We all love Ivan Johnson, the 27-year-old Hawks rookie who plays in diamond fronts, doesn’t watch basketball and is frightening in a friendly kind of way, like the scary guy on your block who is actually pretty nice. In a season that’s seen a lot of random, little known players pop up in games, Johnson’s stood out as a bright spot/human meme who plays as hard as he possibly can at all times.

But if for some reason you weren’t convinced about Ivan Johnson, this public radio interview from 2008 that’s been unearthed should change your mind. Here are a few great parts, as transcribed by Grantland’s Rembert Browne:

Dick: So, what were you thinking was going to become of your basketball career?

IVAN: I didn’t really think nothing of it, was just going to graduate high school and just get a job or whatever.

Dick: You weren’t planning on going to become a professional basketball player?