"What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player"

        This means that you are far way more different than to your skills. Your personality means a lot than your reputation. It could mean that you are a whole different person when your doing hobby's or skills that you like to do. For example you are an really nice person when your just being yourself but when it comes to a basketball practice you get all pushy and grumpy. Another example is being an everyday life person it can be what you are as a person not what your are at a certain subject. This could mean that you are a good person.