Give and go with ... Phoenix Suns rookie Gani Lawal

How did it feel to get that call last week, "Gani, go in for ..." for the first time?

Answer: That felt good. That was my Christmas present. I'm being positive every day. I come here every day to work hard. First, try to get Gani better and make my worth better to this team. Second, I want to help my teammates get better.

What were those D-League bus rides like?

A: Pretty long. The longest one was nine and a half hours. From Iowa to Tulsa. Buses don't go very fast either. You try to sleep. If that don't work, you've got seven more hours. Sleep, movies, talk. You're tearing up everybody in your phone book. You do anything you can to pass time. It's humbling.

Q: Is it ever awkward when you're getting your $120 NBA per diem and everyone else is getting their $30 D-League per diem?

A: I kind of feel bad. I'm not going to lie. I tried to get mine before the other guys get around. That way, it's kind of like I didn't get anything. It does feel bad.

Q: What do you like about Phoenix?

A: Being a country boy from Atlanta, it's a good living. It's laid-back, relaxed. I got through the worst part in the summer. All my friends are freezing their butts off now.