It’s an uncomfortable question to ask, let alone to answer.
How do you ask a driven athlete and fierce competitor at sport’s most alpha-dog position about being a backup? Is bringing up he’s a non-starter a nonstarter?
You don’t want to offend or imply he’s inferior, but you’ve got to be honest with the question because you want an honest answer.
“Taking on the role of a backup, your ultimate goal is always to be a starter. But for the time being, being a backup is my role, and I’ve embraced it completely . . .