Get To Know...Jamal Mashburn

When you think of basketball players, you may think of dunks, fouls, rebounds. Jamal Mashburn does live that live on the court, but he has an active life off the court as well. He and his wife Michelle take care of their daughter Taylor and son, Jamal Jr. Jamal participates in numerous fundraising and community service activities, including being an All-Star Reader for the New Orleans Hornets Read to Achieve program. He also didn't forget his alma mater, the University of Kentucky, making a donation in the amount of $500,000.

Jamal Mashburn met with us right after practice one afternoon, wearing a black Hornets T-shirt, black sweatpants and black-and-white basketball shoes. Taking a seat for this interview was a nice break as we spoke with the Hornets' forward about his likes, his business dreams and what his family likes to do.

"I'm a big-time golfer," Mashburn said in reaction to what he likes to do off the court. "I started playing when I was in college. They turned me on to that at the University of Kentucky."

"It was either that or horses," Mashburn continues, grinning as he recollects. "I didn't get into horses, so I got into golf." Golf is just one of his hobbies.

"I like to shoot pool, travel and watch movies," he said. "I like movies that have deep thought in them. You know, something you kind of have to figure out. Movies like the Sixth Sense, things like that. Things that you just don't sit there and veg out, but something that takes some thought and has some suspense in it."

"As far as traveling goes for basketball, my favorite NBA road cities are Miami, New York, Atlanta and Phoenix. Personally I'm big into travel. I've been to Paris, Milan and Germany. I want to see the world and I want my kids to see it too, just to expose them to different things."

Mashburn's mother opened him up to different things growing up in New York City, a piece of wisdom he wants to take and use for his own children.

"My mother took me to museums when I was younger and I want to do that for my kids," he said. I want to open them up to different things because everything is not going to be the same. The world is based upon change."

But for Mashburn and his family, the museum isn't the only place they go to have a good time. "We like to go to the putt-putt places and do little kid things," he said. "We have my daughter's birthday in Disney World every year. We love roller coaster rides and any type of amusement park we go to. Also, we go to video arcades and movies together."

The conversation turned a little more serious when we asked Mashburn about his businesses outside of basketball. "My biggest goal sometimes is just to be a business man," he said. I have my own businesses. I have car dealerships. I'm really into that. I also own a couple of restaurants. I'm really big into off-the-court things. I'm 30 so my perspective on things has changes as far as having more responsibilities, figuring out what's important and deciding the things I'm trying to accomplish off the court. I'm only going to be able to play this game for so long depending on how long the body holds up."

Jamal's numerous business ventures are just part of big plans he has in mind.

I want to be one of your biggest African-American businessmen, on the level of a Magic Johnson," he continued. "I want to own an NBA team one day. I think we should have more players involved. We understand the game, but I think sometimes we don't understand the business side of it. I want to be a Mark Cuban one day. Why not? That's my goal, to be a Mark Cuban."

A lot of activity for a man who likes to be "low-key" and relaxed. The conversation ended with a smile and a handshake as he had to go and get ready to sign autographs in downtown New Orleans.

A basketball player, a businessman and a family man wrapped up into one. Those just aren't roles that he plays. That's the life he leads. And, for Jamal Mashburn, it's ever evolving.