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My name is Paora Winitana. I'm 34, and I play basketball.
I grew up playing rugby. That's the normal thing in New Zealand.
My new group of friends always play basketball,
so that's how I learned how to play basketball.
My first season on the high school A team,
I got 96 points in the first game. All of a sudden,
people got interested in my ability to play.
I've been lucky to play against lots of the NBA guys:
LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson,
Shawn Marion, Amar'e Stoudemire.
We played the USA team before the Olympics in 2004.
I had the mark up against LeBron James.
It takes work and effort.
You can't get that by comin' in casually now and then.
Whatever I do, I put 100% into it.
My sport is basketball, so that's what I do.
I'm very passionate. I love it. I put in the time,
and I work hard. It's one of my top priorities.
But it's not my highest priority, you know?
Where's your muscles, man? Where's your muscles, man?
Family is first for me. It always has been.
I have a wife and sons. I love them with all my heart.
They're the greatest thing for me.
It's unfortunate because a lot of your life,
you give your best to everyone else,
and you go home and give your family the leftovers
because you're tired, you're exhausted and all that.
Not with me. They get the best from me.
I get to do things in the morning that matter most,
and that's being there for my sons, for my wife—
help at home, make lunches, breakfasts.
I've been doing that for awhile now. I'm not perfect.
Sometimes they complain about the sandwiches I make.
It can be interesting. Three young boys, you know?
Very energetic. You've got to see it firsthand.
Tia is my Miss New Zealand. She's also my rock.
What did you really tell them?
As soon as I saw you, it was like a scene from a movie.
She comes up, hair blowing in the wind in slow motion.
Just knew straight away—"Wow, she's something special."
The mother's role is so important here.
To be there with them and help them,
not only as provider, but to assist in the nurturing—
I think that's important for the husbands, for fathers.
This is our favorite team, and he's our favorite player.
I don't want to come in second. I want to win everything I do.
That's just the competitive nature in me.
That's me striving for my personal best in everything—
basketball, family, beliefs, anything.
I'm a professional basketball player,
but more important, I'm a husband. I'm a father.
My name is Paora Winitana. And I'm a Mormon.