Showing posts with label OKC Thunder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OKC Thunder. Show all posts
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Friday, October 31, 2014
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Q&A: Kevin Durant
Courtesy of Sam Amick
Q: So how long did it take you to move past the loss to the Spurs?
A: "It took me some time. As a competitor, you always want to end the season off on a great note, whether you're an up and coming team ending the season off well knowing that you're building towards something. It's like a few years ago, (in 2010, when) we weren't satisfied, but we were like, 'Alright, we played well in the playoffs and we know we can do this,' so I think going into the summer we were confident. Now, it's 'Well, let's get into the Western Conference Finals again,' and then (last postseason) being close enough to tie the series up and be close to swaying that thing and going to the Finals, I felt that going into the summer it was a big summer for us all.
Q: You still feeling good about the group, especially considering how young everyone is?
A: "Yeah, I mean look, we're all 25, 26 years old, and stuff happens. Injuries happen. Bad breaks happen. It's a part of sports, and we understand that. Look, we're excited about the team we have, excited about Russ (Westbrook) and Serge (Ibaka) being back healthy, but you never know what happens. We want to just take it as slow as we can man, a day at a time, continue to help our young guys get better and we get better as well. Just trust in each other and know that you can't predict what will happen in June right now, but we can kind of dictate it in the way we approach our jobs."
Q: Those kids were coming on quick (as he left the Friday event with Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin), but you made their day staying and signing a few things. So who was that guy for you when you were a kid (growing up in Seat Pleasant, Md., outside of Washington D.C.)?
A: "It was Vince (Carter), but I'd never seen Vince before. So I remember I was playing in this little hoop-it-up three-on-three tournament in downtown DC. And with the part of town I'm from, you go downtown and it's like '(Expletive), I'm in Vegas.' So many big buildings. So Calbert Cheaney and Juwan Howard came out, and I was like, 'Dang, those are NBA players.' I got them to sign my shirt, and my Mom washed it. I was pissed.
"I understand (the kids' enthusiasm). I'm sure it was an appearance (for Cheaney and Howard), and they were probably ready to go (that day), but they signed for me. So I was like, 'Dang, I'll never forget that.' That was the only time, really, as a kid."
Q: On a different note, where's your head at in terms of the race relations in the league right now. Between the (Donald) Sterling saga and the Hawks' situation (in Atlanta), are you comfortable with how (NBA Commissioner) Adam (Silver) has handled things?
A: I think he has done a great job. We've come so far as a country that (race) shouldn't even be a factor anymore. And as a black player, it was tough to hear about because we've gone so far. You take two steps back with those comments and a lot of the stuff that has gone on the past five or six months. But I think Mr. Silver has done a great job controlling it and not letting it get out of control. With the owner with the Clippers, and I haven't really read up on the Atlanta situation and am not sure what happened with the owners or those guys over there, but…
Q: But specifically, what about the idea of a front office executive bringing ethnicity into the equation when it comes to roster discussions?
A: "I don't want to offend anybody at all, but as a GM you know what type of people you want. You know some guys may come from different backgrounds, and they might handle situations differently, but that's not because of the color of their skin at all. Maybe it's just because of how they were brought up. I think that's maybe what might go into some of these things that GMs are thinking when they're bringing in their teams, because culture is big. Core values are big. I don't think that's a conversation you should have about the color of a guy's skin. I think it's more getting to know the person no matter what. That's what some of these GMs may want, is 'How does this guy handle losing 10 in a row and not playing well?' He may handle it differently than some guy who was brought up differently, you know what I'm saying? And that's not a race thing at all. That's an experience thing and a situation thing.
"Where I came up, I maybe came up differently than, let's say, (Thunder teammates) Steven Adams or Nick Collison, but that's not because of the color of our skin. It's experience. That's how I view those types of things. It's far from a race thing, and Luol Deng (who was disparaged in the Hawks' situation) is by far one of the classiest, most down to earth, humble (guys). He's a star in this league, one of those guys who I really can appreciate. To hear those things about him, that's the last guy you'd think to categorize. It's one of those things where everybody can learn from. I'm not going to ever say that (Hawks general manager) Danny Ferry (who took a leave of absence after making the comments on a conference call with the team's owners) – I don't know him – so I can't really say that that's how he always is. I've heard great stories about him, but everybody makes mistakes, everybody says things sometimes that they don't really mean, so I'm the type of person where, 'Of course there's consequences to what you say and what you do, but also know that Luol Deng is a phenomenal person outside of a basketball player.' That's the main thing that people should know about this whole situation, that he's a guy who I would love to have on my team and go to war with. That whole thing just needs for people to learn from it and move on."
Q: You talk about being more open with how you see things, and the fact that it's ok for you to get upset, and it reminds me of a moment I saw in the playoffs where you were chirping with a woman in the stands in San Antonio. Is it hard not to respond sometimes?
A: "Yeah, I mean I've got a quick trigger with people talking (expletive) to me. Whether it's other players or whether it's fans, (Thunder media relations director) Matty (Tumbleson) tells me all the time, 'Don't say anything,' but it's hard.
"I remember we played Dallas and I fell into the stands, and I was talking trash back and forth with some lady and she threw the middle finger at me, and we've been great friends since then. I go over there and hug her every game, and we've been really good friends, because I understand that. I don't take it personal. I get pissed on the court, because it's just like, 'Man, I've got to take my anger out somewhere' and it's on the court. But those moments like that man, I just learned that it's not about losing your cool but about how this might push me over the top and get me to the space where I need to be in order for us to win this game. But the pressure on top of that is, I learned not to care no more. Either you're going to win or you're going to lose, and of course I'd love to win but I'm going to be me all the way through and live with the results. That's always how I've been these last few years, actually. Since 2012, I've really been feeling comfortable with myself."
Q: Why 2012?
A: I don't know. I think the lockout really gave me time to reflect on some stuff, and to really appreciate the game more too because it was like, 'Man, we may not play again, so I'm not going to take this thing for granted no more.' I'm going to go out there and hoop. I was like, 'Man, I'm ready to play in the league again. I'm ready to see 18,000 strong standing.
Q: So is that on your mind looking ahead, I'd imagine? (Players and owners have the ability to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement after the 2016-17 season)
A: "I'm just hoping for the best, but also preparing for the worst too because it could be worse than last time. But I guarantee you it won't be like the last lockout as far as me playing everywhere and stuff like that, but at the same time it will be a big summer.
Q: Do things like that, and maybe the Paul George injury (at Team USA training camp in Las Vegas in July), force you to keep that short-term outlook, just because you never know what's coming next?
"That's professional sports, man. You see it in every sport – football, baseball, basketball man, hockey all of that stuff. Anything can happen so quickly, so you just try to live in the moment and it's easy to take it for granted, especially when you've played so many games and you get your contract, so you kind of like take stuff for granted because you feel like, 'Alright, it's always going to be here.' We really got a dose of it when James (Harden) left (in his Oct. 2012 trade from the Thunder to the Houston Rockets), because everybody in the world thought that we were going to be together forever, and professional sports hit us. Being in a business hit us. Now we just kept the truck moving, and nobody talked about us winning 60 games (in the 2012-13 season), 59 games (last season). It's like nobody cares, (and) nobody is going to feel sorry for us. You've just got to keep going, so why are we going to sit there and dwell on the past when we can just move forward?"
Q: (Thunder general manager) Sam (Presti) made it clear the other day that you guys will have a defense-first mentality again, but the offensive evolution will continue too. Where do you see that part of this season?
A: "Each year I think our assists, our team assists, have gone up each year. We're moving the ball and shooting at a higher percentage each year, and that's because everybody is getting better. Serge is getting better, Russ, myself, Steven, Perk (Kendrick Perkins). Everybody is getting better, and once we move that basketball like that (it's good). We've got penetrators, we've got scorers, Reggie Jackson shoots at a high percentage and gets into the paint.
Q: Speaking of Reggie, how do you see his situation in terms of starting vs. coming off the bench? (Jackson, who is hoping to secure an extension before the Oct. 31 deadline, has made it clear he wants to start this season)
"Yeah, I mean, as kids we're taught that being a starter means that you're it. But I've seen starters average 10 minutes a game, and not finish games. But Reggie finishes games for us, and I think that's more important. I also think that in his head, playing behind Russell, (and considering) they're the same age, but he finishes games for us and I think that's what's important to him. He finishes games for us, but just like any other player, when you get people talking and you have your friends and your family talking to you, (saying) 'you can flourish when you're by yourself.' It's a matter of, 'Does he want to come off the bench for us and man that second unit and be that guy, and also be able to play with Russell and myself?' I think that's what he wants to do. He's a humble kid. He enjoys living here in Oklahoma City. He loves the team. He loves the organization, so I don't see anything (bad) happening on that front. I think it's going to all work out. That's how I feel. That's just my opinion.
Q: You did an Esquire interview recently talking about what inspires you. So who's on that list right now?
A: "A lot of guys man. I was just thinking about this the other day…Andre Ward, the boxer. I've read some interviews about him, and heard about his background, how he grew up, his father passing away, stuff like that, his faith and his family, and how he handles all that stuff. Just looking him up on YouTube, that's someone I look up to. I don't really know him that well. We text here and there before, and I've met him a few times. But I just admire how he handles everything, from his profession to his circumstances to how he grew up to how he has continued to be the man he is no matter what. It's kind of hard to stick to what you were taught as a kid when you're a professional athlete, so I respect everything he has done.
"(New Orleans Pelicans head coach) Monty Williams has been a big influence as well, just coming from the same area I come from, knowing his background and knowing his story ... to know him from afar, just knowing that he put in so much work to become a head coach, just being around him for a week with USA basketball and knowing how great he is with the guys. He is a phenomenal leader, so he inspires me a lot because he's from the area I grew up in and the route he took to making it in the NBA and being a coach and being just a great leader.
Q: So did you enjoy seeing those guys win it all (in FIBA World Cup in Spain)?
A: "Ah man, when I saw (Team USA win the gold), I was like, 'Oh man, I would love to be there with them and enjoy that moment because I know how special it is and I know how fun it is to win that gold medal.' So I was very happy for him, and excited for the guys who were there for the first time. I was really excited for (Denver Nuggets forward) Kenneth Faried, to see how well he played, and to take on that role. I think he was better at that (forward) position than me. He played extremely well. He was good. I was happy for him. Nobody thought he'd make the team, and he did. (Golden State Warriors guard) Klay Thompson played well. I always thought he'd make the team. Being a young guy on that team a few years ago (when he won gold with Team USA in 2010 at the FIBA Tournament), we had all guys who were 21, 22 years old, and I saw how close we got over there on that trip and I'm sure it was the same way with those guys."
Q: You going to be there in 2016 (for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro)?
A: "For sure. I've got to do it. Got to. Brazil, too? Whew…"
Q: So how long did it take you to move past the loss to the Spurs?
A: "It took me some time. As a competitor, you always want to end the season off on a great note, whether you're an up and coming team ending the season off well knowing that you're building towards something. It's like a few years ago, (in 2010, when) we weren't satisfied, but we were like, 'Alright, we played well in the playoffs and we know we can do this,' so I think going into the summer we were confident. Now, it's 'Well, let's get into the Western Conference Finals again,' and then (last postseason) being close enough to tie the series up and be close to swaying that thing and going to the Finals, I felt that going into the summer it was a big summer for us all.
Q: You still feeling good about the group, especially considering how young everyone is?
A: "Yeah, I mean look, we're all 25, 26 years old, and stuff happens. Injuries happen. Bad breaks happen. It's a part of sports, and we understand that. Look, we're excited about the team we have, excited about Russ (Westbrook) and Serge (Ibaka) being back healthy, but you never know what happens. We want to just take it as slow as we can man, a day at a time, continue to help our young guys get better and we get better as well. Just trust in each other and know that you can't predict what will happen in June right now, but we can kind of dictate it in the way we approach our jobs."
Q: Those kids were coming on quick (as he left the Friday event with Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin), but you made their day staying and signing a few things. So who was that guy for you when you were a kid (growing up in Seat Pleasant, Md., outside of Washington D.C.)?
A: "It was Vince (Carter), but I'd never seen Vince before. So I remember I was playing in this little hoop-it-up three-on-three tournament in downtown DC. And with the part of town I'm from, you go downtown and it's like '(Expletive), I'm in Vegas.' So many big buildings. So Calbert Cheaney and Juwan Howard came out, and I was like, 'Dang, those are NBA players.' I got them to sign my shirt, and my Mom washed it. I was pissed.
"I understand (the kids' enthusiasm). I'm sure it was an appearance (for Cheaney and Howard), and they were probably ready to go (that day), but they signed for me. So I was like, 'Dang, I'll never forget that.' That was the only time, really, as a kid."
Q: On a different note, where's your head at in terms of the race relations in the league right now. Between the (Donald) Sterling saga and the Hawks' situation (in Atlanta), are you comfortable with how (NBA Commissioner) Adam (Silver) has handled things?
A: I think he has done a great job. We've come so far as a country that (race) shouldn't even be a factor anymore. And as a black player, it was tough to hear about because we've gone so far. You take two steps back with those comments and a lot of the stuff that has gone on the past five or six months. But I think Mr. Silver has done a great job controlling it and not letting it get out of control. With the owner with the Clippers, and I haven't really read up on the Atlanta situation and am not sure what happened with the owners or those guys over there, but…
Q: But specifically, what about the idea of a front office executive bringing ethnicity into the equation when it comes to roster discussions?
A: "I don't want to offend anybody at all, but as a GM you know what type of people you want. You know some guys may come from different backgrounds, and they might handle situations differently, but that's not because of the color of their skin at all. Maybe it's just because of how they were brought up. I think that's maybe what might go into some of these things that GMs are thinking when they're bringing in their teams, because culture is big. Core values are big. I don't think that's a conversation you should have about the color of a guy's skin. I think it's more getting to know the person no matter what. That's what some of these GMs may want, is 'How does this guy handle losing 10 in a row and not playing well?' He may handle it differently than some guy who was brought up differently, you know what I'm saying? And that's not a race thing at all. That's an experience thing and a situation thing.
"Where I came up, I maybe came up differently than, let's say, (Thunder teammates) Steven Adams or Nick Collison, but that's not because of the color of our skin. It's experience. That's how I view those types of things. It's far from a race thing, and Luol Deng (who was disparaged in the Hawks' situation) is by far one of the classiest, most down to earth, humble (guys). He's a star in this league, one of those guys who I really can appreciate. To hear those things about him, that's the last guy you'd think to categorize. It's one of those things where everybody can learn from. I'm not going to ever say that (Hawks general manager) Danny Ferry (who took a leave of absence after making the comments on a conference call with the team's owners) – I don't know him – so I can't really say that that's how he always is. I've heard great stories about him, but everybody makes mistakes, everybody says things sometimes that they don't really mean, so I'm the type of person where, 'Of course there's consequences to what you say and what you do, but also know that Luol Deng is a phenomenal person outside of a basketball player.' That's the main thing that people should know about this whole situation, that he's a guy who I would love to have on my team and go to war with. That whole thing just needs for people to learn from it and move on."
Q: You talk about being more open with how you see things, and the fact that it's ok for you to get upset, and it reminds me of a moment I saw in the playoffs where you were chirping with a woman in the stands in San Antonio. Is it hard not to respond sometimes?
A: "Yeah, I mean I've got a quick trigger with people talking (expletive) to me. Whether it's other players or whether it's fans, (Thunder media relations director) Matty (Tumbleson) tells me all the time, 'Don't say anything,' but it's hard.
"I remember we played Dallas and I fell into the stands, and I was talking trash back and forth with some lady and she threw the middle finger at me, and we've been great friends since then. I go over there and hug her every game, and we've been really good friends, because I understand that. I don't take it personal. I get pissed on the court, because it's just like, 'Man, I've got to take my anger out somewhere' and it's on the court. But those moments like that man, I just learned that it's not about losing your cool but about how this might push me over the top and get me to the space where I need to be in order for us to win this game. But the pressure on top of that is, I learned not to care no more. Either you're going to win or you're going to lose, and of course I'd love to win but I'm going to be me all the way through and live with the results. That's always how I've been these last few years, actually. Since 2012, I've really been feeling comfortable with myself."
Q: Why 2012?
A: I don't know. I think the lockout really gave me time to reflect on some stuff, and to really appreciate the game more too because it was like, 'Man, we may not play again, so I'm not going to take this thing for granted no more.' I'm going to go out there and hoop. I was like, 'Man, I'm ready to play in the league again. I'm ready to see 18,000 strong standing.
Q: So is that on your mind looking ahead, I'd imagine? (Players and owners have the ability to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement after the 2016-17 season)
A: "I'm just hoping for the best, but also preparing for the worst too because it could be worse than last time. But I guarantee you it won't be like the last lockout as far as me playing everywhere and stuff like that, but at the same time it will be a big summer.
Q: Do things like that, and maybe the Paul George injury (at Team USA training camp in Las Vegas in July), force you to keep that short-term outlook, just because you never know what's coming next?
"That's professional sports, man. You see it in every sport – football, baseball, basketball man, hockey all of that stuff. Anything can happen so quickly, so you just try to live in the moment and it's easy to take it for granted, especially when you've played so many games and you get your contract, so you kind of like take stuff for granted because you feel like, 'Alright, it's always going to be here.' We really got a dose of it when James (Harden) left (in his Oct. 2012 trade from the Thunder to the Houston Rockets), because everybody in the world thought that we were going to be together forever, and professional sports hit us. Being in a business hit us. Now we just kept the truck moving, and nobody talked about us winning 60 games (in the 2012-13 season), 59 games (last season). It's like nobody cares, (and) nobody is going to feel sorry for us. You've just got to keep going, so why are we going to sit there and dwell on the past when we can just move forward?"
Q: (Thunder general manager) Sam (Presti) made it clear the other day that you guys will have a defense-first mentality again, but the offensive evolution will continue too. Where do you see that part of this season?
A: "Each year I think our assists, our team assists, have gone up each year. We're moving the ball and shooting at a higher percentage each year, and that's because everybody is getting better. Serge is getting better, Russ, myself, Steven, Perk (Kendrick Perkins). Everybody is getting better, and once we move that basketball like that (it's good). We've got penetrators, we've got scorers, Reggie Jackson shoots at a high percentage and gets into the paint.
Q: Speaking of Reggie, how do you see his situation in terms of starting vs. coming off the bench? (Jackson, who is hoping to secure an extension before the Oct. 31 deadline, has made it clear he wants to start this season)
"Yeah, I mean, as kids we're taught that being a starter means that you're it. But I've seen starters average 10 minutes a game, and not finish games. But Reggie finishes games for us, and I think that's more important. I also think that in his head, playing behind Russell, (and considering) they're the same age, but he finishes games for us and I think that's what's important to him. He finishes games for us, but just like any other player, when you get people talking and you have your friends and your family talking to you, (saying) 'you can flourish when you're by yourself.' It's a matter of, 'Does he want to come off the bench for us and man that second unit and be that guy, and also be able to play with Russell and myself?' I think that's what he wants to do. He's a humble kid. He enjoys living here in Oklahoma City. He loves the team. He loves the organization, so I don't see anything (bad) happening on that front. I think it's going to all work out. That's how I feel. That's just my opinion.
Q: You did an Esquire interview recently talking about what inspires you. So who's on that list right now?
A: "A lot of guys man. I was just thinking about this the other day…Andre Ward, the boxer. I've read some interviews about him, and heard about his background, how he grew up, his father passing away, stuff like that, his faith and his family, and how he handles all that stuff. Just looking him up on YouTube, that's someone I look up to. I don't really know him that well. We text here and there before, and I've met him a few times. But I just admire how he handles everything, from his profession to his circumstances to how he grew up to how he has continued to be the man he is no matter what. It's kind of hard to stick to what you were taught as a kid when you're a professional athlete, so I respect everything he has done.
"(New Orleans Pelicans head coach) Monty Williams has been a big influence as well, just coming from the same area I come from, knowing his background and knowing his story ... to know him from afar, just knowing that he put in so much work to become a head coach, just being around him for a week with USA basketball and knowing how great he is with the guys. He is a phenomenal leader, so he inspires me a lot because he's from the area I grew up in and the route he took to making it in the NBA and being a coach and being just a great leader.
Q: So did you enjoy seeing those guys win it all (in FIBA World Cup in Spain)?
A: "Ah man, when I saw (Team USA win the gold), I was like, 'Oh man, I would love to be there with them and enjoy that moment because I know how special it is and I know how fun it is to win that gold medal.' So I was very happy for him, and excited for the guys who were there for the first time. I was really excited for (Denver Nuggets forward) Kenneth Faried, to see how well he played, and to take on that role. I think he was better at that (forward) position than me. He played extremely well. He was good. I was happy for him. Nobody thought he'd make the team, and he did. (Golden State Warriors guard) Klay Thompson played well. I always thought he'd make the team. Being a young guy on that team a few years ago (when he won gold with Team USA in 2010 at the FIBA Tournament), we had all guys who were 21, 22 years old, and I saw how close we got over there on that trip and I'm sure it was the same way with those guys."
Q: You going to be there in 2016 (for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro)?
A: "For sure. I've got to do it. Got to. Brazil, too? Whew…"
Monday, September 29, 2014
Q&A: Steven Adams
Courtesy of Erik Horne
Q: Why the mustache?
A: I was just about to say, I’m accepting no questions about the ’stache. … I don’t know. I’d seen Tom Selleck, got inspired. It’s a look I’m going for.
Was it kinda a media day thing to have your picture with a ’stache all year?
Honestly, that’s all it was – so when they call out my name, it’s just “stache,” or when someone opens up the book: “stache.” It’s gonna be so good.
You made a splash in the playoffs against some really good teams. Do you feel like you’re ready to start if that’s the direction Scotty (Brooks) wants to go?
It’s all up to Scotty.
Would playing on the national team not have done you any good? Was that a tough decision not playing on that team?
It was definitely a tough decision. Every time you play basketball you’ll improve anyway. Definitely I would have. They still did a really good job without me.
Steven, I think you shot 68 percent during the playoffs. As the season progressed last year, are you finding more of your niche as a finisher?
Yeah, those were just strictly layups. Those shouldn’t count. I didn’t take no outside shots. But I’ll take it; I shoot high percentage.
I hear you’re pretty much a cult hero back home. What was the difference just in that one year in the NBA? Were you treated much differently as a 20-year-old than as a 19-year-old back home?
I just had to take photos a little more, people knew who I was. It was a weird kinda thing, because they notice tall people anyway, so they’re just “oh, that guy’s tall. He’s a weirdo – stay away from him.” … kinda that stuff. So, now it’s “oh, he’s alright.”
Do you consider yourself an offensive player? Can you be a two-way player, not just defense?
I shot 68 percent …
Those were layups
That’s offense, mate.
Seriously, do you see yourself as a guy that can be an offensive option in the post?
It’s all about the team; whatever they’re looking for. I’m just there to play, to do whatever needs to be done. It’s all up to the coach. If I’m the option for that play, if I’m the best option, then yeah. If not, then I don’t care.
Are you confident in your shot? A lot of big guys can’t shoot.
What my free throws?
No, anything. Around the basket.
I mean it’s just open layups. Because of KD and Russ, it’s real easy … they draw so much attention. I’m just like the little snake in the grass in the back. “Hiya, layups.” Easy.
Steven, the mustache is obviously a little bit of a temporary change for you, but you obviously have the tattoo (on his right forearm) that’s different from last season. Can you talk a little bit about if there was anything special as to why you decided to get the tattoo this summer?
I don’t know. I just felt sorry for ’em, ‘cause I just had writing there, which is my middle name — Funaki. He looked lonely, so I decided to get some more done. I didn’t know it was going to be this much, honestly. I just told the dude, and he freehanded all of it really. He’s a really good dude. … It’s all based around my family and family values. That’s usually how tattoos work down there, the culture. You just explain to the dude your family tree and whatnot. … You should get one.
Steven, do you expect to have kind of a target on your back given the reputation you earned last year?
A target? Why? What did I do? What do you mean by that?
Obviously not. The roughhousing reputation?
Oh, as a target. I hope not. I think I’m a nice guy. Hopefully I don’t do anything crazy. I don’t know how to answer that.
Is Andre Iguodala on your list for this season, for what happened this summer? (Iguodala poked fun at New Zealand traditional pregame dance – the haka – during the FIBA World Cup, Adams seemingly took offense on Twitter, saying “@andre, show some respect for my culture.”)
Oh, he's alright. He’s all good. I just read (Iguodala’s comments) in the morning and it kinda got to me. It wasn’t like anything bad or anything. It was just misinformed, I guess. I knew he meant it not to downplay New Zealand. I just thought differently about it. Hopefully he come down to New Zealand. He's still a good dude.
Have any of your teammates asked you to do it? The dance.
Oh, a lot of them. They want to do handshakes now with it involved. I don’t know. It’s a brave move.
The fact that the way you play kinda gets under people’s skin a little bit, that’s not intentional? That’s just a byproduct of the way you play?
They should honestly blame the coach. He just says, “Steven, go do this, and if anyone gets in the way just … yeah, deal with it.” That’s all I do. Then, people get mad so, yeah, he’s ruining me.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Q&A: Reggie Jackson
Courtesy of Darnell Mayberry
Q: What made you want to participate in NBA Nation this summer?
A: I like to be a part of it anytime I can be. This is the first time theyve asked me to do it. So I made sure to make the trip out here, and it's been nothing but love since we got here.
What’s your experience been like in China?
Amazing. I’ve been touring the city. Hitting the museums. Just walking around. Doing a little shopping. Interacting with fans. I did NBA Nation and got to do an NBA Cares event. So it’s just been great trying to understand their culture and how things work over here. I’m just enjoying the experience of being halfway across the world. I’m loving it.
As a member of the Thunder, what’s been the reaction to the team over there in China?
Honestly, I think we’re probably the favorite team over here. That’s how it seems over here. Of course, everybody knows KD and supports him. People know Russell (Westbrook). But most of the time, even through translators, just hearing that we’re the favorite team over here and they consistently watch our games. I think we’re one of the highest televised teams and it really helps with the support. I’m kind of a nobody on our team, but a few fans know me over here just because of how many games are televised. They just love us. That’s been the thing that's been reiterated most is they love our team and how young we are and how we compete and the show that we put on each and every night that we step on the court.
You have a reputation for sleeping. A lot. And especially on planes. What did you do to kill the time getting over there?
Oh man, it was good for me. I’ve been working out. I turned it up the last week to being in the gym for four sessions each day. So that tired me out. I had my Pilates regimen and everything else still going on; lifting each and every day. And then I made sure to stay up as much as I could (before the trip). So I slept 11 of the first 12 hours on the first leg.
How much Chinese have you learned?
Not much. Of course I learned how to say hello. I always kind of knew that. And thank you. But I’m mostly just trying to listen to the translators and figure out body language and things like that. But I’m not fluent. I’m trying to learn a few words here and there. But hopefully I can bring something back to the states with me.
What’s one area of your game you’ve worked on more than any other this summer?
Probably just the pull-up game. Mid-range. I’m still staying consistent working on 3s. I can definitely up my percentage in 3s by cutting down some of the nonsense shots at the end of quarters that aren’t going to have a chance to go in. But just working on the mid-range game. I feel like I’ve improved on my long ball skills and can still improve even more. I want to shoot 40 percent or higher. I’m actually aiming for 50. So hopefully that will put me at 40 percent plus. But I think mid-range. I feel like I worked a lot on my floater. That’s an area I think I’m good at, getting to the basket and shooting floaters and finishing around the rim. But I think the next step for me is being able to shoot pull-ups, especially coming off screens. Our bigs do a great job of getting us open, especially when we have split seconds to make shots. And I think if I’m able to make those, it’ll open the floor and I’ll be able to make reads and make the next pass to the other guy and get the ball moving. I think that’s where we can improve. Russell’s good at it and KD’s good at it. So I think having a third option able to make those shots will just make plays easier for everybody else.
What can we expect to see from you next season?
Probably an even more confident player. Just somebody who’s going to go out there and be free flowing. I think the great players in this league treat it as pick-up. They just go out there and have fun. They don't really think necessarily too much. They just play instinctively. I’m still trying to get better at not beating myself up about plays. Try to learn from them. I’ve got to move on and just continue to play and just correct myself and understand I’ve been playing this game my whole life.
You’ve said that you want to be a starter someday. How do you think it would work starting alongside Russell Westbrook for a full season?
I don’t know. I think we did pretty well with it in that series, the last series for those four games. Unfortunately we didn’t advance and get to continue to play together. But that’s for the coaching staff to think about if that’s what they want to do. But, yeah, I definitely want to be a starter in this league. We’re trying to figure it out.
Is it something that you can see happening next year, or on this team would you be more comfortable coming off the bench?
Nah (laughs). I don’t think about ever coming off the bench for any team. If that’s the role I’m put in, that’s what I’m put in. But since the day I thought about playing in the NBA, I’ve always been a starter. Everything I’ve thought about, whether it be middle school, high school, kids leagues, I never envisioned coming off the bench. When you think about playing basketball, you see the first five guys get on the floor, and that’s something I’ve always prided myself on being. I want to be the best player I can be. I want to be the best player in the world. I don’t think those guys are necessarily coming off the bench. So I’ve never thought about that or even had that idea in the back of my mind.
Can you explain to us who don’t play the game at a high level, the fans who’ve never been in that situation, why it’s important to start? We keep hearing from the organization, from coaches ‘It’s not who starts, it’s who finishes.’ And they point to guys like Manu Ginobili and Jamal Crawford coming off the bench and having success. Why is it important for guys in the NBA to start?
For some people it’s important. To others it’s not. It’s very prideful for me. I feel like I’m very talented. I feel like I can lead a team. That’s just how I’ve been raised and that’s just how I’ve always felt. I want to be the guy in charge. I want to be the guy leading the team. The head of the snake. I guess that’s just how I’m encrypted DNA-wise. I played quarterback in high school. I had a year I was a receiver. But I was more comfortable playing quarterback. I’ve just always been good leading my team. That's how I’ve always been, being vocal. And when the ball’s in my hand, I feel like I can make the right plays and just impact the team. I definitely want to finish the game. That is the most important. But I’ve never envisioned myself coming off the floor. I always felt like I’d start the game and finish and play every minute of every game if that’s what’s asked of me. That’s one of the goals I’ve had and I still have to this day.
How are contract negotiations going?
We haven’t really talked about it much this summer. I know my representation and the Thunder have been talking. But mostly I haven’t really gotten to talk super much about it. I’ve been busy. I think we’re just trying to figure things out and hopefully we can get a deal done.
Do you think something will get done before the deadline?
I’m not sure. I’m always hopeful. I’m hoping for the best, expecting the worst. That’s just how I kind of approach things. I’m just happy and blessed to be able to play basketball another day and wake up another day. Just seeing another day is a blessing. I hope to get things done. But if not, it is what it is. I can’t really dwell on it. I have to go out there and compete. That’s where I am. I have to go out there and enjoy the game and trust that my representation and us sitting down and figuring things out is hopefully going to lead to us getting something done before the deadline.
In your mind, what’s it going to take to get done?
Communication. We have to figure out things that we can do on both ends. What we envision for the organization from both ends. I’d like to play a certain way. When it’s all said and done and I hang up my jersey, hang up my shoes, I have many goals that I want to accomplish. So I think it’s going to be about what’s the vision for obtaining those goals from both parts and what’s the vision that we have moving forward.
Are you prepared if it doesn’t work out before Oct. 31 to go into restricted free agency?
I haven’t really thought about that. I’ve thought about it a little. But if that’s what happens, that’s what happens. Mostly, this summer I just focused on getting better to the best of my ability. Because you can map out a plan and talk about things, but they don’t always go the way you want them. Like I said, I’m hoping for the best. If it doesn’t come out that way, it is what it is. I have to go out there and try to show the world that I’m one of the best players in the world and I want to be the best. That’s my main focus. I would love to get a deal done, but if that’s not what happens, that’s not what happens. I can’t necessarily dwell on it and think about that too much. I have to go out there and compete.
How much are you paying attention to Eric Bledsoe’s, situation with him being a similar player and now being in a contract dispute with Phoenix?
I definitely have paid attention to it. But I pay attention to a lot of moves going on in the league. It’s a business. You want to figure out what every team is doing, not necessarily just from a contract standpoint. I want to figure out the landscape of the NBA and what teams are trying to do. What teams are really looking to contend and what’s the landscape and whats going to happen in the league. But I probably have paid attention a little more to his situation. But I just love basketball. I watch it all the time. I try to follow it all the time and figure out every little move that’s happening in the league, whether it be trades, trade exceptions, whatever is going on. I just try to pay attention to every aspect of the game.
To piggyback on that, what did you make of the deals Gordon Hayward and Chandler Parsons got this summer, and do you look at those extensions as sort of barometers for yourself?
Yeah. I definitely factor in all those things. Young players getting paid. Especially with Gordon, who I believe was the class before me, and then Chandler who was in my class. A second-round pick who I’m happy for. He went out and got a major payday, and hopefully he lives up to the expectations. I’m sure he’s preparing for this season. We met each other, I believe, our rookie year. Chandler’s a great guy. I know him a little bit. I’m happy for his success. But you definitely kind of have to weigh yourself on what’s going on around the league. So you have to look at guys around you in similar classes and similar positions to try to get a barometer for what you should probably make. It’s been some groundbreaking deals going on this summer, and I have to take that into account when it comes to trying to get a deal done.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Q&A: Kevin Durant
Courtesy of Anthony Slater
Durant on if he is the NBA’s best player…“I think I’m best at scoring. I feel like I’m an all-around player. I may not be the best rebounder or passer or defensive player, but I feel like I’m the best scorer.”
Durant on potential rule changes…“To be honest, I wouldn’t like to see anything changed. I like how the game’s played. There’s not too much control by the coaches or the refs or the players. It’s perfect how it is. How can you tell if a guy is flopping or not? Or if you give the coach the right to challenge any call, I’m sure they’ll limit the number, but it would still take some purity out of the game because we never did that before. I like how it is.”
Durant on his 2K gaming prowess…“For the summer, I’m about 100-4. That’s my record this summer. I feel real confident about my game. But the guy that would give me the most trouble would probably have to be James (Harden). James or Russell (Westbrook). Those are the only two guys I’ve played against who can play pretty well. But like I said, I’m very confident in my game right now.”
Durant on being the 2K cover boy…“It was exciting man, a dream come true. Been playing this game for 15 years. To be on the cover, among so many players that did it before me, it was a great honor.”
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Friday, August 8, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
ICYMI: Under Armour offers KD $325 million.
Reports show that Under Armour has offered Kevin Durant a deal which has the potential to reach in upwards of $300 million. Durant missed a meeting at NIKE's headquarters Wednesday which also added fuel to the fire of the Under Armour deal seemingly being close to being agreed upon.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Durant open to leaving Thunder?
With LeBron James returning home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the attention has shifted to Kevin Durant and whether or not if he'll leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for his hometown Washington Wizards in the summer of 2016 via free agency. While at training camp for Team USA, Durant spoke on the situation.
"It's being talked about," Durant said. "Everybody is asking me about it every time I go on Instagram or Twitter. All my friends ask me about it. I'm not going to sit here and act like I'm naïve to the fact that people think about that stuff.....I tell everybody, 'Look, I'm here in Oklahoma City. I love it here. Who knows what will happen?' I will never close the door on anything, but I like where I'm at right now."
"........I'm not focused on down the line. I'm focused on today. I love my teammates and my coaches. I love Oklahoma City."
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Q&A: Serge Ibaka
Courtesy of B/R
![]()
B/R: What was the hardest part during the recovery?
SI: The hard part is it was the playoffs, and I had to sit down for almost 10 days and not do anything. You take 10 days off and then also you're not 100 percent yet. I was out of shape and I was only playing with really one leg when I returned, so it was tough.
B/R: So how are you feeling now?
SI: I'm not 100 percent back yet, but I'm getting better. I'm trying to get back in shape and it's going to take time.
ON THE SPURS
B/R: Regardless of the injury, what did you guys learn from losing to the Spurs?
SI: When we played them, we learned that we still have room to grow. We have to defend first and then focus on offense. We need to make sacrifices on our team to beat them, 100 percent. We cannot give 80, 90 percent, or we'll go home.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Q&A: Josh Huestis
Courtesy of Darnell Mayberry
Q: These kids’ eyes lit up when you were interacting with them. What does it mean to you to know that you were in their shoes not too long ago, but now you’re the role model, you’re the idol to these kids?
A: “It’s surreal. I’ve always wanted to be somebody that can affect lives. Basketball is great and everything. But at the end of the day, what I mainly want to do is I want to find a way to change the world. And if I could come in here and reach one kid even, that’s fine with me. It’s just a great experience, and I want to do more of it.”
At this age, what’s important for kids to learn in these camps?
“It’s really important to teach the basics of basketball and everything like that. But to me, at this age, it’s all about falling in love with the game first. I think when they’re young too much drilling and trying to make it super organized might burn them out. But just help them fall in love with the game first, and if they want to keep pursuing it then they’ll do that.”
When did you fall in love with the game?
“Early. I started playing because my dad played, and I wanted to be like him. Once I saw the feeling it gives you, the amazing feeling of playing with your teammates, winning and just progressing and seeing your dreams come true, I just can’t imagine living my life without it.”
Kids say some funny things, and a few said some funny things to you. What was your conversations like with the kids?
“It’s funny, like you said. They’re just so curious. They’ve got so many questions. They’re kind of all over the place. There’s basketball questions, and then they started to chant, ‘Dunk it. Dunk it,’ telling me to dunk the ball. But I heard Mitch (McGary) was in here dunking the ball. I’ll just leave it to him. I don’t know if I could get anything out of me right now. We just finished up with a workout.”
What were some of the things that they asked you?
“One of the best questions I got, a couple of times actually, was why do you like playing defense? Why is defense important? To me, that’s a really important question. I told them offense doesn’t always go every single day. Shots don’t fall all the time. But defense is something you can do every single day. It’s all about hard work and whatever you can do to help your team win.”
When did you adopt that defensive mentality?
“I’ve had it a lot. In high school, that was something I took pride in. And especially when I got to college I got in there and defense was how I got playing time. I really realized that going into it, offense wasn’t what I was brought there to do at first. So defensively I wanted to be somebody that could come and lock somebody down and rebound because that was what would get me on the floor. And once I saw how that affected the game and got me more time then I really adopted that mentality.”
Do you take more pride in scoring or shutting someone down?
“Shutting someone down. There are so many scorers in this league. The NBA’s got all the scorers they need. But there’s always room for guys to come and lock people down. And that’s somebody I want to be.”
What did the coaches tell you after summer league that they’d like to see you work on?
“I think it’s a lot of different things. Continuing to work on my offensive game, working on ball-handling and shooting. Just continuing to expand my game. I think that I’m somebody that can be really versatile for the team, and I think as long as I keep working on a variety of things it’ll help me see time.”
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Q&A: Mitch McGary
Courtesy of Darnell Mayberry
Q: Give us your impressions of summer league. It was the first time you had played in a while.
A: “It felt great to be back on the court. But I just was dipping my toes in the water, just trying to get adjusted to the style of play.”
Was there any apprehension because you hadn’t played in a while with the back?
“Nah, I feel great. I was just anxious to get out there, really eager. And I thought I performed pretty decent considering I didn’t play for eight months. We didn’t win as many games as I wanted to, but I thought it was a good showing for us overall.”
What did you think of the level of competition from college to summer league with so much NBA talent there?
“I think I transitioned to that a little easier than I thought or expected. The intensity level’s definitely picked up a little bit. The skill level of those guys are way up there, way above college level, so it’s a little different adjusting. But I had a good time with it.”
What have the coaches told you that they’d like to see you work on after summer league?
“Really just getting in shape. My back was the main thing to get right, and I feel great. Back to 100 percent. I’m just trying to get my body right, because it’s not where I want it to be. I’m just doing a little intangibles, finishing around the rim, out to 15 feet. Just really trying to be a great team player and a great teammate.”
What was it like to be a part of your first community event in Oklahoma City?
“It’s great, man. I’m just getting adjusted to this city. It’s amazing support, and the fan base here is amazing. Just to come out and give back for the first time is incredible. I’ve only been here a couple of weeks. But for me to be able to do this, just take some time out and come spend some time with the kids is pretty awesome. It’s great.”
What has the adjustment been like trying to acclimate to a new city?
“It’s pretty easy. I’ve been on my own since I was 17. I went to boarding school...and didn’t have my parents for the first couple of years. I went to college at Michigan, which is a little closer (to home). Just moving to a new city every few years is a little difficult but my personality; I love to talk, I’m very outgoing, so I’m bound to meet new people or find things to do. So I’m never going to be bored.”
You were looking for some fun the other night. You were asking your followers on Twitter for some suggestions. Did you ever find anything?
“I think I ended up just playing Xbox in my room. But we were just trying to go see some stuff. Maybe go see a movie or mini-golf. Something. Bowling. Something fun to do while I have the time just to get out and see the city. But it’s fun to see what people’s suggestions are.”
What are some of the things you like to do off the court, away from basketball?
“I talked to Jim Rome about this (Monday). I ride my unicycle. But I don’t know, I need to check. I don’t know if it’s (against) my contract. I hope not because it’s one of my hobbies I like doing. I recently learned how to juggle. So I got to put those together. If basketball falls through just join the circus. I like just hanging out with my friends, my teammates, getting to know them. They’re a great group of guys already. Just kicking it with them. After working so hard each and every day, it’s pretty exhausting on our bodies so I just like to relax and hang out.”
Have you always been open to trying new things?
“Always, man. I get it from my dad. My dad, man, he’s a character. He’s 35 years older, but we’re the exact same person.”
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Jones to miss time
Oklahoma City Thunder F Perry Jones III underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday. Jones is expected to miss 4-6 weeks and last season for the Thunder he averaged 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Morrow signs with Thunder
Anthony Morrow has agreed to join the Oklahoma City Thunder. The deal is 3 years in length and valued at $10 million.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Q&A: OKC Thunder guard Semaj Christon
Courtesy of Darnell Mayberry
Q: For those of us who didn’t get to see you much in college, can you describe your game to us?
A: Physical guard. Like to get in the paint. Try to kick out most of the time for my players to hit open shots. And (I) can guard, can defend.
Would it be accurate to say that you’re kind of a score-first point guard more than a pass-first point guard?
Nah, if I get in there and I’m open I shoot it. If I’m not, I pass it. You got to play the game. It’s whatever happens. Just play the game.
When the Thunder made the trade to get you, did you have an idea that they were interested in you, or did that catch you by surprise?
I didn’t know anything. My agent ended up calling me right when they were saying my name. I didn’t know. I was just happy my name got called, happy to come to OKC.
Where were you, and what was your reaction?
I was at home. It was crazy. A great experience.
Have they told you what to expect this year and their plans for you?
Nah, not really. Just keep playing. Keep playing every day. Focus on the team. Whatever happens, happens. Be happy where I’m at.
What’s this first summer league NBA experience been like for you? Has it been a whirlwind? Exciting?
It’s been both. It’s good to get out there and get a chance to play with all the guys on the team and against the other teams, too. It’s a good experience.
What’s been most valuable for you in terms of what you’ve learned in your development?
Probably how to run a team. Just focusing on being a point guard and getting guys open in the right spots where they’re best at.
Defensively, are there some things that you’re learning and picking up during this first go at it with the summer league team?
Yeah, just being aggressive on screens. In college, it was kind of different. So just being aggressive. Having the mindset that defense wins games. That’s the biggest thing with me, just being aggressive and having my mindset ready to play defense.
Do you like the way this week has gone for you?
Yeah. Get more wins. But we’re playing great. We’re playing as a team. Everybody’s getting used to each other. I think we’re doing real good. I’m happy being here.
Take us back to Brewster Academy, where you played with Mitch McGary. What were those days like, and what was he like back then?
Good guy. Funny, funny, funny dude. It was great. We actually had other players that’s here too that played at Brewster. So it’s great just seeing everybody back together and talking to each other and meeting up. Brewster was a great place for all of us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
