By Leslie Tan and Dawn Yip

It seems discipline and humility at a young age is crucial to athletic success, at least going by NBA player Maurice Williams' experience. Speaking with Red Sports on the sidelines of the adidas nations camp, Maurice – or Mo as he is more commonly known – shared how he turned his dream of being a professional basketballer to reality.

Mo started playing basketball when he was 9 years old. But like any other child, he had to balance school and training. His parents were strict, and played an important role in shaping the young Mo's attitude and discipline. "I had a set time for studies, and after that I'd go out and play," says Mo. "So when I got older, it was natural for me to take an hour or however long it was to get my homework done, before I head out for practice."

Like any other child too, Mo broke the rules from time to time. "When I did rebellious things or acted up at school, I got my punishment. My parents would take away something that I loved – TV, basketball practice. They made me feel the pain. I knew the consequences, so when it came to homework and school, whether I liked it or not, I felt that I had to do it."

"Sports is a privilege," said Mo. "School is what makes you grow up as a person, and sports should be a reward for school."

His big break came when he was 14 years old at a national basketball camp for high schoolers. He made the All-Star game and was named Most Valuable Player of the camp. "That was what put me on the map," says Mo. Even so, it was only at college that Mo thought he had what it took to become a professional basketball player.

He started his NBA career with Utah Jazz, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2004 where he's played ever since. In July 2007, he signed a 6-year, USD$51 million contract with the Bucks, a deal he told Red Sports was the highlight of his career. "It makes you feel good and puts your body and mind at ease," said Mo. But more than that, it "signified all the things I've been through – good, bad, ugly. It put everything in a bag and threw out the garbage."

Comparing college basketball and the NBA, Mo said that in the former, "everybody on the floor plays with a sense of hunger. They're trying to get somewhere." In the NBA on the other hand, "about 70% are just there… as far as the financial side of things. You got the other 30% who've still got the hunger; they're trying to get to that 70%."

Mo, who describes himself as part of the 70% who have arrived, says that both talent and hard work are equally important for success as a professional baller. "Just as an example, a guy like Michael Jordan has a lot of talent, but you can ask everybody that's associated with basketball, and they know he's one of the hardest-working players ever," said Mo.

He also credits his parents for keeping him humble. "I never felt I was as good as people said I was. It kept me working hard and wanting to get better." Accordingly, Mo's advice to anyone who wants to improve their game: "Never think you're as good as you are. Stay humble. When you stop listening, you stop learning."

It's advice that will be especially important as basketball and the NBA go global. "Basketball is a competitive game. We want to play against the Chinese team. You want bragging rights. So it's a positive thing." At the same time, basketball also has a unifying effect. "You can see the different culture, you can see the different style, but it's basically the same thing. Basketball unites everyone." But Mo acknowledges that basketball's internationalisation will come at a price. "Somebody's gonna have to take some long flights," says Mo. "Hopefully I'll be at home in a wheelchair by then."

Ed’s note: This interview was conducted in China in May 2008 when Mo Williams was still with the Milwaukee Bucks. He has since been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.