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Mikki Moore
Q & A
A self-described southern boy, Mikki Moore grew up in Gaffney, South Carolina and played college hoops at the University of Nebraska. The 2006-07 NBA season was Moore's most productive year as he maintained career-high averages in nearly every statistical category including points (9.8), rebounds (5.1) and field goal percentage (60.9) - which led the NBA. Moore is quick to fire up the crowd on the court and smile off it. Get to know more about Moore's favorite food, his favorite reptile, his lucky jersey number and his excitement for joining the Kings, now!
How happy are you to be in Sacramento?
"I’m happy to be with an organization that wants me here instead of trying out for a team or looking for a job. It’s just a big difference. It makes your confidence go sky high! Another thing is that I’ve played in the snow my entire career, so I’m ready for some sunshine and some good weather!"
Do you have any connections to any of the guys on the team?
"I know Mike Bibby. As a matter of fact, he’s been trying to sell me one of his old school (cars). I collect classic cars, so we talk off and on about that. Shareef and I played against each other early on in our careers when he was with the Grizzlies. He made a request to come play with him then but it didn’t come through. Corliss and my fiancé are from the same home town, so I talk to him all the time. Some of the guys I know personally and some of them I have yet to know, but we’re going to work on that!"
Who are you looking forward to playing with the most?
"To tell you the truth, I’m looking forward to playing with all of the guys. I’m looking forward to playing with Mike, because I’ve played against him so many times and he’s hurt every team that I’ve played for! I’m looking forward to playing with Shareef and Brad. I’ve always played against them. I’ve never been able to play with them. Most of those guys know how to pass the ball and they go hard. I just want to compliment them."
What do you know about Sacramento?
"I know that Sacramento is like my home town. Everybody is nice. Everybody is personal with you. It’s not like if I were to come up and say to you, 'Good morning,' there are dirty looks. It’ll be a, 'Good morning to you. How are you doing?' Some cities I’ve been in, it’s not like that. There’s an atmosphere here with the fans and the people that live here that’s very pleasant."
In addition to playing in the CBA and the D-League, you also played overseas. What was that experience like for you?
"Playing overseas let me know that I have to be in the NBA. There was no doubt in my mind. I had to work hard to make it to where I am. You have to have the mentality of, ‘I have to be there.’ When I was overseas, I had my passport stolen. I wasn’t playing. I wasn’t being paid. And the day I was leaving, there was a flood and I almost drowned! So I told myself that I had to take myself out of this situation and I went back to the NBDL and just put forth an effort where I had to be in the NBA."
I understand you have an interest in snakes. Why do you like snakes so much?
"My mom wouldn’t let me have snakes when I was younger. My grandmother used to have a garden and I used to catch them, so she could do her gardening. And I'd put them in a mason jar and punch holes in the top and try to sneak them into my room. My mom would clean my room, find them, and wig out! So anything that your mom wouldn't let you do when you were younger, you're going to want to do it when you’re older. It's more of an entertainment thing. Most people would think, 'You worship snakes,' or 'Snakes are evil.' But it's just a good pet to have when you're going on 15 day road trips. All you have to do is feed it a rat, put some water in there, and you can leave it for months at a time. And it's exotic. It's nothing that you have to walk. You don't have to give it a name. It's perfect for the athlete that's not going to be at home all the time."
What is the biggest snake that you own?
"I have a Columbia Red-Tail Bull right now that is between 12 to 14 feet. It's very timid because it's been handled by humans since birth. I'm not the type of guy who would try to go and grab a snake out of the woods and tame it. And I have an alligator, but it's very small. Once it becomes too big to take a finger off, I'm shipping it to the Everglades. I'll have the pet-store owner that I bought it from ship it out. I'm not giving up my career for an animal!"
You like cars. How did you become interested in car restoration?
"That's my second love! My uncles and my cousins all worked on cars when I was growing up. So, I used to sit around the older guys and try to learn (how to fix up cars). It's just something that I was interested in. I did research on it and figured out that instead of buying a Phantom or any other expensive car, it depreciates by 30,000 to 40,000 dollars. I'd rather have an old school American classic and rebuild it. Each year it'll (appreciate in value instead). It's a smart investment, plus I just like the looks and the smell of the carburetor and the fuel injection!"
What’s your favorite car that you’ve restored?
"My favorite car that I've restored is a 1967 Lincoln Continental Drop-Top with the suicide doors -- the last year that it was made. My dream car is a 1961 Imapala Drop-Top. Hopefully with this contract, I can pick one up now!"
Where does your passion and fire that you play with on court come from?
"That comes from my nickname being Mikki. I used to be short and fat and it came from the Life Cereal commercial. I shot up seven inches in one summer between my Ninth Grade year and my Tenth Grade year. I used to look like Alvin and the Chipmunks -- fat cheeks and a flat-top! None of the people used to let me play. I used to bring my basketball and it would be my hoop when I was out there. Then (all of the other kids would) let me play the first game and after that they wouldn't let me play. So I had to play with tenacity to stay on the court. I had to face guys that were bigger than me and quicker than me. So it has just been in me since day one."
So your nickname is Mikki. What is your real name?
"My birth name is Clinton. I'm named after my mom. My mom’s name is Clynta."
Are you a big eater? And if so, what is your favorite food.
"Yes, but I cannot gain weight! I think I lose weight when I'm eating by the movement of my jaw burning calories. My favorite food is Italian - pastas, lasagna, and pizza. I love pizza."
How did 33 become your lucky jersey number?
"I actually played wearing 33 in high school. In summer camps, I played with the number 33. But once I arrived at other places, Scottie Pippen was big back when I was growing up, so you couldn't find 33 available! Patrick Ewing also played with 33. A lot of people wanted 33 back when I was growing up so I was always number 31, 32, or something like that. Then I finally had a chance to wear 33 again, so I said I would stick with that. Plus, my mom said the threes are like two M's for Mikki Moore!"
“What do you want to tell the fans of Sacramento?
"Get ready!"
Mikki Moore
Q & A
A self-described southern boy, Mikki Moore grew up in Gaffney, South Carolina and played college hoops at the University of Nebraska. The 2006-07 NBA season was Moore's most productive year as he maintained career-high averages in nearly every statistical category including points (9.8), rebounds (5.1) and field goal percentage (60.9) - which led the NBA. Moore is quick to fire up the crowd on the court and smile off it. Get to know more about Moore's favorite food, his favorite reptile, his lucky jersey number and his excitement for joining the Kings, now!
Clinton "Mikki" Moore
Age: 31, Height: 7-0, Weight: 223
Age: 31, Height: 7-0, Weight: 223
How happy are you to be in Sacramento?
"I’m happy to be with an organization that wants me here instead of trying out for a team or looking for a job. It’s just a big difference. It makes your confidence go sky high! Another thing is that I’ve played in the snow my entire career, so I’m ready for some sunshine and some good weather!"
Do you have any connections to any of the guys on the team?
"I know Mike Bibby. As a matter of fact, he’s been trying to sell me one of his old school (cars). I collect classic cars, so we talk off and on about that. Shareef and I played against each other early on in our careers when he was with the Grizzlies. He made a request to come play with him then but it didn’t come through. Corliss and my fiancé are from the same home town, so I talk to him all the time. Some of the guys I know personally and some of them I have yet to know, but we’re going to work on that!"
Who are you looking forward to playing with the most?
"To tell you the truth, I’m looking forward to playing with all of the guys. I’m looking forward to playing with Mike, because I’ve played against him so many times and he’s hurt every team that I’ve played for! I’m looking forward to playing with Shareef and Brad. I’ve always played against them. I’ve never been able to play with them. Most of those guys know how to pass the ball and they go hard. I just want to compliment them."
What do you know about Sacramento?
"I know that Sacramento is like my home town. Everybody is nice. Everybody is personal with you. It’s not like if I were to come up and say to you, 'Good morning,' there are dirty looks. It’ll be a, 'Good morning to you. How are you doing?' Some cities I’ve been in, it’s not like that. There’s an atmosphere here with the fans and the people that live here that’s very pleasant."
In addition to playing in the CBA and the D-League, you also played overseas. What was that experience like for you?
"Playing overseas let me know that I have to be in the NBA. There was no doubt in my mind. I had to work hard to make it to where I am. You have to have the mentality of, ‘I have to be there.’ When I was overseas, I had my passport stolen. I wasn’t playing. I wasn’t being paid. And the day I was leaving, there was a flood and I almost drowned! So I told myself that I had to take myself out of this situation and I went back to the NBDL and just put forth an effort where I had to be in the NBA."
I understand you have an interest in snakes. Why do you like snakes so much?
"My mom wouldn’t let me have snakes when I was younger. My grandmother used to have a garden and I used to catch them, so she could do her gardening. And I'd put them in a mason jar and punch holes in the top and try to sneak them into my room. My mom would clean my room, find them, and wig out! So anything that your mom wouldn't let you do when you were younger, you're going to want to do it when you’re older. It's more of an entertainment thing. Most people would think, 'You worship snakes,' or 'Snakes are evil.' But it's just a good pet to have when you're going on 15 day road trips. All you have to do is feed it a rat, put some water in there, and you can leave it for months at a time. And it's exotic. It's nothing that you have to walk. You don't have to give it a name. It's perfect for the athlete that's not going to be at home all the time."
What is the biggest snake that you own?
"I have a Columbia Red-Tail Bull right now that is between 12 to 14 feet. It's very timid because it's been handled by humans since birth. I'm not the type of guy who would try to go and grab a snake out of the woods and tame it. And I have an alligator, but it's very small. Once it becomes too big to take a finger off, I'm shipping it to the Everglades. I'll have the pet-store owner that I bought it from ship it out. I'm not giving up my career for an animal!"
You like cars. How did you become interested in car restoration?
"That's my second love! My uncles and my cousins all worked on cars when I was growing up. So, I used to sit around the older guys and try to learn (how to fix up cars). It's just something that I was interested in. I did research on it and figured out that instead of buying a Phantom or any other expensive car, it depreciates by 30,000 to 40,000 dollars. I'd rather have an old school American classic and rebuild it. Each year it'll (appreciate in value instead). It's a smart investment, plus I just like the looks and the smell of the carburetor and the fuel injection!"
What’s your favorite car that you’ve restored?
"My favorite car that I've restored is a 1967 Lincoln Continental Drop-Top with the suicide doors -- the last year that it was made. My dream car is a 1961 Imapala Drop-Top. Hopefully with this contract, I can pick one up now!"
Where does your passion and fire that you play with on court come from?
"That comes from my nickname being Mikki. I used to be short and fat and it came from the Life Cereal commercial. I shot up seven inches in one summer between my Ninth Grade year and my Tenth Grade year. I used to look like Alvin and the Chipmunks -- fat cheeks and a flat-top! None of the people used to let me play. I used to bring my basketball and it would be my hoop when I was out there. Then (all of the other kids would) let me play the first game and after that they wouldn't let me play. So I had to play with tenacity to stay on the court. I had to face guys that were bigger than me and quicker than me. So it has just been in me since day one."
So your nickname is Mikki. What is your real name?
"My birth name is Clinton. I'm named after my mom. My mom’s name is Clynta."
Are you a big eater? And if so, what is your favorite food.
"Yes, but I cannot gain weight! I think I lose weight when I'm eating by the movement of my jaw burning calories. My favorite food is Italian - pastas, lasagna, and pizza. I love pizza."
How did 33 become your lucky jersey number?
"I actually played wearing 33 in high school. In summer camps, I played with the number 33. But once I arrived at other places, Scottie Pippen was big back when I was growing up, so you couldn't find 33 available! Patrick Ewing also played with 33. A lot of people wanted 33 back when I was growing up so I was always number 31, 32, or something like that. Then I finally had a chance to wear 33 again, so I said I would stick with that. Plus, my mom said the threes are like two M's for Mikki Moore!"
“What do you want to tell the fans of Sacramento?
"Get ready!"
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