DeMarre Carroll Determined to Play Despite Knee Injury

(Atlanta Hawks DeMarre) Carroll is playing with a badly sprained left knee but has no intentions to pull himself out of the lineup, despite suggestions from friends that he should look out for his future with free agency coming. I’m standing here,” he said when asked about his knee. “I put myself out there to help my team, whatever it takes. I know my knee is nowhere near 100 (percent). But at the end of the day if I’m out there I’m going to give it my all and hopefully my team has my back.”

On why he’s playing: “I’ve been getting a million calls and emails about me, why am I there, this might be the biggest contract of my life. But at the end of the day this game isn’t promised to you. So whenever you’ve got an opportunity to play basketball, a lot of people say it’s bigger than money and it feels like that to me. I cherish this game and I want to be out there fighting, and if I have to fight on one leg, I’m gonna fight on one leg. I can’t let this opportunity pass me by. Eastern Conference finals, playing against LeBron James. I don’t care if I have to do it on one leg, I’ll hobble out there.”

via Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution