The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the 25-year-old Knicks guard who has been starting at the point in the absence of Chauncey Billups.
Q: Your mentality on the court . . . would the word fearless apply?
A: Very. I’m very fearless.
Q: Why are you so fearless?
A: I feel like any player that steps on that court, they put their pants on just like me and . . . I don’t care who it is, I love guarding the best players that are on the court, and I have no problem with it. Why not be fearless? I’m in the NBA, too.
Q: Do you enjoy taking big shots at the end of games?
A: Most definitely. I love it. I feel like, hey, if I miss it, they’re either going to love me or they’re going to hate me, one of the two. I’ve been doing that my whole life and I don’t mind taking it.
Q: How about the word “warrior,” would that fit you?
A: Most definitely.
Q: An example?
A: My teammates know when they step out on the court that I got their back, no matter what. I’m going to play hard and I’m going to give it my all, I’m going to leave it all out there on the floor, and I expect the same thing from them.
Q: Best advice Chauncey (Billups) has given you in the playoffs?
A: Stay confident, no matter what. Don’t listen to what everybody else says.
Q: Carmelo (Anthony) and Amar’e (Stoudemire)?
A: The thing I love about them, they play well together. There’s no egos. If you want to win a championship, you can’t have that, and they both know that and realize that.
Q: Funniest Knick?
A: Renaldo Balkman.
Q: In what way?
A: Every way.
Q: Give me an example.
A: That’s how funny it is, I can’t really explain it.
Q: Best-dressed Knick?
A: Amar’e and Melo.
Q: Where do you fit in?
A: I don’t judge myself. I’ll let my teammates judge me.
Q: Boyhood idol?
A: I always watched tape of Joe Dumars. . . . He played defense, was fast and was a versatile guard like me, so . . .
Q: What was it like working out for him and the Pistons?
A: He actually asked me who I pattern my game after and I said him.
Q: What was his reaction when you told him that?
A: “Great comparison.” (Smiles).
Q: Didn’t Clyde Frazier say you reminded him of himself?
A: Yeah. Because of the way I play defense, and how hard I play every possession. Every time I step out there on the floor, I make sure I leave my all out there, especially on the defensive end. I can’t dictate my offensive game because I miss shots, but I always can control defense.
Q: Clyde has given you tips?
A: Some tips about just guarding people, and knowing when to do things to certain people . . . just like the ins and outs . . . I’m really going to talk to him this summer and really get some advice and words of wisdom from him.
Q: You didn’t start playing defense until you got to Florida State?
A: I was terrible playing defense in high school. Ask my high school coach. Ohmigod!
Q: What got into you?
A: I was playing in the ACC (against) the top guards in the country, and you could get really exposed.
Q: What is your secret to getting steals?
A: Watching film. Players’ tendencies . . . what they like to when they pressure, what they don’t like to do . . . what pass they always like to make in certain situations . . . I always try to have the head of my opponent.
Q: How much film would you say you watch per night?
A: At least two whole games.
Q: Rajon Rondo?
A: You can’t let him get into the lane, you got to make him a shooter because that’s his weakness. We got to make sure we have all five guys back in transition.
Q: What was it like playing in the backcourt in high school for three years with your older brother Harry?
A: We were like a real fast combination. It kind of felt weird once he went off to college (Louisville) to play football, because I was a senior then in high school, I was so used to always having him in the backcourt with me for my whole life, through AAU playing basketball, middle school. . . . It took me a while to get adjusted to it.
Q: How did his game differ from your game?
A: (Chuckles) There’s a reason why he plays football (Falcons wide receiver). He’s real physical — if he tried to play basketball now, he’ll foul out in the first three minutes.
Q: You didn’t play at the Garden until you became a Knick?
A: I always wanted to play in Madison Square Garden. When I was in college, I saw how college teams always played there and I used to ask my coach, “Coach, why we can’t never go play in the NIT tournament in New York?” That was like the World’s Most Famous Arena (smiles).
Q: Leonard Hamilton versus Mike D’Antoni?
A: They’re both player coaches, but Coach Hamilton is like, “If you don’t play defense, I ain’t playing you.” (Chuckles) Coach Mike D’Antoni, he talks to us, he lets us be men. He also asks us, “What do we think?” He asks us because we’re the ones playing . . . I love that about him.
Q: Best game you ever played on any level?
A: When I was like 10 years old, I scored 47 points in one game (chuckles).
Q: Sum up Knicks fans.
A: They’re energized . . . unique. They want it so bad for us.
Q: An Eastern Conference scout was quoted as saying: “He can create his own shot off the dribble.”
A: True.
Q: The scout also said: “He’s always looking to push the ball, but he’s not great at running a team.”
A: I love to push the ball, and I feel like I could run a team.
Q: Coach (Mike) Krzyzewski was quoted as saying, “There isn’t a better on-the-ball defender.”
A: True. I love Coach K, great guy.
Q: The toughest part about sitting out the 2005-06 season (after transferring from Auburn)?
A: Not playing games: practice was my game day.
Q: Best Christmas?
A: Making sure everybody (has something) except for me. I don’t really want nothing for Christmas. I just like to give.
Q: Why is that?
A: Because I don’t need anything, I buy my own stuff. That’s my Christmas.
Q: The Douglas Bros. Foundation?
A: This past Christmas, we had an event at my high school, Jonesboro (Ga.) High School, and we gave away so many clothes, shoes and outfits, and free haircuts for people that were struggling in our county. I want to do it out here in New York too for Thanksgiving.
Q: Your mother?
A: She e-mails me Scriptures every day. Ever since we were kids, we were raised in the church.
Q: Your father?
A: He always made sure we never lacked anything. Every time — in middle school, high school, through AAU, college — him or my mom was already at the game. Even here, in my rookie year, they went to 50-something games.
Q: They’re in town now?
A: They’re going to every game in the playoffs.
Q: You played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back in eighth grade. . . . Why did you give up football?
A: It’s too hot.
Q: Why didn’t you pursue your best sport, baseball (pitcher, second base and left field)?
A: Too hot. I don’t like the sun.
Q: Growing up in Jonesboro, Ga.
A: Unique, quiet, laid-back.
Q: New York City?
Q: I’ve been here two years, I’m so used to like something always happening, going on, everybody in the streets, everybody out, horns, so much traffic. . . . When I go back home, it’s like, “Where is everybody at?” (Chuckles).
Q: You’re a good bowler?
A: Yeah, very good.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: All I want is my family.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Friday.”
Q: Favorite actors?
A: Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, Bernie Max.
Q: Favorite entertainer?
A: Steve Harvey or Cedric The Entertainer.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Baked chicken with yellow rice, cabbage . . . I eat steak almost every other day.
Q: What would you want Knicks fans to say about you?
A: I just want them to say “hard worker, has passion, plays with heart.”