''what yo are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player''
what this quote means is that is is better to have a good character than to be a famous basketball player. many people when they turn famous their not them self any more they turn into a totally different person.
for example when Justin Bieber wasn't famous he wouldn't go around egging houses but when he turned famous he turned into a bad boy. but i still love him <3 lol. john wooden is a great role model even though he was famous he still acted like him self