Lindsey Hunter had staying power as an NBA player, sticking around the league largely as a reserve point guard for 17 seasons as a product of Jackson State. Now he’s looking to prove he can stay in the league as more than just interim head coach of the Phoenix Suns, a promotion that didn’t go over well with some in the Suns’ organization.

“I’ve been hated on my whole life,” Hunter told Yahoo! Sports. “Why should it be any different now?

“I don’t care. But if people aren’t hating on you that means you’re not making an impact. Prominent people in our country were hated on because they made an impact.”

via Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.