recovered.

JF: Before we speak of the event you're holding and the charities that you're supporting, I need to ask how you're feeling, Marquis. How are you recovering from the bruised spinal cord you suffered in February?

MD: I'm doing good. I actually just got seven stitches above my eye, but the injury has healed up and I'm feeling good now.

JF: It didn't look like too serious of an injury when it initially happened, it just appeared that you ran into Arenas' shoulder. Were you immediately knocked out?

MD: Yeah, it's a good thing I got good doctors and that I don't have to worry about it anymore.

JF: Are you going to be hesitant at all considering you'll be participating in your first full-contact game since the injury?

MD: No. I mean, once you get going, you go out there with the rest of the guys that are playing hard and catch on. I don't think I'm going to be hesitant at all.

On His Event and Charity

As I stated before, Daniels will be hosting a charity basketball game in Atlanta, Ga., known as the Southern Hospitality Showcase on September 30th. The game features a number of All-Stars that are all participating as a refresher course and for the greater good of raising money for a foundation that benefits those with sickle cell.

JF: A number of NBA players have set up outside events and you have joined in on it, who should attendees and viewers expect to see?

MD: Ahh man, I don't want to forget anybody. I know Rondo, Rajon Rondo, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Jason Terry, hopefully Jason Terry, Nate Robinson, Kendrick Perkins, John Wall, Zach Randolph and O.J. Mayo. There's so many people, I don't want to forget anybody, but we're hoping that they''ll come down Friday to give back to a good cause. With the lockout, we just want to see basketball.

JF: Would you say there's a different feeling to the game when playing in a pick-up style as opposed to an NBA game?

MD: Yeah, definitely. You go out there to show some fans different parts of the game. You show off different strengths of the game that you don't always get to show off in the NBA.

JF: I understand that this is for charity. Can you explain what charities this is being held for?

MD: The Q6 Foundation has aligned to help fight sickle cell anemia. My wife, my daughter, my mom have all had it. It's something that I want people to be more aware of, it needs to be focused on, and I want to get it out there so that everybody could be aware of what's going on.

JF: Is there a website or phone number someone could go to support the cause?

MD: www.q6foundation.org, go there and support it. We've been doing this for a couple years to help with that.

On Basketball

Daniels spent two years with the Boston Celtics before being traded to the Sacramento Kings a week after suffering the season-ending injury. He is a free agent now and is weighing his options.

JF: Do you have any idea why Boston traded you during your recovery?

MD: No, I really don't. They thought it was time to find a wing player to play next to Paul and Ray. It's just one of those things where I know what they were saying and that they had to do what they could to get better.

JF: You were traded to Sacramento, but didn't play a game with them. Do you expect to possibly be signed with them?

MD: I have no idea. I mean with the lockout, you can't talk to nobody, so hopefully we can get this lockout resolved soon and get back to playing basketball.

JF: If you could choose to play anywhere, where would it be?

MD: I just want to play somewhere that I can contribute for the team.

JF: Do you feel that the lockout will end before the expected start of the season?

MD: I'm hoping it does because I really want to play. Derek Fisher and those guys are trying to get the job done, so we're hoping this gets resolved.

JF: Do you plan on going overseas if the lockout isn't resolved?

MD: You got to keep your options open. As of right now though, we're focused on just trying to get the season started.

On His Career

One of the league's most underrated defenders and having to defend some of the league's top players, I ask Marquis on his personal experiences during his NBA tenure.

JF: You're one of the leagues most underrated defenders, who would you say has been your toughest defensive assignment?

MD: That's a good question. It depends on whose hot that night. Me personally, it has to be guarding point guards. I don't like guarding them that much. It kind of varies; you have great players that have different aspects to the game. It kind of varies on who's playing well that night.

JF: Who's the best teammate you ever had?

MD: Another good question. I've been on some good teams in Boston and Dallas, both of those organizations, and I've been on some good teams in Indiana, too. It would be hard to say, as I said, you got great players on both sides, great teams, great atmosphere. Boston has a great organization with a bunch of future Hall of Famers.

JF: What was the best moment of your career?

MD: The best moment of my career? I guess my first NBA start. Steve Nash got sick one night and Coach Nelson came up to me and said I'm starting. That was one of the biggest moments of my career, that I'm out there and playing with these guys. You're growing up watching these guys, you're finally out there playing with them and against them, it's great.

On Life

Aside from playing basketball, Marquis Daniels has an interesting lifestyle. He has his foundation, a rap career and quite possibly one of the greatest medallions ever created. He goes by the rap name Q6 and has dropped a few mixtapes that you could listen to here. These were some aspects that I needed Marquis to divulge on.

JF: Speaking of Q6, how's the rap career going?

MD: It's going good. I've been in the studio a lot lately. Been doing a lot though, just trying to keep myself healthy. Spending a lot of time with my kids and just trying to find ways to keep myself busy.

JF: The medallion of your face. Who came up with the idea first? You or Rick Ross?

MD: You know what, actually my jeweler came up to me and said I got a cool idea to do for you. I actually went to his shop and he did an X-Ray of my face, and I'm like, what am I doing? He said you'll see, and when he came back to me, it was crazy, I've never seen anything like that.

It was pretty much his idea and I was down with it. Actually, I think I may have worn it only five or six times at the most.