Stephen Curry
Q. Last year, you guys didn’t hide from the fact that outside naysayers were part of the motivation in the process of that nine-month journey. How much is the “You guys will never do it, you guys can’t repeat” sort of conversations feeding into motivation this year, or is there a different motivation and you have to change the chip on the shoulder?
STEPHEN CURRY: Probably a little bit of both. It’d be dumb to try to nay say us and actually think people are going to take you seriously. But we also know a lot goes in to winning a championship and it’s not a guarantee every year, no matter how much of a chip on our shoulder we have. You just kind of embrace the work and the motivation.
For me, it’s the genius question about where you are in your career and really reestablishing what is it to be in your prime and maintaining that level of play for as long as you can. And then also feeding into the fact that everybody on our team is in a different situation and has to embrace whatever that is for themselves and bring their best self every single day.
And as leaders of the team, we have to encourage that as much as possible and find chemistry with the new additions that we have and guys who are going to be more — have a more significant role in our rotation from jump.
So usually that stuff takes life of its own as you get into the heat of the battle as you get closer to opening night.
Q. You get motivation if people are talking bad about you and putting you down; is it too much the opposite way, people be too nice?
STEPHEN CURRY: I don’t know if it was gamesmanship to set the table for — I would say the same thing when you’re facing the champions. That’s part of like the nature of the league. We all want to win the championship, and when you look at the team that’s the last team standing and who was playing the best, I was thinking the same thing about him last year, coming off their run.
So I appreciate the compliment. It’s not going to soften me up to get complacent at all. But you do appreciate the respect of your peers to say stuff like that, and I’ve been in the situation where I’m complimenting guys around the league a lot as well.
Q. How different did this off-season feel given that you made this long run to the Finals but you had not done the two previous years? And related to that, as you look forward, what do you think about managing minutes? Steve has talked about that and wanting to do that for and you Draymond and Klay as you get to later in your career. How important is that?
STEPHEN CURRY: I think me and my off-season team talked about that a lot around the balance between the championship celebration, the — when it’s time to turn the page and get ready for this coming year, the difference in the schedule from 2020 and that nine-month-long off-season to five months last year to now three months and then comparing that to we did that five years in a row at one point, playing into June and having that quick turnaround.
So we have experienced a little bit of everything, which helps, because it gives me confidence no matter what you need to do, you’ll be able to find a way to get it done and have a recharge mentally and physically to get ready for the year.
So I’m glad the season is back because I feel repaired. I only took like two weeks off and kind of understood that especially as you get later in your career, you can’t really have — you don’t have time to really get too far away from it because it’s too hard to build back up. So there’s a lot of experience and collaboration on what that looks like in the summers.
And then the minutes question, there’s always — I think the last couple years there’s been more conversations around what that looks like. Like I know I can play 36 and feel great every single night. That’s me as a competitor.
Obviously my opinion matters, but there’s trust knowing we’ll put ourselves in the best position to win and knowing there’s room to ebb and flow on either side of that depending how the season is going. Coach is a very smart man and will make smart decisions.
Q. What was the favorite thing you did this off-season non-basketball related?
STEPHEN CURRY: I don’t know, there was a lot of great things. Going back to Davidson was special for sure, knowing how long in the making that was and celebrating not only my accomplishment in the classroom and as a Davidson basketball player and all that but also celebrating Coach McKillop and his 33 years leading the program.
And he’s a very humble guy. That celebration was obviously centered around me, but it was more of a reflection of what he’s built in that program and the results of the human beings that have gone through and come out of that program and done some amazing things, not just in the NBA but all around.
That was a special, special time, especially coming off a championship where none of that happens without him and sending me off on my ways, the three years that I was there.
Q. The 6, Bill Russell. Also, LeBron, Chris Paul, Draymond, they all had their words about Robert Sarver. I was wondering if you had any comments about what happened there and your fellow NBA brethren speaking up about it?
STEPHEN CURRY: I’ll start with that. I think the outcome was exactly what should have happened.
I had conversations with Adam Silver directly and kind of got his point of view of what decisions and, I guess, mechanisms he had to intervene and bring down a punishment that was worthy of the actions that we were all responding to and representing the league as a whole and protecting the integrity of the league and the standard that we set terms of from execs, ownership, all the way down to players. There should be a standard around what’s tolerable and what’s not.
And so, again, the outcome was exactly what it should have been. Honestly, I thought with the punishment that was handed down, it would have dragged out a little longer; but I’m glad we got to a point where hopefully the team is up for sale sooner than later and can kind of move on knowing that’s where it should be.
So for LeBron, CP, Draymond, everybody using their platforms to speak on it, even Adam picking up the phone and answering calls from the top players who have vested interests in protecting the league as well, all that stuff matters, and you want to have swift responses and reactions to stuff like that.
And then this (6) is special, knowing what Bill Russell meant to the league in a very pivotal time in society and the early days of what the NBA meant in the country and the things he did on and off the court, rose above. This is a very special symbol of how far we’ve come but also to keep his spirit alive in terms of doing the work that he made his life’s work.
I’ve actually been reading a little bit of his work and really understanding what he went through even before he got to the league and some of the ways that he impacted civil rights in our country and also, you know, allowed the NBA to be what it is today. Definitely a special tribute in that every team is retiring No. 6 is special.
Q. Steve said yesterday it was the vets versus the youngsters.
STEPHEN CURRY: It was like that today, too.
Q. Contract negotiations with various guys will be a topic the next couple weeks. Is that something you want open in the locker room, not an “elephant in the room” type thing, and would you like to see some of your teammates get locked in more long term?
STEPHEN CURRY: Absolutely to both those questions.
A good organization is going to have those talks, especially with me, Andre, Draymond, we have those conversations, knowing that every decision is meaningful in terms of us putting the best team together and keeping things moving in terms of being championship contenders every single year.
So you want that to be the spirit of how decisions are made and, you know, we want the best chance to win every single year. And we’re proving with this squad, that’s what the results have been. So we want to keep that together for as long as we can. That’s the goal.
So yes and yes.
Klay Thompson
Q. This was your first off-season in, what, two, three years, that it wasn’t rehab-based. It was recovering from the season and getting back. How was that for you mentally but also physically?
KLAY THOMPSON: It was amazing. So nice just being in the gym and working out and getting shots up. I did a lot of things I do in rehab, like calf raises and all the stuff, to squats or whatever. But to be just free in your body and my perspective about what that means because of what I went through, I couldn’t ask for a better time off, really. It was great.
Q. Dance parties on the boat looked pretty fun on Instagram.
KLAY THOMPSON: If you’re in the Italian Riviera, who is not dancing? It’s magical. Magical waters.
Q. Heading into last season, the conversation — or, I guess, after the season, you guys were talking about that championship run, it was a — we still got it, everyone was saying we don’t have, but we still do. Heading into this year, coming off of that championship, is there still a notion of we’re still proving that we still got it because we won, or is it a different mindset?
KLAY THOMPSON: I think we are all so proud of what we accomplished last year, but that’s in the past. The greats stay hungry, and we all have our motivations for why we want to win another one. I mean, the guys coming back who have won it for their first time, I just know they want to experience that again.
And, I mean, for me personally, and probably Steph and Andre and Draymond, you think of the players who have won five championships, it’s such a short list. And to have the opportunity, just the opportunity, to be able to do that, is like so special.
Like I think back to my rookie season, and if you would have told me in ten years I would have the opportunity to win five championships with the Warriors, I would have laughed in your face. To be here and heading into the season healthy with this opportunity, I get chills thinking about it every day.
Q. How close did you feel like you were to your old self last season?
KLAY THOMPSON: Well, considering, you know, I was second made threes in the playoffs, and that culminated in a championship, I felt like myself. I felt great.
I mean, yeah, you could talk about the numbers, and I shot better percentages at times. But, I mean, if you end the season with a championship — I’m a harsh critic, but I gave myself some leeway last year.
So to be a part and be a big part of a championship team, like I’m still in awe we were able to do that.
Q. What was the most enjoyable thing you did this off-season non-basketball related?
KLAY THOMPSON: Oh, man, that’s a great question. Getting to go to Nassau and see my family was special because I had not seen them since before the pandemic. You know, I love the beach, but there’s not really many beaches better than Bahamian beaches.
What else did I do that was special? I got to go to Europe for a week and be a real tourist. That was a ton of fun. Man, just the daily routine of working out and having time to go to the beach and not having the pressure of performing. I forgot what a championship off-season was like. It was very short, so I counted my blessings every day and I enjoyed every day off, to be honest.
Q. How important is it going to be, obviously, along with the healthy off-season, starting the season from Game 1 instead of having to come back on January 9th?
KLAY THOMPSON: Oh, it’s great. It’s special. I mean, opening nights are always so much fun, especially when there’s a ring involved.
And it’s just awesome, man. You don’t have to go through, you know, slumps or whatever you’re going through during the middle of a season, and you can kind of go through that earlier if you have to. So I’m just excited to play some October basketball again.
Q. You mentioned the possibility of going for your fifth title, but it’s also rare to be able to do it with a lot of the same teammates and the same coach. Coming into camp this time around, you see all these familiar faces, how does that make you feel about the brotherhood you guys have built over the years?
KLAY THOMPSON: It’s great. It inspires us to keep writing our legacy, keep going hard every day because there’s been a lot of great dynasties in the basketball world, and we want to be a part of that fraternity. It’s just very special.
We know it’s rare in pro sports, but to have that type of continuity, I mean, we don’t take for granted, and we all work very hard and all lead by example. I’m just excited for our team. And what we built here is truly special, and hopefully we’ll make generations of Warriors fans out of it because we really care about the brand.
Q. What have you seen from the youth of this roster, and how ready are they to step into bigger roles?
KLAY THOMPSON: Well, I’ll say, I mean, our front office does a great job of just drafting great people. Like, I love all our young guys. They are willing listeners, and even — they are even harder workers. I love having them around because they make me feel smart at times and accomplished because they actually listen to what I say.
It’s just great to be a veteran and be able to give guidance. I don’t take that lightly.
I get excited just seeing him put in the work in because they are not just satisfied with being role players. All those guys, they want to be All-Stars, and they want to be real great players in this league. And I love that for them. I tell them to keep those goals. They will reach them if they just put the work in.
Q. Talking about the potential for a fifth title, how much do you and Steph and Draymond talk about that in historical context and what kind of milestones you want to achieve together?
KLAY THOMPSON: I don’t think we’ve actually talked about it at all, but I think about it all the time. I think about Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, Kobe — who else has five, five championships? Kareem got six. The greatest — Scottie, Michael. The greatest players to ever play are in that zone of championships. It’s mind-boggling to think that we have that opportunity. But we are going to seize it, I just — I can feel it. I can feel it.
Q. In regards to Draymond, we hear a lot about how tough he can be on the kids and the rookies and stuff. Is he ever like that with the veterans? Does he crack down on you guys sometimes?
KLAY THOMPSON: Definitely. Draymond is our vocal leader. He’s like an extension of our coaching staff. Such a great teacher. And Draymond is great at giving out tough love. You know, whatever happens between the lines of the hardwood, we don’t take personally. And we all know it comes from a great place because we all want to win so badly.
And if you can’t be yelled at by Draymond, you probably can’t play for the Warriors. It’s just kind of like a by-law now. It’s just what it is.
Q. This is James’ first training camp, ever. How important is it for him to get something like this under his belt instead of just jumping into it in the middle of the season?
KLAY THOMPSON: Yeah, I’m really excited for James. He was right by my side when we were both rehabbing, going down to Santa Cruz and here during the summer days when it was slow.
He’s already through so much early in his career, but his best years are ahead of him and far ahead of him. To have a 7-footer like him who is so athletic, and he works really hard, too, and I’m really excited for him.
Like, wow, what a great piece for us and our future. And I’m just really excited. We haven’t had a big man like that in a long time. I think we have an amazing front court between him, Loon, JaMychal, Draymond. It could be one of the best in the NBA.
Draymond Green
Q. Klay just left, and he said if you’re not yelled at by Draymond, then you probably shouldn’t be playing for the Warriors. It’s just a by-law by now. It’s part of it. We don’t take it personally. They appreciate your fire. How is it going already just a couple days on the court?
DRAYMOND GREEN: It’s been an amazing couple days. Two great practices. And coming off a championship, your worry is always that you have that hangover. And, quite frankly, you’re not certain that you don’t have the hangover only after two practices, but you get a good sense of the guys that you have, of the team that you have.
For me, I think it’s a very comforting feeling coming back and seeing guys humming and connecting on all levels.
And that’s what it’s about. You don’t want to get out of the gates to an awful start. I know that’s always possible, and it’s something that could be corrected. You want to get off to a good start.
So I think that’s our focus, and, you know, looking to have a successful run defending the championship.
Q. Tell me about the thought process you had when you made your Sarver comments. How much did you read? Did you talk to LeBron and Chris or just come up with your own take? Guide me through what you eventually said. And perhaps, also, seemed like things — I don’t know if you were the tip of the iceberg on it, but things seemed to change like shortly after. Just your whole thoughts on the Sarver situation?
DRAYMOND GREEN: I didn’t talk to many people about it. I read and I listened to everything everyone else said. And for me, I think my thought process was as such — I’ve always said: Be sure and certain in what you’re asking for.
You know, so many times you come out with these ask, and it’s so general that you give someone an out just because the ask is not quite — it’s not quite as particular as it should be.
So for me, I just wanted to ask the questions that I asked. You know, if this is governed by a vote, then why isn’t there a vote? It’s a 100 percent a fireable offense. It’s 100 percent a forceable — to force a sale type of event. So why isn’t there a vote if that’s what has to happen?
Because I think the one thing we are all certain of is that’s what should happen. So if there is a way that that can happen, why haven’t those steps been taken?
For me, my goal was just to find out the facts first before speaking out. And that took me a few days of reading and watching and listening to different people, different thoughts, and then to not be unfair to anyone.
So I didn’t want to be unfair to the NBA, as I said on my podcast. The NBA has been great, and decisions that they had to make and the support that they have shown us as players, things that we stand for and things that they have gotten behind and still with us on, they have been incredible.
So I didn’t want to be unfair and act as if this is just a regular occurrence and they always get it wrong because that’s not true. I think you get less done when you take stands like that because then it’s very simple to just say: That’s not true.
And so for me, I wanted to be fair to everyone involved, including Robert Sarver, including the Phoenix Suns organization. It was very important to be fair because, for me, I didn’t — ultimately, Robert Sarver, he didn’t really have an impact or effect on anything that I’m doing. So in sharing my opinion, it was just that. It was my opinion and it was my thoughts on the subject or topic or however you may see fit. It was my opinion and just some thoughts that I thought should take place or some things — some thoughts and things that I thought should take place.
You know, I was very happy to see that he was selling the team because I think that’s right. When you look at some of the things that people has gotten in trouble over, I think that falls under the same boat. And we’re all a part of this league, and no one person is bigger than the league. If that’s goes for us as players, that goes across the board. We’re still all a part of the league, no matter what level you’re at.
Q. More of a basketball question if I can. Steve talked the other day about managing minutes for Steph and you and Klay. Obviously that’s happened in the past couple years, but I’m just curious, going forward, and particularly with Steph, who is a couple years older than you and Klay, how that looked, how that feels, how important that is. He obviously showed very few signs of age last year. But going forward, how important is that going to be for him and all three of you?
DRAYMOND GREEN: I think it’s very important because you want it to last as long as possible. And in doing that, you know, I think one of the things that has been incredible here over the last few years and continues to grow is the trust between our coaching staff and our performance group, led by Rick Celebrini, and our players who ultimately has to be the ones to trust that group.
And when you have a coach that will come to you and say, “I don’t care what it is, I don’t care what it takes, I just want to make sure that you’re right come opening night so that you’re as healthy as you can be throughout the season,” that’s a very comforting thing because that’s not always that way.
When you have a training staff or a performance staff, like I said, led by Rick, that comes and will echo the same thing and everything that they do is to get you there, you trust them.
And as much as there are times — there are times where they will come in and say, “Hey, this probably isn’t a good game for you to play.” And at times you can get caught up in just the competitive side of it, like, “No. Like, I want to play.”
They don’t get much argument back from us anymore, from myself, from Steph, from Klay, because that trust has been built.
And so as far as managing minutes and things like that, I would love to sit here and tell you, “Hell no, I’m fine and I just want to play as much as I want to play,” but the reality is is I trust our coaching staff, I trust our performance group. They’ve been incredible for us.
David Taylor with sports science is absolutely amazing and the things that he’s been able to teach us about our bodies through all the data that they collect is incredible.
So you just kind of trust in that process, a process that they have taught us, and you roll with their recommendations.
Q. You guys have several people entering contract seasons, yourself included. Number one, would you like to get something done before the season extension-wise? And, two, how does going into a contract season like potentially weigh on a player?
DRAYMOND GREEN: I mean, at this point, you know, whether I’d like to or not is — I don’t think it will happen, and so for me, I’m just focused on this season and being as great as I can be and as I know I’m capable of being and winning another championship and reaching my individual goals that I have as well. I think that’s my main focus.
Contract situations, contract years, that is a part of this league. I think it weighs on everyone differently. I think the way a contract situation would weigh on me is totally different than the way it would weigh on a Jordan Poole who has never signed a big contract.
So I think all of that matters as well. When you’re in different positions of your career and you know, like, all right, you have security or you don’t, you know, I think all of those different things plays a part into how one may react to being in a contract year.
And so to each his own. Some people are motivated by contract years, and some people are nervous and struggle during contract years.
I think it’s all based on a player. For me personally, I think, for me, anytime it’s a contract year is motivation. And that’s kind of how I approach it and how I view it. And it’s always been the way I’ve viewed it. I’ve historically been the guy to bet on myself even when others didn’t believe. I’ve always felt confident betting on myself, and nothing changes for me now.
Q. That was kind of like my part B of the question, is you guys talked so much about how this past championship felt different because of what you guys have gone through. Does that put you at higher risk for that hangover, or, as you were saying, you have so many chips on your shoulder still that it isn’t really a concern?
DRAYMOND GREEN: No, I don’t think it puts us at higher risk. Quite frankly, for us, this group, you don’t know how many opportunities you have left to do it again. And so because of that, you have to take advantage of the ones that you do know that you have. And for us, the ones that we know for certain that we have is this year. You want to perform as good as you possibly can. You want to make the most out of the year. And obviously the most that you can do is win a championship, and that’s our focus and that’s our goal.
So that’s what we’re striving for this year just like every other year.
Q. You have a lot of young guys right now who obviously have won a title but don’t really know what it takes to repeat and summoning that energy. How do you as a leader of the team make sure that there is no lacking from the younger guys and making sure that they know how to summon that energy for a repeat title?
DRAYMOND GREEN: I think, number one, is bringing it every day. You have to set a tone, starting in camp and in practices. I think that’s extremely important, is being certain that we are setting a tone the way that a winning culture like we have built should be set.
And I think, you know, looking at the first two days, we have done that. Obviously you have to continue to build on that day after day and start stacking great days together, but with the two opportunities that we have had, we have done that.
I think that there’s also — you know, there’s also some communication in that as well and just kind of trying to help guys understand what lies ahead. Help them in knowing that last year was great and it was hard to win a championship; to repeat is way harder and what it takes to do that.
But that’s not something that you learn overnight. That’s not something that you learn in the first two practices or even first two weeks of training camp. That’s something that you build over the course of time. But a foundation has to be built in regards to that.
And so you start right away just trying to help guys understand what lies ahead. And I think with us having so many guys that’s been there before — myself, Loon, Steph, Klay, Andre, Steve, Q., Raymond Ritter — you have guys all around you that has experienced that success, and it’s on everyone to continue to remind and continue to teach guys what’s next, what’s coming ahead, how teams will attack you.
You know, Jordan Poole, you had some success last year, right; what teams are going to try to do to you now, now that they have had a year of game planning for you.
And so just really helping guys understand that road ahead is important, but it’s a constant job and a constant process. It’s not something that you’re able to teach right off the bat. It requires some going through — taking some lumps and going through experiences that’s not so pleasant and using those moments to teach, but yet you try to teach as much as you can just by teaching it and not the hard lessons.
Jordan Poole
Q. Is it your preference to get something done before the deadline?
JORDAN POOLE: Yeah, I got the utmost confidence in myself as always, but the decision we’ll know in a couple weeks after we get back from Tokyo, and then we’ll just play it by ear.
Q. Do you prefer to — would you be okay going into the season, you know, as a free agent essentially?
JORDAN POOLE: I mean, however we go into the season is however we go in. I mean, I’m going to play my game, continue to be me and put everything forth to help us win games, whatever the situation or circumstance is, yeah.
Q. Is it nerve-wracking or is it because of what you’ve been through already, it’s easy to put a contract out of your mind? What’s the mindset?
JORDAN POOLE: We just won a championship. You know, being able to just to experience that in year three, and be a really big part to that, really big key, it’s a really exciting feeling, and I’m really excited to see if we can get back to that and embrace that and experience that one more time.
So, if anything, that’s kind of what we’re looking forward to, at least me personally.
Q. When you look at how you played, especially in the Finals, what does that do for this coming season and how you approach it?
JORDAN POOLE: Well, we played the best basketball at the highest level, and being able to go through my first playoff run, and, you know, have a pretty good outing. If it was pretty good, you just build off of that. You know what that’s like now to play at the highest level. You know what to expect and what it takes. You learn and mature and you grow, and you just continue to find ways to get better.
Q. What specifically did you learn from the postseason run last year now that you’ve had time to reflect on everything?
JORDAN POOLE: It will be a lot of ups, a lot of downs. You’re talking about in the game specifically, through basketball, or just in general?
Well, you’ve got to stay locked in the entire time. It’s a different demand than it is in the regular season. A lot of ups, a lot of downs, a lot of adjustments. Just stay connected.
And the camaraderie that you have with your team is huge. And we’re able to build all year. We really were able to play together and everybody be healthy going into the playoffs, and it was a really, really good feeling.
Q. How was the pick-up game experience with Jeremy Lin this summer?
JORDAN POOLE: It was good just to get back on the court with J-Lin. We played a little bit in a bubble, say, prior to this past season. It was good to get out there and play. He had called and said if I ever want to get any run in, just go hit him up. And went a couple times, got up and down, and was just good to see him and play with him again.
Q. You obviously improved as the season went on and hit your stride towards the end. How are you preparing for defenses keying in on you, knowing how good you are this season and kind of going after you particularly in second units?
JORDAN POOLE: Find ways to be better. Those are challenges that come with it. It’s a good problem to have. Find ways to just add to my game. Play with my teammates.
Obviously there will be different schemes and stuff that I will see all year. Just lock into the film and adjust as best we can. It will be an exciting objective and a challenge to overcome.
Q. How much unsolicited contract-year advice have you gotten from people?
JORDAN POOLE: Not much. Not much. I mean, if I ask anybody, it would be people who I trust and people who have been through it before. But it really has not been like — I haven’t really been paying attention too often too much. If it comes up, it does, but it hasn’t been overwhelming or anything.
Q. Last year it was a different level of expectations for you, and I’d imagine you felt like yourself, you had a point to prove. And this year there’s a different expectation, coming off 18 points a game. How do you go into a season where everybody knows what you can do, and now you have to build on this?
JORDAN POOLE: Just keep playing my game, obviously. Just try to get better, whatever that means and whatever aspect that is.
But like I hit on earlier, it will be like a new objective, and I’m excited for it, you know, to kind of be the key focus and find ways to learn and grow my game through all of that, and, yeah.
Q. And the other part is, throughout your time here, it’s been consistently said that your work ethic is top-notch. What was it like last year to see that pay off, and how do you maintain that level even though you’ve had some success?
JORDAN POOLE: Well, just continuing to be me. Continuing to come to work every day and just give it my all, continue to stick to the same routine and game plan that I have.
Through all of that, you just constantly get better. You know, you challenge yourself, put yourself — luckily we have a really good organization, really good team, guys who are all motivating each other to get better. It’s a really good environment to just kind of thrive and put yourself.
JaMychal Green
Q. How do you like the new city? How are you feeling in the new threads?
JaMYCHAL GREEN: It’s going well right now so far and loving the new threads and loving the new team right now.
Q. What do you think about the second unit, what are you seeing with that group?
JaMYCHAL GREEN: I agree with what you said. It’s a lot of talent. Just got to get some practice together and get a little chemistry together but other than that, I feel like it could work. It really can, because you have everything you need out there on the floor.
Q. You’ve been with different teams but what’s the vibe you’re getting so far around these guys?
JaMYCHAL GREEN: Professionalism. Everyone is working hard. Everyone is getting their work in, extra work and the staff just doing a great job taking care of us. It’s very professional.
Q. Steve was talking how critical of a signing you were, what’s the combination of feel like the new guy by having years of experience as well?
JaMYCHAL GREEN: It’s weird being the new guy. Being real quiet right now until I break the ice. Other than that, man, I feel like I fit in great. They play hard. They get after teams. Didn’t realize how great of a defensive team this was. So just a hard-nosed team and they play the right way.
Q. And you emphasized bringing that dog mentality when you first came here, doing all the little things. What do you think that’s going to be like with Draymond on the court as well?
JaMYCHAL GREEN: It’s going to be fine. We going to get under a lot of people’s skin. Going to be a lot of trash talking. There’s going to be a lot of bumping. That’s what I live for. I love it.
Q. Draymond is well-known for being able to speak his mind and say what he thinks and getting people’s faces and everything. How would you describe your relationship with him?
JaMYCHAL GREEN: We’ve known each other since eighth grade, AAU, and playing USA together, coming out of high school and going into college. It’s a respect thing. We both know we play hard and we both know we got attitude. It works well, yeah.
James Wiseman
Q. James, you get to have a training camp. How does it feel to be able to do that?
JAMES WISEMAN: Man, I’m just blessed to be out there just playing, like, just playing, like, man. Like it’s been such a hard process for me, like, coming into the league, but just me just having that resilience of just keeping God first, I was able to keep pushing and keep getting better.
Now that I’m here I’m just grateful to be back on the court again. Just getting better.
Q. We’ve heard you’ve been in basically daily over the last few weeks or month scrimmaging. How are you feeling as a player right now?
JAMES WISEMAN: I feel like the NBA is all about reading the game, but I feel like it’s all about reps, too. Like anything you play, in any professional field, whether you’re a journalist or just anything, just like having that repetition and that consistency every day is what creates that confidence to keep going.
So really just putting in the reps and just getting better each day is really improving my game.
This summer, I have not missed one pickup or nothing. I played every game. Like that just shows I’m in a great state of like in terms of, like, my health.
Q. How does the dynamic change between you and Kevon, doing drills yesterday in practice, and being able to learn hands on?
JAMES WISEMAN: The dynamic with both of us, it’s great. He’s able to teach me a lot of stuff, and I’ll be able to learn. He’s been in the system for like six, seven years. I’m just trying to learn and get as much questions in as possible so I can become better and become a better player.
Q. Your rookie year, you were thrown into the fire, and circumstances with the team were different. But then you look at last season, the way they managed Jonathan and Moses, probably going to be more of how you are managed. Do you like that, maybe not necessarily being thrown out there and having some trial, some error, someone to learn from, like Kevon, instead of just go for it and do whatever?
JAMES WISEMAN: To be honest, I feel like this summer was really great for me because I was able to get the reps in and get adjusted to everything. Me coming to training camp, the NBA speed is different, but it’s hard because I’ve been playing this whole time. It’s been fun and I’ve been having fun just being back out on the court and stuff, yeah.
Q. You mentioned how difficult the first few years of your NBA have been, the last few years have been difficult for everybody. How have you taken care of your mental health during that time, and who have you leaned on to get you through that process?
JAMES WISEMAN: Really, just to be vulnerable for a second, I did go to rehab a lot, especially — well, not rehab but therapy. I did go to therapy a lot to express my thoughts and feelings and how I felt because it was a hard time for me, especially going through that injury because I love basketball so much. I just want to be out there with my team.
When I wasn’t out there, it was very hard for me, but I just pushed through. I got that resilience just to keep going. It’s in my DNA, and I’m not going to ever gave up no matter how hard the situation is.
I mean, as long as I’m out there playing with my teammates and playing the game, like I’m just being grateful and having that gratitude type of mentality and having really that growth mentality just to keep going.
Q. Can you talk about the pickup games? Is it going with the flow, or do you go into each one with a specific goal?
JAMES WISEMAN: Great question. Really just a different goal. Just to really set hard screens. Probably work through the system, in terms of working on my DHOs and different stuff like that, like executing plays.
I’m really working on small stuff that’s going to translate to the NBA that’s going to translate to playing with the real guys.
Yeah, I feel like I’m ready, and I feel like everything that I have been doing so far is preparing me for what’s to come. So, yes, sir.
Q. I know it’s really early, but how is the mix of that second unit coming together, and what do you like about what that group could be?
JAMES WISEMAN: It’s a young group and we are still learning together. We are still learning and still trying to get adjusted to the system. It’s going to take a while, of course, because the young players are coming in trying to figure it out. It’s going to get better throughout the year. Just got to have patience and time with it. That’s really it.
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