"When Boris Diaw emerges from Time Warner Cable Arena into the cold bundled in a navy peacoat, a wool cap, grey sweats and casual black sneakers, he appears to be nearly 7 1/2 feet tall.

He's only 6-foot-8, but the platform of the Segway x2 Diaw is piloting adds 9.5 inches. This would seem to be an odd sight: the Charlotte Bobcats starter leaning slightly forward on his two-wheeled electric vehicle as he shoots up the Fifth Street sidewalk. In fact, several lunch-bound bankers cock their heads in surprise.

But the truth is there's nothing terribly unusual about this at all.

Since being traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Bobcats two years ago, Diaw has lived just blocks from work, walking to games and practices, frequenting restaurants and other uptown establishments. He's living the lifestyle of a professional basketball player who earns $9 million a year, without question, but he's living it in plain sight.

"It's the first time in my life that I'm ...walking distance from anything," Diaw said in his French-accented English while sipping Perrier at Mortimer's Café