ATLANTA HAWKS Media Day is HERE | FULL Interviews w/ Reactions

ATLANTA HAWKS Media Day is HERE | FULL Interviews w/ Reactions

We grew really close uh very fast. Um I would say he’s probably the main people I talk to around here. Um but yeah, it was fun playing with him in summer league when I got the chance. Uh and he’s a great person off the court, so I’m excited to continue to build that uh journey with him. Jacob over here, you killed it on the glass in the summer league, averaging over seven a game. Um, how can we see that level of play, specifically on the glass translate to both the Hawks and the Skyhawks this upcoming season? I mean, it’s something you can’t teach and and like that’s what I’m going to do. I’mma be a hustle player and uh uh put in a lot of effort. So, that’s what I’m going to do whenever I’m on the court. I’m going just showcase uh that I could provide that effort that it takes to, you know, grab the rebounds, get the 50-50 balls, whatever it is that the team needs. Hallelujah. Hello everyone. Opening comments. I got nothing any questions. Um, welcome back. just what was your focus this summer, especially with so many new additions that are going to expand your role in different ways? Yeah. Um, this summer was really fun for me cuz, you know, my first two summers I didn’t I didn’t um I had a World Cup and Olympics, so I didn’t really get time off just to, you know, work on my game and and this summer I was able to just go out there and and work with my trainer, work on my game. Um, and yeah, I was able to go and make improvements in a lot a lot areas of my game. I worked a lot on my mid-range game, being able to get to spots, you know, different pickups, different footwork, getting into shots. Um, you know, trying to develop that offensive bag, and um I think that’s that’s been the main focus for me this summer. You know, um my defense is always going to be my backbone. That’s what I I um has got me to where I am today. So, just building my offensive game, you know, it’s uh been a lot of shots, a lot of different pickups, a lot of different footwork, a lot of different finishing. Um, so yeah, just building that all round game that I’m going to be able to come in and and you know, play obviously playing off guys like Trey and and having KP coming this year and Kil, Luke, like we got a great team. We got a lot we’re very deep this year. So, um, you know, just trying to fit into my role better and play at the best of my ability. Dyson, like you said, your defense is your backbone. Uh, but you can always consistently strengthen your strengths while also strengthening your weaknesses. When it comes to your defense, what are you working on? you know, kind of taking to the next level. We all know that you’re a great perimeter defender, but obviously you can also improve on some things. So, what are you looking at at improving when it comes to your defense this season? Yeah. So, I watched a lot of film, you know, um something that I’ve really, you know, focused on this year is where can we be better the team defensively? Where can I help the team more? And, um, you know, obviously, you know, I can I can go out there and and get steals and make plays like that, but when it comes down to getting a stop, like we need to be in the right positions for each other. we need to, you know, have each other’s back and and rotate for each other. And and for me, I’m I’m trying to see, you know, points where I can be better help defense. You know, where should I rotate from? Should I not rotate there? Where can I hold my team teammates accountable to rotate from? And um for me coming to that this year, I want to be a leader on that end of the floor. I want to be more vocal and um I want to be able to, you know, you know, tell people, hey, like we know we’re not rotating from here. We need to come here. You need to fly around. You need to, you know, close out short here. just little things and and like on ball defense, you know, trying to fight through screens better, keep my match up. Um, and yeah, we got a, you know, we got we got a good defensive group, you know, with with KP coming in this year that that can protect the rim. And, um, yeah, we’re going to, you know, change a few things, I’m sure, on that end of the floor because we need to be a better team defensively. But, um, it starts with having like a leader on that end of the floor and being able to hold each other accountable. You just spoke on some of the new additions uh with KP and NIL being here. Of course, you’re well regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, but adding those two guys to the ro to the roster. What are some things you’re looking forward to as far as giving teams a headache on the defensive end of the ball? Yeah, I mean defense is fun. When you’re getting stops, you’re getting steals, blocks, flying around and creating easy offense. You know, that’s fun and and that’s energy for the team. So, um you know, bringing in those guys is only going to help us. And um obviously kill an elite on ball defender. um KP elite rim protector. Like these guys, you know, they’re going to help us tremendously. And um for us, it’s just about building that chemistry, knowing what our tendencies are on defense and um figuring each other out. Like, you know, obviously KP is going to be at the rim, but I’m not just going to send my guy to there and and rely on KP to be there. Um you know, it’s about um him knowing when to help me as well. And um obviously in the kill, we can we can switch things and and pick up full court and make make life difficult. So, I think there’s just so many different routes that we have this year that we can take and um it’s going to be exciting. So, I’m looking forward to it. Dyson, you talked multiple times last year about kind of wanting to remind people like you had played point guard in the past with this team not having a traditional backup point guard and a lot of different ball handlers. How much do you want to be involved in in kind of that aspect of the game? Yeah, I mean, you know, basketball’s so positionless now and um I was a point guard, you know, growing up, you know, my whole career and um that’s something that, you know, I’ve always I’ve always been and you know, I think point guards very a lot about having feel for the game and um you know, you’re going to have point guards that have the best handles that that are scorers, you’re going to have passing point guards, like there’s so many different you know, aspects to it and um you know, me being able to you know, when Trey goes off and back up him and um just, you know, playing fast as a point guard, getting us into offense. You know, being able to get downhill, create for everyone. Like point guard doesn’t have to be the person that, you know, walks it up the floor and gets us in a set. And, you know, sometimes, you know, you got to do that when when the teams are going on a run, but it’s just about, you know, knowing the game, knowing how the flow is going, knowing what the team needs at certain times. And, um, I think one of my strengths as a point guard is just being able to, you know, play fast. You know, we got, you know, Jaylen, you know, who who can play fast. We got know Zack like guy we got athletic wings we can get out and run and um I think you know especially like at times in trades off the floor that those are where we can take advantage of um you know being able to use our size and length and get out and play fast. So um yeah me knowing that I can play point guard and um I’ve done that in the past. You know I think my years now going into year four I’m starting to feel more comfortable at that at that position and um I know what to expect at that position. So, uh, it’s just about, you know, building on that and and, um, yeah, giving Trey, you know, being able to have coach trust that Trey can go off and and someone’s able to, you know, be disciplined and run that spot. Hey, Dustin, first off, I just want to say it’s crazy that in a after a season where you set the league record in deflections, number one in ISO stop, number one in drive stop on like the highest match up difficulty in the league, it’s crazy that you want to continue to get better. And I want to ask you a question particularly about your I believe you’re a very ethical defender. What I mean by that is you don’t really embellish calls. Um I don’t usually see you talk a lot of trash, but the Kil Alexander Walker is in the 99th percentile on offensive fouls drawn. You’re in the 99th percentile on steals, but you don’t typically take those offensive fouls. Do you see a area for that to grow in where, you know, you might want to play manipulate the rules just a little bit? Is that something you think you may add to your game when you’re navigating screens and drawing those types of fouls? Yeah, absolutely. And I still think I got so much more improvement on that into the floor. Um, obviously I think I have the tools to, you know, be able to do do it all. It’s just about, you know, the game moves fast and you got to make quick decisions out there. And, um, you know, it’s like half a second. You got to choose whether you’re going up to, you know, contest, whether you’re going to, you know, step in, take a charge. And that’s something I want to do more. And, um, the offensive game evolving. You know, obviously there’s people elite at drawing at drawing fouls this um the past couple of years. And so, I think one of my strengths is keeping people off the free throw line. um not fouling people and being able to contest shots, you know, without fouling. And um something that I do want to do better is, you know, draw more offensive, you know, calls, whether it be coming over, taking a charge, you know, whether it be um I mean, fast ball’s flopping. Like you you got to know if you get hit wrong on a screen, like you got to sell it, otherwise you’re not going to get the calls. So, it’s about knowing when I can do that stuff and knowing when I have to be disciplined, fight through things, get back in front. Um but yeah, so there’s still so much more improvement I think I have in me and um like I said, it’s all about making quick decisions out there and making the right decisions. So um I’m looking forward to, you know, the game slowing down even more this year and and being able to go ahead and execute that. Dyson, we saw you um as a correspondent for the NBA during the finals. Just what was that experience like for you and will you be joining us on the media side? It’s hard, you know. I got to give you guys credit. You know, that’s that’s hard, you know, trying to think of questions on the spot and stuff like that. But, um, you know, I really enjoyed doing that. Um, just to see the different side of, you know, the media and everything that goes into the behind the scenes with the camera work and film and stuff like that. And it was really cool. And, um, obviously I want to be there on the player side, you know, but, uh, just to experience that, experience the atmosphere of the finals and, um, it was just a whole another level. I hope I hope I’m not joining, you know, the media side anytime soon. But, uh, I did have some fun. Yeah. Dyson, back here. I’m curious, looking back to last season, what was it specifically about this team and organization that made you so comfortable to play the role you needed to, but also progress as a player? Because I have to believe whatever your answer is, it’s going to be the foundation this season to help you become that vocal leader that you’re wanting to be. Yeah, 100%. Coach Q was huge for me. um you know coming into this year he gave me or last year he gave me so much confidence in myself um he gave me that that starting role he wanted me to go out there and and just be myself like he’s never know told me not to shoot a shot he’s never told me not to go out there and make a play like he gives me so much you know confidence in myself and um you know as well as coach Q is also just about me and my mindset coming into the year knowing that I wasn’t happy with my first you know two years that that I um had in New Orleans I wasn’t myself I wasn’t the aggressive self I could have been I felt like I I taken a step back. So, um you know, if I wanted to change my career around and and go out there and and you know, be that impact player I know I could be, it was about, you know, just going out there playing free, not being, you know, afraid of anyone. And that’s that’s what I did. And I’m looking to build on that every year. And um I know what it takes now. And um this organization’s been great. My teammates are great. They give me um you know, so much, you know, confidence. You know, the front office, you know, everyone’s easy to talk to in this organization. And um it just, you know, it just feels like home. Like you come in every day, you want to be there, you want to work, you want to stay around, you want to talk to people. And when you’re in that sort of environment, it’s, you know, it’s it makes it a lot easier to, you know, flourish out there. Dyson, we’ve seen your company have a couple um clothing drops during the summer. Um how cool it is it to see guys like Mama Gate even today coming wearing your stuff and having that support for you? It’s great, you know, uh, having my teammates support me with, you know, the clothing line, you know, I always, you know, show them stuff and they love it. They always want stuff. So, I’m going continue to, you know, get them things and, um, yeah, I mean, fashion’s like my I love doing that outside of basketball. Um, you know, I love my clothing line, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. So, to have that up and running and and my teammates supporting and people supporting it, um, it means a lot to me. And yeah, it’s just one of my my passions that I have outside of basketball that I’m able, you know, take my head off, take my um mind off the game a little bit and go out there and be creative. Thank you. Hello. Hello. Hey Mo. Good morning. Uh, so in your exit interview last season, you mentioned your spacing on both ends and something you improved on. What’s an area of your game this summer that you specifically want to improve going into this season? Uh, good morning. Uh, I think every aspect really, just being a better basketball player, being a truck, like coach said, be a hooper, not just focus on I got to do this and do that. Just be a better overall player. Hey, hey, Mo back in. All right. How you doing? Uh just talk about a little bit of your offseason program as well as uh were you able to get into the weight room to try to build up some upper body strength? Uh it was a fun program. I had a lot of fun. I did not do a lot of traveling unfortunately. I was stuck here. But I had some great work. Uh spent the whole offseason out here. Put us some muscle trying to maybe to eat five time a day. But it was great. Uh I did put a couple muscle couple pounds on. I’m not going to tell y’all how much, but I did a little, so it was good. But with you taking a a step up uh last year and filling in for Jaylen a lot after the injury, um are you prepared to take a bigger role this season as well? Yes, sir. Uh I’m always ready for whatever happened. I tried to be the best player I can be, my best version, and you know, unfortunately Jaylen went down last year. Hopefully, we stay healthy this year and trying to get all the way. back here. Uh, obviously a big acquisition for this team getting Christophs Porzingis. I’m just wondering what you feel like you may be able to learn from him. Um, as somebody who has obviously championship experience and just been in the league a long time as a big in this league. Yes, sir. I think I’m be able to learn a lot, especially stretching the floor. He’s one of the best to do it in the league. He’s a champ. He just came back from the Euro, so I’m just going to be a sponge be next to him. Probably annoying him a couple times, but I’m going learn a lot. Obviously, there were a couple other they added this year too with Luke and Nquil and they’re both great shooters as well. What do you hope to pick their brains about shot mechanics and just being an efficient shooter? Honestly, I’m just excited to learn from Luke. Nico, we spent a couple days in Canada together. Luke Luke got a Luke got a strap, man. He don’t miss. So, I’m just excited to learn their routine, how they get to get to that level and hopefully we get there. I was asking something different. Dyson was just in people talked about you wearing some of his apparel. What does it mean to support you to support your teammate that way? Uh honestly, if he was uncomfortable, I wouldn’t wear it. He his clothes is really nice. I would say it’s one of my favorite brands now. So, uh I’m just trying to be a good guy, I guess. What would you say was your biggest takeaway maybe from last year? Maybe one of the bigger lessons that you have learned after you concluded the season last season that now you look back at it, you reflect like, you know what, this is a big part of my development or improving. What would that be from last season? How can you capitalize on it this season? honestly staying healthy and just be like more hungry like just knowing that we can get there. Last year obviously we had a lot of people injured and we was almost there and this year just knowing that we got a couple a lot more help and we got JJ healthy and hopefully we we get the job done. What’s going on? How y’all doing? Welcome back, Ke. How are you doing? And how was your summer? We saw you got to spend a lot of time with Trey out in Oklahoma or wherever it was you guys got to hang out. So, what did you learn from that experience? I learned a lot. Uh he’s been in the league for a long time and you know, being around a guy like that, you know, you can uh just learn and so go by the knowledge you can. Hey Katon, you had that over here. Uh you had that triple double at the end of last season. Uh did did that provide any motivation for you just this off seasonason, you know, getting the chance to uh show that again on a nightly basis? Uh it did. You know, um it was a a confidence boost for me. Um, just knowing that I felt like I belonged on the floor. Um, all the hard work that I put in, you know, had paid off and, you know, it was just a lot of motivation for me in that game. Uh, what was your kind of onc court focus and development as far as getting your, you know, growing your game this summer? Anything in particular? I would say making reads. Um, just getting in the paint, things like that. um working on my footwork in the paint, being able to see the floor a little bit better, um seeing where guys are and help defense, um pick and roll reads, um making sure I’m getting the ball to the right people at the right time. So, things like that. Keen, um want to ask you how cool is it to see your brother um win a win a uh a championship? No, it’s amazing. I think they had a ring ceremony coming up soon. uh I won’t be able to make it unfortunately, but um no it’s lit. Uh you know, this is my blood brother. So like we went through a lot together growing up. This is always our dream and I’m just proud of him and um we actually going to play him at the end of this month. So yeah, we going to play. Thank you. So, what was the number one thing I think going this offseason that you wanted to show or you and Quinn and the guys talked about that you when you get the opportunity this season, whether that’s the Sky Hawks with the Hawks that you want to show when you get on the floor outside of your defensive intens intensity? I would say just being a better point guard, being a leader, being a general on the floor, um leading the second group. um and if somebody goes down, being able to be the next man up, you know, to step up and fill in a role. Um so that was um the main focus as far as um the coaching staff and things like that. So um I’m just ready ready to get to work and ready for the season. Katon, this is not so much basketball related, but summer league it looked like you and um Coach Quinn had like a handshake or something going on there. I was just wondering what has your relationship been like with him and did you do you guys have a special handshake or were you teaching him a handshake? What was going on? We got a handshake now. Uh that’s that’s my dog. Like through the whole summer we’ve been in uh contacting communication um just sharing different ideas and things like that. Um but no, that’s that’s my dog, Coach Queen. You want to hear a real one? Appreciate y’all. What’s up? What up? I think for us, uh, you know, it’s going to be important to just be competitive every night. I think the last couple years we learned that, um, you know, every single win and loss matter. Um, so, uh, doesn’t matter against who we going for against against against. Uh, we just got to be competitive and play the hardest basketball we can. How was your experience of playing in Euro basketball this summer? Yeah, I mean it didn’t didn’t well it didn’t go well pretty uh it wasn’t pretty but um it was a good experience you know um it was a lot different than playing here obviously being uh being you know the main focus of the of the other team you know the team prepared well for me and they were physical and um yeah like I said it was a it was a good experience although the result was not the best beat so you’ve had many different roles in your career and here in just in Atlanta over the least the last two years, how have you been able to balance, you know, having all these roles, being adaptable while also establishing an identity as a player? Yeah, I think uh honestly that’s one of the uh main things for me in my career just to know what your role is. You know, I think uh there’s a lot of players that can do a lot of different things that make them great. But I think for players like me, it’s important to know what the team needs from you and do those things well. So if it’s two things they need, three, four things, just focus on those things and be the best you can be because every team needs you in a little bit different situation, right? So, uh, like I said, just knowing your role, knowing what the team needs you to do and, uh, be the best at it you can. V, over the past couple of seasons, we’ve seen you take a jump offensively and defensively. Going into this season, what do you look forward to taking the biggest jump in? um you know just being more comfortable on offense is being uh more comfortable with handling the ball and uh be more comfortable with making decisions you know so that’s just the role that um you know I’m trying to you know be comfortable in now and um like I said um just trying to be the best I can be in the in the role that the team needs me to be back here back here um with gaining Chris Staps Porzingis as a teammate this year um just in the offseason and as into the season what are things you think you can learn from him um just to um help expand and become an even better player into this year. I think his professionalism I think he’s been in the league for a long time and uh he can bring a lot of good habits into our team and um yeah I think that’s what we got to all learn from him just you know that professionalism. Hey V um over here. Um you already talked about how the experience in Euro Basket was extremely valuable. Um was being in that different role, did you kind of learn anything new specifically about your game, especially heading into this season where we’ve got high hopes? Uh yeah, like I said, it’s just uh you know, being comfortable with that physicality. I think that’s what uh your basket teaches me and uh and um yeah, I’m excited for for this year. I mean, we got a really good group of guys. And like I said, I think for us, it’s going to be that mindset of being competitive every single night. By the way, love your podcast. Hey, be I I think that what I’ve kind of noticed that when like when beat gets hot and he gets rolling, like you better put somebody on him. But that also comes with some energy, some animation sometimes, some other things. How do you think that that kind of rubs off on this team? like when you know when things really get going for you sometimes it kind of gets puts this team in a different mode. How do you kind of describe what your energy does for this team? Yeah, you know I play with I play a lot with emotions. So I love basketball. So when I get hot or you know when things go well um you know I play with that passion. I think uh for us what’s going to be important is when we going to hit those rough patches which you know every team does in in a in a year. I think that’s going to be important for us to, you know, keep remembering, you know, we love playing basketball. We want to be competitive where where our goal is. And, um, I think that’s going to be the next step in in this season. Cool. All right. See you guys. Thank you so much. Hallelujah. I know. I’ll use Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean this summer was good. Um, obviously it felt good to get back on the court and ramp things up again. So, it was a it was a productive summer. Uh, so just looking forward to starting the season now. The rehab process of getting strength back in that shoulder after surgery. I mean, just like any surgery, you got to build strength back. So, that’s that’s what a majority of the summer was. Um, getting my range back and stuff like that. So, um, it was a slow process, but it allowed me to take a step back and just, um, really take it day by day. Is there anything that you’ve kind of been able to work on in the offseason as far as like health thought health side to potentially try to prevent things from happening again? I mean, yeah, obviously I I go into every offseason just trying to strengthen my body as much as possible. So, it really wasn’t much different in that aspect. Obviously, just taking care of my body every day. Um, that’s something I stay consistent with. Um, so looking forward to getting out there again. Hey Jayla. Uh yeah, back back here at Lazwell. Hey, in addition to uh rehabbing, uh just talk about your uh youth foundation and were you able to get any work uh with that as well as we seeing any uh work being done with it here in Atlanta as well? Uh yeah, for sure. Uh there’s definitely plans for the future here in Atlanta as well. Um, obviously for right now we started in Milwaukee and um had had toy giveaways, uh, backpack giveaways, uh, we had a block party. Um, just just trying to, uh, influence the community as much as possible, give back. Um, so we’re heading in the right direction with it, and I’m excited for what’s to come in the future. Hey Jaylen, uh, you were awesome at the rim this past year. You shot 72%. You also took a lot of floaters in that sort of short mid-range area. I’m curious with the the spacing looking going to be a little bit better this year and you probably going to be the the most high volume screener with Trey, how much emphasis has there been from your training staff and the coaching staff to convert more of those mid-range attempts to at the rim just because you’re so good at that particular area of the fourth. I mean, we’ll figure that out more during training camp. Uh right now, uh it’s just none not too much talk about it. Uh we’ll figure that we’ll figure that out more during training camp. Jaylen, back here. Back here. Um I’m curious. I know every season is kind of a fresh start for everyone, but there’s a lot of new faces that have joined this off season. What feels different about this group as you guys head into another season? Um, the thing I’ve noticed most uh with what feels different, everybody’s hungry. Everybody has came in early this year and everybody’s trying to um everybody understands that we don’t want to be uh in any tough position. We just want to continue to work every day and get better. Um so everybody’s had that mindset. So, it’s been refreshing to see that. Refreshing to see the new guys come in with that same mindset. Um, so I think it’ll be easy. Jaylen, um, injuries are for the most part out of your control. I mean, it’s a matter of bad luck. Given that, how have you kind of dealt with mentally not being able to, you know, play as much as you would like? Yeah, I mean, obviously I want to be out there, but um, I’m healthy now. Um, so I’m just excited to get the season going. Um, I’m excited to just put the pads behind me and continue to move forward with everything. Jaylen in the back when we talked to coach Schneider, he was almost kind of salivating about the combinations that he could potentially put together. Just a lot of versatility on the squad with with the addition of Chrisson to kill. Do you have any thoughts on, you know, the kind of combinations or the versatility of this team, uh, as you’ve kind of seen some of these new guys come along? Um, honestly, I leave that to the coaching staff. Uh, for what combinations? I’m just excited to play with those new guys and excited to play with the rest of the guys. Uh, what the new guys bring is really unique and special. So, um, yeah, whatever coaches throw together, lineup combinations, whatever it may be, I’m excited to get out there with all the guys and and start this thing up. Jaylen, on Trey Young’s podcast, he recently called you a future allstar. Um, how’s it feel to get that kind of praise from one of the leaders on this team? I mean, Trey Trey Trey’s awesome, man. He he show he shows a lot of love to all the guys, not just myself. So, um you know, when he’s in when he’s talking in his podcast, he shows love to a lot of his teammates. Um and that’s what he does. So, um it’s great hearing that, but uh obviously there’s still a lot of work to do to even get there. So, so yeah. Jaylen, speaking on some of the new additions that’ll be on the team, when you add when they add a guy like Chris Staf Porzingis to the roster, how do you feel like you guys games will complement each other? Yeah, I think I think KP is special defensively and offensively. So, like his ability to pick and pop and and and deter shots at the rim, I think is going to be huge for us. Um, and along with all the other stuff he brings to the game. Um, KP’s been special since he’s been in the league. So, I’m excited to get uh get a chance to play with him as well. Jaylen, before your injury, we saw your game really expand, you know, taking more jump shots, spreading the floor. Uh, what are you looking to really work on in your game now that you’re healthy and you’re coming into a new season? Um, I mean, I say it every year, but everything I I just I just want to be a well-rounded basketball player, continue to sharpen up areas that I need to improve in, and then continue to strengthen the stuff that I’m already um I I have good uh skills in. So, so yeah. Hey, Jaylen over here. Uh, we saw you working out with LeBron this off season. Uh, what can you take away from that? How was that? What lessons were you able to learn? Yeah, I mean, working out with him, I worked out with him quite a bit this summer. Um, it it’s been great. It was great. Uh, he’s somebody that just gives knowledge back. Like, there’s no ego involved. Like, it’s crazy how humble he is considering what he’s what he’s done, what he’s doing still. Like, he he just wants to give back. He He gives me a crazy amount of knowledge. Uh, even just stopping a workout and pointing something out, like just just the fact that I get to, you know, share share the gym with him. Uh, it was it was really dope. Jaylen, I think we’re at a point now where when you mention someone like a Trey Young, it’s impossible not to mention Jaylen Johnson, you’re on a lot of people’s, you know, preparation sheets and homework for the opposition, things like that. Have you adjusted anything in regards to that as you know, people start kind of focusing in more on you and what you’ve been for this team and what you’re expected to be for this team this upcoming season? Yeah, I’m just I’m just focused on the season, man. Uh, I’m just focusing on getting better as a team and and getting out there and just competing, man. I think all the outside noise and expectations, like I’m not I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about everybody inside the locker room uh and the people I’m going to war with. So, um I I got a great support system with them. So, I’m just going to continue to to lead with that. Uh Jaylen prayer, how do the big moves this off season give you and your teammates the confidence uh that the front office believes in this core and that this team is ready to possibly make a next step back towards contention? Yeah, I mean we just got to like I like I keep saying, man, we just got to keep getting better. We can’t put out expectations right now before the season even starts. We’re just going to got to take it game by game, day by day. Um and just and just stay with that mindset, man. It’s it’s easy in this league to look too far ahead and and then get stuck on a game in the past. Uh but as a group, we just want to we just want to focus on the now. Focus on the moment and continue to work on, you know, what we need to get better at. Jaylen, uh Dyson last year won most improved and he finished runner up in defensive player of the year. seeing a guy that you’re going to spend a lot of time on the court with winning those accolades. How much does that motivate and inspire you to know that you’re you’re playing, you know, with guys who are winning awards and getting the recognition around the league? For sure. No, that’s it’s amazing. Dyson was, in my opinion, defensive player of the year and most improved. So, uh, I’m glad he got the recognition he deserved last year. It was great seeing him, you know, break out. It was amazing to see. So, I’m excited to get back on the court with him uh and and just continue to disrupt things on defense with him. Jaylen, uh you worked with Chris Johnson again this off seasonason. Uh was there anything that you feel like he unlocked a part of your game this uh this summer? Yeah, my mental aspect. He Chris Johnson sharpened that up. Um so, I’m excited to see where that, you know, where that takes me. Um he’s just somebody that it’s not it’s not all about basketball when you’re in the gym with him. It’s the things that apply to life as well. So, um he opened up he opened a lot especially on the court, but um yeah. Anyone else? Cool. Welcome back. Um, just with Euro Basket a couple weeks ago, just how do you feel like you were able to shape your game in a way that will be able to help the Hawks this season? Um, I feel like it was great for me to to play there. Um, I was able to to work on my game before the the Euro Star. So, I was I was just, you know, getting ready and then, uh, I was able to play some five on five and, uh, compete at higher level, too. So, I feel like this summer really helped me to to to be better u as a player and uh now I’m excited to be back to Atlanta. Uh I’m excited for the this new season and uh yeah, a lot of excitement right here. Zack, what about those games uh and what about the conversations off the court and kind of the training aspect of things do you think is going to help you as you enter your second season? Um, I feel like um I’ve been working a lot of my my my game lately. Um, so I just just want to, you know, stay consistent in my work that I put in every day and uh so I can be in the best position to have my team this season to win games and uh to compete at a higher level too, you know. So, I just Yeah, you just got to make sure uh I play hard. I play with a lot of intensity. I play hard on defense and uh and you know, I’m sure we going to play good as a as a team, too. So, just got to be ready to to uh to compete um as a team. Zack, we’ve seen you grow a lot during your rookie season here in Atlanta. as you head into year two, what are some goals that you have on the court to continue to help you grow? Um, just just want to get better. Um, I just like I said, I work a lot of my game lately during this uh during the summer. So my goal is really to uh be efficient and u like as soon as I step on the court just be able to be the best version of myself and uh so we can win games you know that that’s it and uh um like I said I work a lot on my game especially like shooting uh ball handling uh so I think I can yeah just ready to do whatever it takes to win games so can be on everything. I think my my strength my main strength is that I’m a versatile player. So, I’m ready to to to like to be whatever it takes, you know. Zach, um I just want to ask you um as a part of your growth, did you want to put on some muscle and add some weight? You don’t have to tell us how much, but it does look like you’re, you know, stronger from last year to this year. Was that a part of what you wanted to work on this summer? Yeah, for sure. Um, so when I when I say I was working on my game, uh, I meant also physically, you know, I mean the the weight formula, trying to put some weight on my body and, uh, that was a that was something I I needed to to work on, you know, just getting prepared physically to to the season, add some pounds, and uh, uh, I I I did I did that and uh, I feel like uh, it’s going to help me to to get better this season, too. Zack, during the offseason, during Euro Basket, um your shot release looks a whole lot quicker than what it was during the season this year. Is that something you kind of emphasized going into the off season that you wanted to do? Um, I think I think like having a a quick release it’s uh really helpful especially in the NBA where everything is super fast. Uh but honestly I was working on the like the fundamentals, the basics and I feel like as soon as you get that perfectly the it comes naturally and uh and uh like being quicker and quicker is just a matter of times. But you got to have that that base first, you know. So, I was really working on that and uh and yeah, after the like reps after reps, it start to to gain faster and uh now I think I I have a pretty quick release. So, that’s good. Just got to keep the work going, you know. Last year, Zach, when um when Jaylen went down, it seemed like more had been called upon you from a contribution standpoint to produce a little bit more, especially on the offensive end. Did you feel any pressure at that time? And um you know, how do you think that that helped prepare you for what you could face this upcoming season? Um, I I didn’t honestly I didn’t feel any pressure cuz I felt like uh I was in a good environment and um I was ready to to do whatever it takes to to win games and uh I felt like uh we was in a good position to to compete and uh I just try to do my best to to make sure like the the the team was good and uh I wanted to impact too offensively but also defensively and um yeah I think like I had more responsibilities and uh it made it made me grow faster and I feel like that’s definitely going to be an advantage for us this uh this season too cuz I’m able to grow faster and learn faster too. Hey Zach, I was playing right here. was paying close attention to your Euro basket games because I wanted to see how your game is developing. And for me, from what I saw, you were awesome on the glass, especially on the offensive glass, nearly four offensive rebounders, offensive rebounds for 36 minutes, and your defensive play making was was awesome, too, at the rim and the passing lanes. Was that an emphasis for you for that particular team? Can we see a little bit of that as well for the Hawks with you using your length more effectively as a defender? Yeah, I feel like um I have a I have a good summer with the national team and uh that was also a reflection of the all the work that I put in uh during the summer. So, I just want to keep it that way, you know, and I feel like that’s going to help me during the season, too. I want to be more effective on the defensive uh event, too. I feel like uh I was able to learn also from uh my rookie season and now I just you know want to use my uh my left better uh move my feet better. I’m uh I’m quicker now. So I feel like I can be a lot of um lot of things on defense and uh that’s going to that’s what we going to need too for from me. So I’m super exciting about it too. Hey Zach. Um, with the Hawks not having a a traditional point guard to back up Trey Young, where do you see room for you to use your skills as a ball handler and maybe evolve them to help the team offensively? Um, I feel like um I just just going to do what’s uh what’s best for the team, you know? So, um I just want to be the the best version of myself. So, um I’m I’m ready to do um like I said, whatever it takes and u uh I’m sure there is going to be room for for for everybody uh to play to play free, to play their their game. So, I’m honestly super exciting about the the training camp, see, you know, the um how everybody uh deal with the the new uh philosophy, uh a new coach, you know, we we’re a pretty young team and uh we we have a lot of uh new players, too, so it’s going to be an adjustment and I feel like uh yeah, I’m so yeah, it’s just super exciting to to be a part of it and uh to see uh how my game fits to everybody’s games, you know. Zach, speaking of those new players that have been added, what is your excitement level for Porzingis to come over and join this team? And how do you think he’s going to to fit with what you guys have? Um, I’m I’m super exciting about about like him. Um, yeah, I’m super excited. just, you know, I feel like it’s going to be a it’s going to be great for us uh this season and um um yeah, especially like on defense and also offensively we he can do a lot of stuff uh like stretching the floor uh be effective on the on the in the paint too. So uh just super exciting to play with him. Um, like I say, I I’ I’ve learned a lot from my rookie season, but I’m sure I’m I’m going keep learning uh this new season, especially from him, too. Hey, Zach back here over here. Um, how do you feel like this off seasonason was different for you mentally? Now, obviously last offseason as rookie, you go from playing to draft to summer league to season, so it feels like you just were going where now you mentioned earlier this offseason that you just had more time. Yeah. How do you feel like that helped you mentally? Um I think um I really enjoyed the the off season cuz like you say I had more time to focus on myself mentally but also like physically. Uh so like like I said work on my game trying to be a a better athlete too. So like last season uh like last offseason we like I was on the rush all the time with like being um like um getting drafty summer league uh training camp really exciting about it and I feel like u that’s that’s going to be an advantage for Thank you, Zach. Thank you, guys. What’s up, team? Hey, good. How are you? I’m doing good. Hey Jamila, how you doing? So, how was your off season? What did you do? I know you went back to LA. Just how was it? It was cool. Um, spent time with my family, spent time with my siblings before they went out to college. Um, yeah, basically I was in California and Arizona most of the offseason. We saw you in the gym. Just what were you working on? What part of your game are you trying to improve? All aspects. um whatever I can do to, you know, help my team get better. You be a little more specific, please. I mean, everything. Handling, shooting, dribbling, defense, making sure my body is in shape. Um, you know, just all the little things. Hey, um, one thing Quinn has been super excited about are the different combinations that he can play you and Chris and Yeah. What are you excited about in terms of working alongside uh Chris and how do you think he can help your game evolve? Um he’s been in the league for a while. Um hell of a player, hell of a talent. Call him the unicorn. Um I mean he can, you know, kill defenses inside out. Um, you know, I get to, you know, try to feel this game out more during training camp and see how I can help him and how he can help me. Kind of piggybacking off of that, you made that transition last season into a starter. Um, how do you kind of see your role being on this team this season? I mean, I feel like I’ll, you know, play a big part of what we’re going to do. Um, I don’t know what that’s going to be yet specifically, but uh, whatever it is, you know, I’m gonna, you know, be at my best at all times. On in your exit interview from last season, you’d mentioned that you wanted to be a leader for the young guys. So, what advice do you have to give to Asa Newell who comes into this league as a versatile big like you did? Just have fun, you know, at the end of the day. Um, have fun. He’s in his hometown Georgia. I mean, we’re Atlanta. Um, I just told him like, “Enjoy it all. It goes by fast.” You know, I still remember my first media day years ago. Um, and I’m just telling him, you know, you’re going to have your growing pains, but no matter what, keep your confidence high and enjoy it. Oh, you opened up a lot of eyes to some people once you stepped into that start and role last year. Was there as as much time and that you saw, was there anything within your bag that maybe you didn’t necessarily get a chance to showcase that maybe you hope maybe this year you’ll be able to bring some of that out at least or or maybe you did, but not as much as you had liked to last year. To be honest, I’m not I don’t know yet. You know, when I came into that starting role, um I didn’t really know how well I could shoot the ball until I, you know, started letting it fly. So hopefully this year um I’m able to see what else I can do, how I can, you know, showcase what I have. Hey, uh last year right here, what’s up? Last year was like your career best playmaking season and your offensive ability to pass on top of the key and shoot on top of you. I think did a lot for the offense, especially when you started like in a starting role. Has there been any emphasis from the coaching staff or your own training sort of community to continue to develop as a facilitator as a big because I think that’s one of your greatest strengths. I’ve always been able to pass since I was younger honestly. Uh but you know kudos to the staff. They let me go out there and uh facilitate more um whether it’s you know hitting people in the corner. Dyson for his uh back door cuts. Um hopefully I can get, you know, dudes like Nikil, Luke, Jaylen back. Um uh some more looks, more back doors. Anaka, over the over the few years, these past few seasons, we’ve seen your game expand and you stretch the floor a whole lot more, being more willing to take the three-point shot and knock the three-point shot down. So, that’s changed how teams have had to defend you. Is that something that you’re looking to continue to improve on or is that something that you were working on this summer? Um, honestly, I was looking at your hat and I I hate the Eagles. I was just so I was just so distracted, man. You got to I’m a Rams fan, man. Like Like Oh, I hate the Eagles. Um, but to answer your question, just um, you know, teams are going to adjust. you know, if I’m shooting the ball more, they’re gonna, you know, I started to realize like, you know, towards the end of the year, um, the team started to not leave me as a shooter, but close out, close out. Um, I just got to keep working on my craft, improving as a shooter, playmaker, and like I said earlier, all aspects of my game. You spoke about just some of the growing pains over the last few seasons. What has been like your most valuable lessons? Um, patience, you know. Um, and it’s a long it’s a long season. 82 games, you know, I’ve dealt with, you know, last few years, coaching changes, roster changes, health, you know, I’m going through it all. So, so overall, I just got to, you know, be patient with myself, be patient with, you know, whatever the situation is. and um always for me see the best in each situation. Oh, from one Ram fan to another. Uh I want to ask from a uh from a team defensive standpoint, obviously you got Nikquille here and we talked about, you know, a lot about Nikquil and Dyson forming that formidable defense at the front court. But when you look at just you all’s defense from the back court as well compared to what people expect from the front court, what do you look at? How excited are you about the totality of the team defense uh this season? Yeah, we got ball hawks, you know, you know, Dyson, Nail, um you got Chris back there, you know, cleaning it all up. I think overall, like I think this will probably be the most best defensive team um coming into this year. You know, I’m optimistic that, you know, all of us are going to buy in to, you know, trying to have a successful year on both sides of the court, not just even defense. I think I heard one of your teammates earlier say about speak on how the team is hungry to get to that next level, which is to obviously not be playing for a playin position. Yeah. Is the is is that a is there a mentality that the team might be angry? Do you feel like the team should be angry to to to to get into such a spot? Um or just what is the overall mentality of this team? Is it a under no circumstances must do type of mentality you guys have? I mean, I just feel like we’re here to work. Um, you know, we got a bunch of new guys coming in who weren’t here last year. So, I think we’re all just trying to buy in to the success of the team, no matter what that is. You know, we all have our goals individually and as a team. So, um, we just got to, you know, I feel a collectively buy in. I know that you guys haven’t had your first practice yet, but what have you learned maybe offc court-wise about Chris and Nquil and Luke and what maybe endear them to you? Just, you know, great guys. Great guys that are, you know, ready to work, ready to um, you know, be a Hawk. Leave it at that. What you got for me, bro? Um, hi Jacob Toppen here. Uh, who’s your favorite teammate? Not you. Not you. Luke, hi Luke. Who’s your second favorite teammate? Not you. Maybe. Maybe Mimos. Mamora. Jaylen somewhere around here. What’s up Ellie? You good? Hey. Oh. Um, Jaylen obviously has been through some injuries. you went through similar type of situation. Uh injuries are a lot of times just bad luck. Um but what has his attitude been like as he’s been going through this? Has his spirit still been up? Absolutely. You know, Jaylen’s a worker. He’s humble, genuine. Um you know, he’s excited to be out there and uh be back playing. You know, over the summer I was with him. Uh we played together a little bit. Um I’m just just I’m happy to see him out out there happy playing basketball. You know, I know he’s dealt with so much, you know, injuries in his career and, you know, I’m just praying for his health this year. Cool. Appreciate y’all. Hey Luke, right here. So I think a lot Fox fans are expecting you to come in and be the amazing shooter you have been for the entirety of your career. I would like to hear a little bit more about your playmaking. I think you were awesome last year in the wheel offense. I think that some people may even be underrating your ability to pass the ball. What has playing in those different types of offensive systems in Memphis? What do you think that’ll do for your translation to Atlanta? And then what can overall what can Hawks fans expect from you as a playmaker? Yeah. Um I mean just just the confidence with the ball in my hand, playmaking abilities. um each each team I’ve been on, you know, I’ve had opportunities to have the ball in my hands at certain times and um whether that was because of injuries or just anything like that. But um I’m definitely confident um with with the ball in my hands. I know, you know, coming in here playing with guys that that can really pass the ball and can control the offense. Um, I do want to be that, you know, knockdown shooter um for this team, but at the same time, you know, just showcasing what I can do with the ball, making plays, um, you know, just kind of helping control the offense a little bit. So, I’m excited about it. Um, you know, I’m excited to play with this group of guys and, uh, yeah, it should be fun. Welcome to Atlanta. Thank you. I want to ask you, it it would seem that you and Trey’s young would compliment each other very well when you guys hit the court together. uh how do you feel like that may work and how how how much are you looking forward I’ll say to playing alongside Trey? Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it. Um obviously, you know, that was one of the big reasons why I wanted to to come here. Um to play with with him, with his group, play for coach. Um I know how they play. They play winning basketball and obviously with when you have the best passer on your on your team, you know, you can’t really pass up an opportunity to to to not to not play with him. So, um I’m excited about it. I know he’s excited about it. I’ve talked to him a little bit. So, um we’re we’re ready to to kind of get training camp going, get practice going, and uh start developing that connection a little bit. Hey, Luke over here. Um, so you know, stay on the topic of playing alongside Trey Young. Um, you came from, uh, Memphis as was your last stop. You know, you’re alongside Jaw Morant. How do you expect the experience next to Trey Young to defer kind of from what you saw next to Jaw? Yeah. Um, I mean, they’re they’re different players. Um, but for me, you know, playing uh, you know, with Trey and the way he can pass the ball and um, really control the offense, get everybody situated. Um, you know, I know he’s going to to find me in different situations and and I know he’s going to want me to shoot the ball. Um, you know, every time I can. And uh, yeah, you know, I think just playing with with his speed and his pace and um, you know, how controlled he is on the floor, it’s just going to bring, you know, everybody’s level up, you know, it it kind of makes everybody better around him. So, I’m I’m excited and um you know, I did I had a had a great time playing with John and everything as well in Memphis and uh great experience there, but um I’m definitely ready to to get to be down here in Atlanta and uh you know, start this season off. Look, you’ve kind of touched on this already, but what separated Atlanta from other teams and and made it kind of from an outside perspective a team that you want to join? Yeah. Um I mean, a few things. Obviously, the city. Um, I’m I’m excited to to be in this city and um spend a spend a little bit of time here and um I’m married, I have a kid and uh you know, my my wife has friends here outside of basketball. You know, just so many things that you know, I’m going into year nine now, which is crazy, but you know, so many different things that you kind of look at in life now. And um this was definitely one of my top choices, you know, going into it. But then just kind of breaking it down with the the team aspect. Um I love how they play. I love how coach um coach’s offense system is and um the group of guys that they have, they’re you know, it’s it’s a younger group, but at the same time, you know, for me, just coming in having a little bit of a of a voice and uh being a um a little bit of a leader um can go a long way. So, um I’m I’m excited for it. I know uh you know, the city’s going to be great. It’s going to embrace uh me and my family and um we’re looking forward to the season. Hey, Luke. um with Nquille and Dyson, how do you hope that maybe those two guys who are known to be defensive studs, just how do you hope that maybe they can help you evolve your defense even further? Yeah. Yeah. And um you know, for me, um defensively, you know, I’m I’m always looking to just to be in the right spots. I’m not the most athletic or flashy player out there, but um just playing hard, you know, learning different different things that those guys use and um playing hard, competing. That’s just kind of, you know, how how I’ve made it so far. And um I’m going to continue that and do it even more. And I know those guys are going to push me in and training camp coming up. And um you know, I want to push them, too. And uh I think it’s we’re just going to make each other better throughout the entire year. Luke, last year we saw your playmaking ability in Memphis kind of step up a little bit. How hard is it to find the balance between playmaking and shooting because you are also one of the best three-point shooters in the game? Yeah. Um, for me, you know, it’s just kind of knowing who you’re playing with. Um, trying to find that rhythm and flow when you’re on the floor. And um you know, you know, when when you have a guy like Trey out there, you’re going to be ready to shoot the ball no matter what because he’s going to um break down the defense and and find the open guy every single time. He makes the right decisions every time. And same with, you know, Dyson and Jaylen. You know, those guys are um great offensive players and very smart. So, um and then at the same time, just playing within the flow of the offense. I know we’re going to try to play fast this year and um push the pace and you know, anybody can bring the ball up at any any time and um however that gets us into the offense, you know, I’m I’m excited for it and uh you know, the opportunity will come for me to make plays and um I’m excited to show it. We already you already spoke a little bit about, you know, playing alongside of Trey Young. You’ll also be playing alongside of another fellow Dookie and Jaylen Johnson. What was your outlook a little bit on his game prior to getting here and just the outlook on Atlanta, the team, Atlanta, the city overall as a whole prior to becoming a Hawk? Yeah. Um, you know, I think that first part with Jaylen, um, I know he’s been working hard this offseason and, um, I’ve been here a little bit, seen him in the gym. He’s he’s really been pushing himself and I know he’s excited to get back out there and play and um I’m excited to throw some lobs to him eventually and uh but no, he’s he’s a great guy. He’s he’s talked to me a lot since I’ve been here and um and for me it’s just you know continuing to build relationships with all these guys and getting um getting connected with them. But um it’ll be really good season for him and for for me to play with them. So, um, and then, you know, being here with with this team, being in the city, um, it’s there’s like an excitement. There’s kind of like a buzz around around the city when, you know, you driving around, you see signs everywhere. And when I’m in the gym, a lot of people in the gym right now just working hard, working together, and um, so there’s definitely a buzz about um, getting this season going, and it should be exciting. Luke, you mentioned a couple time Oh, sorry. What’s up, Luke? Good to see you again, man. You, too. I know you trying to get settled back in. One of your hobbies, I know, is playing golf. I’m wondering if, uh, you’ve got any suggestions from any of your teammates or if you’ve been able to bond over your love of golf, uh, since you’ve been back here. Absolutely. Um, there’s definitely a few guys that that play on this team. I know, gosh, who was it? Jacob Dyson, um, I think Nico said he played recently or tried tried to play. Um, but no, I’m excited. I know there’s some really good courses around here and I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know how much time I’ll have to play, but um, yeah, golf is fun. So, I’ll try to get get out on the course or range or something with some of these guys and uh, so yeah. You referenced Quinn Snyder system a couple of times. What specifically about playing in a Quinn Snider offense excited you to want to sign here and play in Atlanta? Yeah. um pace, ball movement, um just the flow. It kind of gives everybody an opportunity to to, you know, be involved um be involved in the offense. Um you know, when the ball’s moving, PE bodies are moving. Um you can break down defense very easy in this league. And I know we have the talent and opportunity to do that this year. And um I’m excited to continue to learn from coach and um obviously I haven’t played in this system, but um he’s talked to me a little bit about it and how I would fit. And I think it’s going to be um a perfect fit this year. And Luke, one more. Uh you go from playing with one unicorn and Jiren Jackson Jr. to another and Chris Stops. What similarities and differences do you see in their games? And how does it help you as a as a shooter and a ball handler? Yeah. Um they’re both very tall. Um Chris Stops is is very tall. Um but you know, they they can shoot the ball. Um, I know Chris Stops is um he can kind of do everything, man. And it’s it’s going to be exciting to to get to know him a little bit more and play with him and um learn more about his game. But um you know, they they can they can just kind of do everything and um you know, you you’ll see it when he when he’s out there. And uh and yeah, good. Thank you. like scrging for food. I just There he is. What’s up, y’all? Trey. Trey. Yeah. Over here. Yeah. How you doing? Uh Quinn Quinn spoke earlier about um sitting down with you and he said he wants to set the bar very high for you. Um he talked about your leadership and talk he used the word efficiency. Um what did you take out of that conversation and how do you see yourself stepping up this season as more of a leader and the word efficiency as well? Yeah. No, I mean I I think I was the first one to bring up efficiency in our conversation. uh just cuz that’s I mean what I want to do. I mean as high as he wants to set the set the bar for me. Um I I want to set it even higher. Uh for me I I uh I’m excited about this team this this group. And so for me I just the leadership part is just taking it one day at a time. Um, obviously we have a lot of new new pieces and new guys on our team that um had can bring a different um type of experience um to our team. And so for me being the leader that I need to be as far as uh we’re still a young team. I think we’re one of the top three youngest team or top five youngest teams and still so we uh we still got a long ways to go as far as making sure we’re together on the same page and all that stuff. And so that that’s a dayby-day step. And so that’s one of the the leadership things that he he talked to me about, not looking not looking for too far ahead, making sure that I’m I’m I’m present um with our team and making sure that we’re we’re focused each day to take care of the business for the next one. Trey, obviously last season ended in disappointment, but when you look at the conference finals in the East, it was the Knicks and the Paces, teams that you had wins against last season, you know, how how far do you think you are, you know, or do you look at that as a motivation and inspiration to be like, we’re not that far away from being where we want to get to. We just got to take care of business a lot better during the regular season. Yeah. I mean, it’s it’s uh Yeah, I mean, last year last year is last year first off. Um but yeah, like when we were healthy, if you think about it, when we were healthy, we we we could compete with anybody, especially in the East. So, um I I look at when we were healthy, what we were like, um rather than when we weren’t. And a lot of teams can say that every year, every team, there’s a lot of teams that can say that every year. And unfortunately, my first seven years, I’ve I’ve I could probably say that a lot. Um so hopefully we have that luck factor on our side this year. And if we do, um I’m very confident in our team. Hey Trey over here. Um, how do you feel like the addition of KP of Nikil is going to help from a perspective KP has championship experience? The kills also make deep playoff runs. How do you think that helps you kind of be a leader for the young guys who are trying to help you guys get to that point? Yeah, I mean it just it helps. I mean, obviously when you’re when you’re a young team, it’s easy to get caught up in yourself and and and focus on yourself and focus on the next chapter for yourself. Um there’s a lot of young teams that that’s why they they’re they’re in rebuilding mode and they stay that way. Um so for me adding those guys that have been a part of winning teams and Nquille being probably one of the best role players in the league like th those type of role players aren’t on every team and that’s why those teams go as far as they do. You know what I’m saying? And so bringing those two guys specifically and then Luke obviously being a an underrated player in my opinion as far as what he can do for us like it just brings another element of of guys in the locker room that know how to play a role and play at a high level and not just not just playing a role and just to be out there like we’re trying to win. though. For me, it’s exciting having those guys have more voices that know what it takes to to win at a high level, but also just playing a role um at a high level because that’s all we we’re all even me included. I mean, I got to play my role and into helping our team win. If I don’t do my job and my my role the right way, then we we’re probably not going to be successful. So, that goes along with one through 15 and coaching staffs included. So, we all got to play a role in this. And so bringing guys that have won at a high level and playing in a role, I mean it’s very it’s very important for us. Trey, similarly with how versatile this roster is, what are you looking forward to about being able to exploit some of the skills that NA has and KP has and Luke? Yeah, I mean every every one of them brings different different tools to our team. I think a lot of people understand what Luke brings and they they see that he he can shoot the ball really well. I I can see him being an underrated passer, a highly IQ guy. I think high IQ is an underrated skill that a lot of players in this league don’t have and uh Luke brings that and the kill being I mean the type of role player that he he he’s been I mean so far in his career I think he can make another step and being even more I mean I mean offensively can bring a lot to the table for us and then we already know what he does defensively and then obviously KP um his his space in the floor ability is defensive presence at the basket when you go go to the rim you see a 7 foot2 guy they’re just just standing there. You’re going to have to shoot shoot different types of shots. And um offensively, you got to guard him on the three. And so that allows me to get by my defender and if if it draws other defenders in, I have shooters around me that can make shots. And so it’s going to be fun. It’s it’s all it’s not we don’t know what it’s going to look like right now, but in my mind, it looks it looks pretty good. Trey, you’re entering year eight. Every single season, we’ve seen your assists per game go up. Last year, you had 11.6. with all these new additions. Can we see 12 this year? What you think? Absolutely. Maybe. We’ll see. We’ll see. I got some weapons that can that can make it happen. And you don’t get an assist by by by doing it yourself. So, I’ve had some pretty good teammates that have made me look good when I pass it to them. And so, I got some guys now, too, that you know can score it, too. So, we’ll see. Trey, um, you just had your from the point in Norman, Oklahoma, where you had a youth camp, and I saw one of those videos as a kid. say you were his hero. Fire. And I wanted to ask you, who’s your hero? My hero? My uh my hero is my my my grandpa who passed away when I was 10. So, anytime you see me about to walk on right before tip off praying, that’s who I’m praying to. I’m praying to God and my grandpa. So, they they’ve been watching over me since since I was 10 years old, guided me through everything. My decision to go to OU, my decision to to leave and not come back and chase a championship, um it landed me here. And uh I know I got a championship in the future, too. So, I’m going to continue to to to give it to the man above and my grandpa. So, those are my motivations. Trey in the back, uh when we talked to coach Snyder, he had kind of emphasized both having patience with this team because they’re young and also urgency at the same time. What do you think are fair expectations of this team going into a year where you have so many additions, but also being kind of a young team? Yeah, I mean, uh that’s a great question. And I think uh as a a competitor, as a highle competitor, like you want you want expectations. You want people to to think you’re going to do great, to think you’re going to accomplish the most. You know what I’m saying? And so for me, I I as a player, as a competitor, I embrace it. Like I embrace all the expectations, whatever expectations y’all have of us, um great. I mean, that’s cool. But I I promise you, we have expectations for ourselves. And I mean, we’re going to continue to talk about that internally. Um, but that’s a day-by-day process and I I’m sure y’all heard that once or twice today. Um, and that’s that’s for a reason. You know what I’m saying? And there’s there’s we’re all on the same page and what we want to do. Um, and training camp hadn’t even started yet. So, that that’s a scary sight. And so, for us, we just got to continue to take it day by day. Let the expectations be what they be. And, uh, if we take care of business there, those expectations will will will rise within itself. So, that I don’t I don’t want to get into that. Hey, Trey. A lot of there’s been a lot of talk of course about the the splitting the types of players on the teams, the younger guys, the older guys. Yeah. Um last year you had the biggest influence on your teammate shot quality in the entire NBA. And I think that speaks to how valuable your orchestration is, but now you’re introducing a different element with KP, with not the Kio, with Luke, these more realized guys who know how to create for themselves. So, how do you visualize sort of figuring out that split where you’re you’re creating for others who really need to rely on that versus, you know, potentially deferring or even accentuating the way that KP post up or Luke comes off of screens? Yeah, I mean I think you’ll be able to see another element of my game that you you haven’t been able to see. And uh a lot of people they like to say Trey Trey Trey can’t play with this person this person because he loves the ball in his hand. He can’t get the ball like come on man. Like I I you’ll be able to see especially in moments like I have a guy that in KP who draws double teams. You know what I’m saying? And Jaylen if he’s healthy you you you’ve been able to see what we’ve done together. You know what I’m saying? And so he’s back now. And so it’s it’s it’s elements of my games that you you you probably haven’t seen yet. And adding guys that we we’ve added this summer will allow me to play a little bit even more off the ball. And so I’m I’m excited about it and I’m just I’m more ready to get it going than than anything. Hey Trey back here. Um, so how does it feel to have the kind of the just the city and the team um the Hawks and even the Falcons behind you considering the interaction that you and Pat Bev have had this off season? Me and who? No, not dead. Pat Bev Oh, Patty, I got you. I to be honest with you, man. I’m I’m about to get uh I’m about to get ready for a season. I said it in my video. I’m I’m I can’t y’all He’s a part of y’all. You know what I’m saying? I got a lot of respect to y’all. You know what I’m saying? Y’all media members. I ain’t got nothing bad. I’m not about to go back and forth with guys like that. Trey, of course, another year, another season with you with Jordan Brin. Uh, do you ever have any moments to pick Mike’s brain and talk to Michael Jordan about your game? Some things that he may feel like you can improve on, work on, and do you have anything special lined up as far as uh apparel with Jordan brand? Yeah. Uh, I know you you always be asking them type of questions. Uh, trying to get the the leak, man. can’t I got some stuff obviously with Jordan Brand a great brand. Uh Mike’s obviously he’s a he’s untouchable. So uh you you get to have conversations with him every now and then, but uh he’s a busy guy. Um this summer I didn’t I didn’t go to Greece to hang out with him. I went to Vegas to hang out with some of my teammates and be around those guys. So um to get ready for the season. Um so I didn’t get to talk to him as much this summer as I I would have. But um yeah, who Yeah, this stuff always lined up in the future. Trey, there’s obviously a lot of things to be excited about this off season. Was there any disappointment though that you weren’t able to get an extension done with the team? Uh disappointment. Um I mean uh I don’t know the words disappointment. I mean maybe for sure. I mean for me like I’m so focus I’m just I’m more happy about the team that we got going into the season. For me, I’m blessed, bro. Like, I wasn’t I wasn’t I wasn’t stressing about anything. If something happened, it happened. If it didn’t, I mean, I still got, you know, time. And um obviously, everybody knows what my my situation is. Uh going into the future. So, for me, I’m focused on this team. I’m focused on right now. I’m I’m blessed. I got a great team going into the season. One that I mean, you can’t really say I’ve had. You know what I’m saying? So, I’m even more excited about that. And so, who knows um what the future is for me, but um right now I’m here and I’m I’m present like me and coach have been talking about. So, I’m excited about it and I’m ready to go. Gotcha. Hello guys. Hello. Parks first. Welcome to Atlanta. Uh, you talk about coming from a championship culture in Boston, winning ways and knowing how to do things. When it comes to what you’re bringing to this city and this team, what is it that you really want to kind of get these guys to understand with them being as young as they are, you bring the championship experience? What is it that you really want to kind of get them to understand as the season progresses? Yeah, thank you. Um, honestly, this O this supposed to be this way or this way. I’m good. O, it’s right in my ear. Okay. And no, honestly, it’s uh it’s it’s important to like go step by step, you know, like one, I don’t know, possession at a time, one quarter at a time, one game at a time, you know. I know it’s like cliche to say this, but it’s true. You know, that’s how we won in in Boston. and and it’s just one day at a time, you know, and and uh of course, we want to have the highest goals here. Uh but it’s going to take uh it’s going to be a big process. Also, me coming into this team to learn all these guys to to get in a groove with with these this team, but I look forward to it. I think we have a great opportunity in front of us and uh and we’re just going to have to take it one day at a time. coach has talked a lot about this being the third youngest team in the league. When you’re working with a young team, just how do you hope to impart whatever knowledge it is that you have that can help elevate them to something better? Yeah, definitely. I will see see what you know what I can bring. You know, it’s it’s hard to say it right now, but but uh I look forward to like enhancing all these guys, you know, and and being a selfless teammate. I want the best for these young players and you know, they they they’ve been improving with each season. You know, it’s exciting team uh to play for coach Quinn. It’s, you know, I’ve appreciated him from afar for a long time and now to play for him, it’s a it’s a great honor for me and and uh I look forward to enhancing all these young guys, you know, to to to help them in whichever way I can. And um and for me it’s exciting. So uh what were your initial first? Where were you when you first found out that you were coming to Atlanta and what what were your initial thoughts? Yeah, I was uh I was in Europe. I was sleep asleep, you know. I was asleep. I woke up in the morning and I saw my phone was blowing up. So I had a feeling it was going to happen around that time. So I was like, okay, like it could be any morning that I wake up and it happened. And uh and yeah, I saw like uh all the group chats, everything going crazy and I couldn’t I I didn’t know what it was because I had like different teams in mind and and when I saw it was Atlanta, I was I’m not going to lie, I was very happy, very very happy. Uh without like, you know, selling you anything like this is true. I was very happy, very excited and um yeah, great city, uh great young team and all. Yeah. and and and to play alongside these guys, Trey, you know, the best passer in the league or, you know, it’s uh it will be it can be something special. So, once I heard the news, I was super happy. KP, speaking on playing along alongside some of these guys, when you look at a guy like Trey Young, who has been such an amazing facilitator throughout his years here and then playing in Coach Quinn’s uh system this season, uh how do you feel like not only coach Quinn’s system will strengthen your game or but what are some some strengths you feel like you can bring out of Trey Young as well? Uh it’s going to be a process. You know, Trey is already a complete player, you know. There’s not many guys that have that kind of offensive talent like he does with his height to be able to be this effective and and to create so many um not only assists but um I think he’s the best in the league at creating like uh what’s it potential assists you know and it’s just going to be a matter of us also shooting at a high percentage from his passes, you know, that’s that’s going to be a part of it uh to make him, you know, look even better than he has. So, um yeah, he’s, you know, he’s I think he’s going to be super fun to play with him, honestly. You know, seeing how many lobs he throws and and how he finds some passes that a regular eye don’t even see, you know, it’s it’s going to be exciting. Hey, Chris Davs. Uh, welcome to Atlanta. And quick two-part question for you. Uh, have you been able to familiarize yourself with the city so far? And as we go into training camp, were you able to work out with any of your new teammates beforehand? I flew in this morning. I just got here. Yeah. So, I I just met all the guys also right before. So, um, yeah, it’s a took me a while to get here. Yeah, it was a yeah, tough tough tough couple days with flights and stuff, but I’m here now and and uh and ready to to get to know everybody and ready to get to uh to practice tomorrow. Kristoffs, last season in Boston, you had to battle through some injuries and missed a pretty big stretch of games. Um how do you feel physically now and what steps have you taken uh to make sure you’re you’re ready for a full season here in Atlanta? Uh Uh yes. Uh I had a I had especially that illness know at the end of the playoffs. This is what messed me up honestly. Uh, so it it was good for me to have a Euro basket this summer just to get back in shape, get in a good rhythm and uh and that was an important uh uh part for me, you know, and just to have a like a couple of months of preparation and and getting really like getting my lungs uh good again and everything was was super important and I look forward to you know heading into this season already in a rhythm already in a good shape and I feel fantastic right now so that’s good stops you’re now on your fifth team so just curious what’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned in all your stops the biggest lesson I’ve learned Um it’s I know that I don’t know if it’s a lesson but it takes a whole team you know like nobody can do it by themselves you know uh it’s sounds simple but it’s true like even in Boston like we had to do it together you know everybody had to lead on each other somebody has a bad game somebody else had to step up you know and and it’s like this every great team have you know people that to step up when the moment calls And uh and I think this team has has the talent. A lot of young guys, really young guys. Uh Trey who already have a good experience. And now myself coming into this young group, I think I could just elevate all these guys and and uh and you know bring even more like um uh like gunpowder to to this team. Yeah, along those same lines, when you were looking at this team from afar, how far did you do you think they were to winning an Eastern Conference championship or even beyond? And now that you’ve seen how this team has developed, how far away do you think that they are? H I don’t want to put any like, you know, we’re going to we can we can get this far, you know, we want to have super high expectations for ourselves internally. I would take it step by take it step by step. Step by step, you know, it’s going to it’s going to take a little bit of time for us to gel to for these guys to get to know me, to get to know my game and and me same for these guys. you know, I need to find a rhythm with all these players. Uh get like I think I’ll be super quick to adapt to the system, but still like it takes a little bit of time, you know, just to just to know every little takes time. So, I think as the year goes on, we’re only going to look better and better. This is my expectation and then we’ll see how far we can get. We we expect a lot from ourselves and you know and we have to we have to go for it. Hi, Kristoffs to your left. uh you mentioned the illness earlier in comments from you before we expressed some kind of frustration about the mysterious nature of it. I’m just wondering do you have more of a handle of like what went wrong and how maybe prevent it in the future? I don’t know. I still don’t have a exact answer. Uh I kind of they they had some sort of um explanation for it. It was like it was lingering. That was the the toughest part, you know. It was kind of like I still felt it. Some days I was okay, you know, and and and uh and I’m glad it’s gone now. I’m glad it’s gone now. I haven’t experienced it. I don’t know, maybe it was just my system needed some reset during the summer. Took some time off and I haven’t felt it since, you know, and uh and yeah, even with the national team, I felt fantastic in all the preparation and it did take they did take me a little bit longer to get in like good shape uh with the national team. So, it’s really I was really happy I had this summer. Uh, but now that I I got in shape and I played the tournament, like I felt confident again, like, oh, okay, I have the gas tank again. I I feel really good again and I didn’t have any crashes or nothing. So, um, yeah, I’m I’m I’m coming into this season healthy. Kristoff, I think in the past Atlanta’s really been known for their offensive energy, their offensive pace. Um, and that’s kind of been their identity, especially with Trey at the helm. But with the addition of of you, uh, Nquille, Dyson, and even have already, how much do you think, uh, a defensive identity established for this team? Coach Snider obviously talked about being balanced, and I think that’ll be important, but just your thoughts on the defensive side of the ball. Yeah. No, to even just to have a guy like Dyson on your team, it’s, you know, it’s it’s it’s a big part of our defense. It’s going to be a big part of my rim protection. I I I’m try to bring that to my hype and and the rim and uh and and we the athletics a lot of the are are super athletic strong you know good ins and uh and that’s also have to be there you know but as as coach we have to have a balance you know we’re not going to be I don’t know crazy defensive team now but uh we have the capability to be decent or or good you know and the offense I love the offense here so uh have to keep going this way for sure. Hey Chris Tops, it’s good to hear you’re healthy especially because the Hawks run a lot last year third in pace. Quinn mentioned that as a for this season as well past two seasons in Boston they’ve been slower paced teams very grunge out in the half court watching you in Euro basket. You were sealing early in transition trail threes where do you see your game fitting in in terms of more of a fast-paced offense with this Hawks roster? Honestly, I think it’s going to be pretty simple. Uh that’s kind of what we were trying to uh emphasize in in Boston also a bit more. You know, sometimes we slow down, but but we were the best, but we were faster. You know, the the the more we ran, the more we created stuff in transition, the the at least from a uh from a field standpoint. And I think also numbers wise, we were just better, you know. So, uh it’s it has to be an emphasis and and I think I’m just going to add to that, you know. Obviously, I like to do that. I like to create mismatch or even if it’s not match just creating uh draw drawing some fouls sometimes in the post you know I I’m pretty good at like getting those call shooting my uh transition threes and stuff so um yeah there’s going to be there’s going to be I think similar similar about it come from Boston coming from a offense predicated on the heavy three-point empire is the same way so how do you feel more prepared coming from an offense that’s places an importance on the three-point shot to now being in a similar situation. Yeah, I don’t think that’s a big uh a big uh uh transition. No, shooting threes is shooting threes, especially when you have a guy like Trey who’s going to create the threes, you know, and and a lot of energies, but especially Trey, he’s going to create those open looks. So, we just have to we just have to knock him down, you know, and that’s going to be our job to shoot high percentages. My best uh shooting um year last year. So, I look forward to shooting around that if not even better in in the most respectful ways to the 68, 69, 610 centers of today. Well, since the Atlanta Hawks have been able to have like a legit sevenfooter allstar type caliber of player, how we always talk about how small ball type of play or positionless play has impacted the center position in a negative way. How has it impact you specifically during your career in in positive ways? Yeah, it’s it’s my game. No, the ability to shoot from outside. I’ve always me that I developed specifically during your career in in positive ways. Yeah, it’s it’s my game know the ability to shoot from outside. I’ve always me that I developed my post game especially against mismatches and becoming most efficient players in the league in that you know and then it’s a then you can’t just everything because now there’s a there there’s a mismatch you know obviously and and uh and having that part of my game improve I think last three or four three three last three seasons I’ve been like top three all the time in uh in postup points per possession and most of them are against mismatch that’s a that’s a part that I look forward to uh bringing to this team and uh and and and creating some creating some uh disadvantages for the other team. Yep. Thank you. Thanks, guys. I needed it. I was fat. I must say honestly. So yeah, I lost a few pounds, you know, put some muscle on, have like better conditioning also. So yeah. Hey, Nico. Um, during your summer league, I was I was tracking your driving because I feel like that’s one of your greatest strengths as a player and you scored really effectively when you were driving the ball. You also took some steps forward as a defender. Those two skill sets, how do you see that translating to the NBA level? The driving I would say cuz as a rookie, you know, I’mma play like 99% of situations of the ball. Either it’s going to be like a spot up shot or like a drive to the basket. So, I think it’s going to translate like really good, especially like playing with Trey, Jaylen Johnson, all of those other guys. They’re like extreme good pastors. So, I think it’s going to I’mma adapt pretty quick. Perhaps there are some people who’s not overly familiar with you or your game here in this city, but um I think that there’s some people that’s going to be pleasantly surprised um with some of the things that you can do. What would you say is probably some of the things that we can look forward to as Hawks fans um that you’re going to be able to bring to the table for this team and maybe some underrated things that you know you haven’t really had much of a chance to showcase and put on display within your game that you got in your bag and you can’t wait to show it. Yeah, I would say definitely my passing skills. You know, I like to do like flashy stuff, flashy passes. I make mistakes obviously, but yeah, like passing, I would say my shooting, especially the pull-up twos. I love that shot. That’s like my go-to shot every time. Get to the paint, raise up, shoot it. So, yeah, th those two. Nico, last year in College Park, uh we talked about how the three-point line uh was a big emphasis for you and how the floor is so much larger, um in the NBA. Um do you feel like, you know, during the end of the season, you started to grasp more of a concept of that? Oh, yeah. It was way easier like at the end of the season, you know, just like having the feeling of the space and everything. Uh, it made like the game so much easier. Like I said, like in the beginning when like first came here, the game speed was like way too quick for me. Like I couldn’t like read nothing. I was getting lost. Like as the season was going on, it like became slower and slower and I was like I adapted pretty good and started balling out. Nico, we uh saw you at Trey’s event, his pickle ball event, and Luke already mentioned that you’ve been trying to play golf. So, I just wanted to know how was your pickle ball? My pickle ball, I never try. I play paddle back, but at home that’s like similar, like Yeah, I try golf. It It was good. It was good. It was good. Do you see yourself kind of trying to learn a little bit more or trying to get better at it? I would definitely try to learn it. It’s way harder than it seems, you know. Plus, my shoulders are sore right now. So, yeah. But, but it’s nice. I like it. Nico, after your summer league this season, what what’s something you’d say you might have learned about yourself heading into this NBA campaign? I learned that I’m not the fastest, strongest. Yeah, those those two things. So I got to like use my mind more like challenge other players, you know, like be smart about some situations. So yeah, Nico, it’s not every day you get to play with a guy who’s nicknamed the unicorn, but what are you possibly hoping to learn from Chris during your season here together? I would say a lot because he’s been in the NBA for like quite some time, you know, and just like talking with him with Trey and like all of the other guys, just like asking them questions, being like a sponge, you know, like getting more knowledge that’s going to like help me grow as a player and as a person. So, it’s definitely fun, you know, like it’s going to be fun. That’s it. Perfect. Thank you guys. a lot. Hey, Caleb, first of all, welcome to Atlanta. Appreciate you. Uh, you shot over you shot 40% from deep last season for the first time in your career. Now you’re probably surrounded with the best spacing you’ve ever had in your basketball career. How do you see your game growing alongside uh you know some of these other sharpshooters like yourself? Uh yeah, I mean like you said, just everyone being able to space the floor. I think it’s great. I think it makes it easier for everybody. Um and yeah, just excited to uh play with this group. Um the pace and everything, I think it’ll be great for me. Um yeah. Hey, Caleb. Um, welcome to Atlanta. Appreciate it. Are you aware of a particular stat about your game? Yeah. Um, you are at 68, right? Mhm. Yeah. Do you think we could see a dunk this year? Yeah, maybe. Yeah. We’ll see. We’ll see. Appreciate you guys. square. You got it. Charles, welcome to Atlanta. I am curious with that situation with Houston where you were a restricted reagent with them and and then you came over here. I’m just curious, what was that? Houston, no. Oh, sorry. Um, just curious, what was it like for you to find out that you were going to come here? Uh, I mean, it felt it felt good to be honest. Um, uh, talked to the coach, talked to the general manager, talked to couple of my new teammates and, uh, I mean, it was it was fun. You know, I came in town, spent a little bit time with them, walked out with them, and, you know, I felt like a good I felt a good vibe, and, you know, everybody showed me they wanted me, and yeah, it was a pretty easy decision. Hey, Charles. Uh, there were reports over here. Sorry. No, you’re good. Uh, there were reports that there was a Serbian ball club interested in you uh coming over playing overseas uh this upcoming season. Is there any truth to that? Was there ever any consideration of leaving the NBA? Nah, man. Definitely not. It was always the NBA for me. There was no uh no overseas, nothing, you know, it was I mean, they might have been interested. I don’t know nothing about that but um it was definitely standing a dick for me. Yeah, that was my decision. So Charles in San Antonio you play you played with Victor Wmanyama. Now coming to Atlanta play play with Christoph Sporting as a center. What have what can you take from those guys who have been um I know Victor only two years but already established themselves as one of the best rim protectors in Kristoff sports over the past two years as well. Uh it’s just you know those just competing you know um competing against those guys you know makes you better. Um and yeah, just seeing what those guys do in practice and every going against them and stuff like that just you know makes you get makes you better and makes you um you know be one of the best defensive side of your game get better and you know it’s just good going against those guys in practice because when it gets to the game it gets a little bit easier you know and but yeah it’s it’s fun man just going at those guys and obviously it’s going to it’s going to be a good few couple days in practices and stuff like that so we going at it. Thank you. Yep. I got nervous. Hey man, welcome to Atlanta. Um, so I’m curious on how you think about your potential fit with Trey. You’re awesome above the rim finisher, great rim protector. Uh, what are your thoughts about just playing next to one of the best ball passes in the game? Feel great. you know, um that’s something I haven’t had in a really long time. So, I’m excited. As soon I heard I’m coming here and then, you know, I was excited be here and then plus being Trey Young is even better. So, glad to be here. Welcome to Atlanta. Just wondering, what are your first impressions of the team? I know you guys have kind of been in and out of the gym. I’m not sure if you were one of them that’s been in and out of the gym this past week, but um what are your impressions of your teammates and have you do you have any relationships with any of them prior to joining the team? Yeah, you know, since the first day I stepped in the gym here and it’s feel great. You know, everybody want to win and you know the connection is like you know the connection is great since the first day and then the work I think is there. So I think it going to be really exciting year for us. Thanks. Did you have any familiarity with um Trey prior to coming over here to Atlanta? I know you guys both participated on the Moen Elite AU circuit and all that good stuff. Did you have any familiarity with him from from from that particular time? I mean, obviously you guys didn’t play on that same team, but within that community of Moan? Yeah, just it’s just the same thing. I heard about him all the when I was playing there. I heard about him like every single practice. So u when I was there we have like go like like kind of play the same but choice choice only him. So you know it was similar I guess. I saw you write a few uh dream games this season. I guess what was your experience? Dream. I had a dream. Oh yeah. Oh my bad. My bad. My bad. I was confused for a second. I was like, “What?” Uh, yeah. It was great. You know, it’s one of my uh best friend. Uh, she played for the dream and then had a good support and I really like it. That was my first time being there. Can I ask you your best friend? Huh? Your best friend? Yeah. Who you say? She plays for the dream. Yeah. I say who? Who? Who? She got. She from Mali though. Okay. Okay. No, not not like that. But yeah, she from Bali and then you know we met each other for a little longer. So it’s great. Yes. Thank you. Hi. Hey. How’s it going? First of all, welcome to Atlanta. Um, I want to know what that postdraft process was like because it was literally right after the second round concluded. It was announced that you were going to be signing a deal with Atlanta. Uh, what was it like getting that call from Atlanta and then, uh, just, you know, getting here and what’s your experience with that? Um for me he’s a he’s a opportunity for for the coming on the Atlanta and improve and every aspect and yeah he have a young player here so he’s the opportunity for for for play for improving for working hard and yeah at summer league we got to see you play one game um and then you went down with that injury during that summer league experience um you know your team played pretty well uh was there anything besides that one game you were able to take out of that yeah so for me the summer I’m I’m play one game So he’s he’s difficult for me. I’m injured. So yeah, and I’m play for the I’m back for play for the national team. And so yeah, for me is good is the most important for for play for everything, every game and and yeah is for me good. Uh, so Ellie right here. So, uh, did your former teammate who played on the Hawks, Bruno Fernando, give you some tips or like a scouting report on the city of Atlanta? I’m curious to know. Yeah. So, Bruno is my guy. He in and Madur, he tell me every day in Atlanta, he the good city and the good personality have the and the and the team. He helping me. So yeah, Bruno he he tell me every day for the Atlanta and and play here in the city and everything here. So yeah, he’s my guy. I love Bruno. Thank you. Thank you. See that? [Music] Male, welcome to Atlanta, man. What went into your decision overall to come down here and join the Hawks? Thank you. And honestly had few good talks with Trey thinking about it, sitting down with my agents some prayers. All in all, I felt like the situation at hand with the trade that they made for KP team man had had uh had left. And so there I looked at it as there’s room in my role where I could come in, be a defender when Trey needs one, come in and kind of run the show, get guys involved, playmaker on ball, off ball. Um, versatility has been my thing, but also want to be in an area where I can contribute to winning and grow in a role where as a player I can have more opportunity on and off the ball defensively and offensively as well to be a leader on both sides and felt like Atlanta just kind of ticked every box for me. Hey, Nikquille. Um, Auntie talked a bit on Friday about development and and mentioned you as a guy that had the opportunity to grow and develop. You touched on some of the things you saw um could help your grain grow, but how do you hope that pairing up with Ken Snder again can maybe unlock some more tools that maybe you didn’t even know were in your bag? I think for me it’s exciting just because I know the type of basketball mind that Quinn is and he’s very very dedicated to his craft and he’s always trying to find a way to improve and you can’t really perfect basketball and so that’s an amazing thing to have from a coach where he’s always trying to better himself in some way offensively, defensively trying to find ways to compete and win. and myself being eager to grow, to learn, embracing the process of for me to try to perfect my craft. There’s gonna be things along the way I can take and learn. And so the fact that Quinn’s always essentially one step ahead in that and as a coach creating systems with the talent that he has and the guy the group that we have for him to find ways to to implement me for me to continue to grow and my weaknesses so that it makes it easier on him and everybody else. Nil, welcome to Atlanta. Uh, I know you obviously were coming from Minnesota where you played with Anthony Edwards who’s went to Georgia, went to high school here in Atlanta. I’m wondering if you talked to him at all about what to expect here in the city and what he’s told you about the culture here in Atlanta. Atlanta a little bit. You know, he said I was going to love it when he was very happy for me and everybody in Minnesota was they spoke highly highly of the city. I went to high school in Chattanooga, so I’m fairly familiar with the area, so to speak. So, and I was just excited all all in all. Um, since being here, the food, the weather, I’m enjoying it. Nick Hill right here. Um, you’re joining a a team with a runnerup defensive player of the year in Dyson Daniels. Um, do you think playing alongside him can help push you to even become a better defender than you already are? 100%. I mean, at Dyson’s young age and we’ve seen what opportunity can do for him and how he flourished with that opportunity. Um, for me, I can learn from anybody. And with the success he’s had defensively and some of the instincts that he has in terms of just getting steals for me, I pride myself in just on ball defense, getting stops, and making things difficult. Dyson is able to turn people over at a high level and a high rate. And that’s something I could definitely add to my game. Um whether that’s blocking shots, reading things, you know, the way he sees it, um his approach to defense, I I respect it. Henu, you’re coming from a team of course that made the Western Conference Finals two years in a row. Uh what are some things that I guess you can take from that experience and bring to the Hawks? Just understanding in in the two years that we made it, it was two different seasons. One where we we caught off hot, we stayed hot, and we were able to continue that momentum into the playoffs. one where we had to figure it out with the trade and new roles and having a new dynamic of a team, but we stuck together, figured it out at the right time. I think we finished the season at like 17 and four and then we’re able to avoid the playin and then we got it going by before OKC we were like 8 and two and so when you look at that that’s what 25 and six to get into the conference finals. we were able to kind of figure that out. For me, the one thing that I’ve learned from that is there’s always a way to get to success and it’s you can start hot, you can figure it out. But the one thing that I learned is everyone bought in, committed to each other and playing a role when we needed it. Stars were stars, role players were role players, and everyone had a common goal in mind. And I think that connective that connectivity with within the team and with the tools that we have and that we went out and did in this off season, as long as we stay healthy and as long as everyone has the same common goal in mind, I think that’ll help us. Nikil, similar to Dyson when he first came in last year, there was a lot of talk about him on the defensive side of the ball and then we got some chance to see him do some things that were kind of unexpected on the offensive side. What are some of the things that that you maybe have within your offensive bag that you maybe didn’t get a chance to show when you were in Minnesota that you hope to be able to show here in Atlanta? Forgive me for the two-part question. I guess the second part is that um what is the do you have any familiarity from some of your playing time growing up with anybody on this particular roster? Well, to the first part for me, my goal is to be as complete of a basketball player as I can be. And I’ve been working a lot on the areas I can improve in. Shooting off the move, off the bounce, not just becoming a corner specialist, so to speak, getting into the paint, making the right reads when I get there. For me, the issue wasn’t getting to the paint. Uh James White and I for the past two years in Minnesota, we had set a game plan and a focus to become a better finisher, um mid-range guy, and I was able to do that. Uh but there’s areas I can still improve and and I’ve just been owning in on those things and becoming a three-level scorer for me. Um it’s something I’ve done growing up all throughout high school. And for me, playing defense was a way to survive. and I and now the world sees me as a great defender, but uh I feel like I’m a complete basketball player and not perfect, but I got ways to grow and to learn and I’m embracing that. And secondly, you know, it’s funny you mentioned that I played against Trey. I want to say it was the like FIA Americas in like Chile or something. And and from high school being in the same class as him, seeing the trajectory he had and uh for myself to the trajectory I was on at that time and then just our careers played out differently. But I think the continuity of knowing that Trey’s always been a guy who can go get you 30 and 10, 25 and 10, whatever it is. And so like playing with guys like Shay growing up, um, having to play on and off the ball, that’s something I’m familiar with. Back here again, uh, very different roster um, than a year ago for this Atlanta Hawks team with all the new additions. Um, seems like an improved roster. What do you think are fair expectations for this team to have with it being a young team, but also a team with with some championship level experience? I think what’s fair is to come out to compete every night to focus on one day at a time. I think what makes the expectation and goals attainable is just going to be the approach that we have. I think everyone’s focused on individually and collectively getting better. So, as long as we stay along those lines, you kind of stumble into success because you’re living a life that leads you to it. Um, when I look at how I got here, it was from working hard, staying faithful, staying true to the grind through the ups and downs, and then eventually it pays off. And so for us to to focus on where we want to get to and actually obtaining those things and whatever the city may feel because we got a different roster and a lot of great guys on the team. I think we got to block out all the noise and take it one day at a time. You look too far ahead, you trip. You look too far back, you walk into something. So it’s just about um what’s in front of us. Like what do we have to do and and use those lessons of what’s at hand to get better. Hey Nikil, uh you spoke a little bit about being able to toggle on and off the ball when you’re on offense and you’ll be part of a committee especially when trades off the floor whether it’s Luke Canard, Dyson, even Jaylen Johnson handling the ball. How comfortable do you feel operating in that sort of system especially because you were sort of the de facto backup point guard for Minnesota especially in the playoffs? Yeah, for sure. And and even guys like Vit and Katon, you know, just what they do and getting to see Vit when uh he was in Minnesota’s training camp before he got injured. But honestly, playing with these guys as well since I’ve been back has helped. But I’m excited just because I feel like there’s a we have versatility within our lineups as well to where we can we can mix it up in a lot of different ways and have multiple points of attack. When you look at teams that were successful and made it to the finals, each team had multiple points of attack. OKC Indiana. And from one thing I’ve learned back to his question from just the two past two years was you’re going to need depth to make runs in the playoffs. And those two years with with with Minnesota, we had this tremendous depth that helped. And so for us, just to utilize all of the weapons that we have and and to find a way to utilize it where everybody can be their best selves together. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thought that was the kill’s phone. Asa, we talked to you after you were drafted. Obviously, the excitement of of that moment. What do you feel you’ve been able to work on uh so far in the summer and kind of prepare as you get ready for your first season? Yeah, I think from summer league to now, it’s just really been, you know, focusing on my three-point shot. I put on the size. uh gained some weight over the past couple weeks, you know, just being in the weight room and, you know, eating the great food that the chefs got. They got us good in the practice facility and everything, but um really just understanding the game, understanding the offense, uh getting in with the coaching staff, seeing what I need to do to get on the floor. It’s going to be defense, um, reading closeouts, being able to finish plays, um, that, you know, Trey and, you know, other guys can, um, you know, create and just different stuff that, um, you know, I can help him, you know, bring to this program. Hey, Asa. Coach talked about being impressed with how much you’ve improved in such a short amount of time. Um maybe what in your past has helped you kind of be a person that can process feedback quickly and implement it quickly? Yeah, I just think that’s how I was raised. um just from my family and you know going throughout the whole um you know just AAU um we playing so many games you know so much film can be watched but it’s just you know my circle has been you know super small and the guys who I trust um they’ve really implemented that on me so we saw you in Athens with Trey at the Georgia game um were you able to link up with Trey earlier um to do any kind of workouts or anything like that? No, not yet. Um, but I’m looking forward to do that. Hey, Asa. First of all, go dogs. Go dogs. Uh, second of all, so at Georgia, you played a lot of center. Um, even in summer league the first game, we saw you play center, but we also saw a good bit of action at the power forward. What do you view yourself more as long term? Yeah, I mean, that’s the beauty of the game is positionless, so I wouldn’t, you know, put a hard position on me. Uh it’s just, you know, seeing what matchups uh I got and seeing the players who are with me on the floor. So, I mean, a hard a hard um name would be a power for it for sure. So, basically, uh I went to Tech, so I’m not going to speak on that, but I’m I’m really impressed with the offensive rebounding, like one of the highest rates of any prospect in recent history, and that translated in summerly. Where did that motor come from? Where does your feel for sort of like understanding where the ball’s going to rebound to? And can you you think you’ll see that translate into the NBA as a rookie? Yeah, I mean it’s a bunch of big bodies on the floor. Um but where I got it from was just from my brother just seeing you know like his work ethic is just like it’s always 110%. Um even you know watching him I was at practice with the dogs um this past Saturday and just seeing him you know continue to you know be who he is is just the motor. Um, but I just feel like I have a knack for that. Um, just watching the ball come off the rim and, you know, being so quick, you know, I’m I’m not overly strong, but, you know, I just got to play to my strengths. Forgive me for the two-part question. The first one being um, who is the player that you’re probably the most excited to taking the floor um, or sharing the floor with, uh, in the NBA? And then um let me just ask that question first. Okay. Yeah, I mean growing up I was a Hawks fan. Um you know over the years you know Trey Young has been you know going crazy in the city. So just playing with him being able to you know help finish plays um you know catching lobs from him. What is the best piece of a piece of advice from maybe a current or former player that you have received and and who was that? Yeah. So, you know, Jacob Toppin, he’s been, you know, with me in the summer league and also, you know, him and I have a really strong bond on the team and, you know, it’s it can be whatever, but he’s always just, you know, giving me advice, you know, telling me how um like holding my follow through on my shot or, you know, the kill this this past uh summer, we did a little mini camp in Toronto and, you know, he was just I was just studying his routine. he was telling us at dinner and you know just get in get into the gym early doing your work but that’s what I’m trying to figure out my first year is what my routine is going to be because you know I got all this free time I don’t have to do school work anymore uh don’t tell my mom that uh yeah that’s that’s just me my routine uh just figure out what my routine is going to be keep your circle small and you know just stay in the gym take care of your body as right here what what’s something you learned about yourself uh over summer league that you might not have learned about yourself playing at Georgia. Uh, I feel like I’ve always kind of known myself. Um, I always felt like I have a a good understanding, but you know, honestly, it was just like the spacing was is way different. I’ll just say that in the aspect of, you know, in college you can have the defense, they’re all compacted in, they can sit in the paint. Um, so there’s, you know, a bunch more there’s there’s different um like holes in the defense that, you know, I can attack. I appreciate y’all. What There we go. I’m going be sick if that whole time I was muted, but I appreciate you. I don’t think I was muted that whole time, but I appreciate you. Z too true. But but yeah, man. It was pretty good media uh media day for the Atlanta Hawks. Like I said, we started off with Coach Quinn and uh got to the players. So, you know, basic stuff. They asked Coach Quinn about um you know, Trey, you know, what he’s what it’s going to look like for him this year. Uh asked about KP, you know, all the new additions. So, yeah, appreciate you, Zay. Um, but yeah, it’s going to be a good year, man. I think all the players, again, man, media day for for the players, I think, is pretty generic, man. You can’t you’re not really going to get much out of them. But I think the funniest moment is when uh Trey asked the uh whoever asked the question of Trey, he said, “Who?” Pat who? Pat who? That was funny, man. That was funny cuz we not addressing nothing that Pat Bev got to say. We don’t care. We like we don’t care. So, so yeah, man. That was a pretty interesting media day. I mean, not going to get much. It was good to see the new faces in the Hawks uniform. I mean, it’s just a good thing, man. Basketball is back, man. Basketball is back. So, we don’t got to wait for we don’t got to wait for it no more, man. It is upon us. So, a lot of interesting storylines to look at. um for Atlanta’s sake um you know we got Chrisabs Porzingis Nquille Luke Canard all the new faces and to see how they impact the team um a lot of the players were reiterating that health is going to be the most important like key factor this year which is true man last year I think it was a I think the key factor I think if Jaylen don’t go down I think a lot of people are uh learning who Atlanta is as a basketball team if that doesn’t happen cuz everybody Everybody found out about uh Dyson. Everybody gonna find out about Jaylen this year. Um so I think it’s going to be exciting, man. What’s happening, Ray? What’s happening? What’s happening? What’s happening? That’s crazy the entire time. Oh well, I don’t even I wasn’t even really talking that much. Uh wasn’t really giving too much input. Uh them interviews were back to back, so I didn’t even really get to talk too much. So, I wasn’t really talking too much throughout them interviews anyway. Uh, wasn’t really too much time to react uh in between them. So, I ain’t even stressed about that. But, y’all hear me now. Y’all hear me now. Yo yo yo yo. What’s up, Ray? I appreciate you. Love. And uh Z, appreciate you letting me know, bro. But yeah, man. Atlanta’s going to surprise some people. I I really do believe so. I think Atlanta’s going to surprise some people. Um, the new additions I think are cool, but I think Atlanta’s already had a good team. Obviously, I don’t think they’ve been a championship team, but I think they’ve I think they’ve already had a good roster. I think, you know, just got to iron some things out and this offseason, they’ve ironed them out. So, um, it’ll be exciting to see who starts for Atlanta this year, who’s going to be the one through five. Um, is it going to be Chris Staps or is it going to be on Yeka who’s going to be uh getting a bulk u bulk of those minutes? Uh, see what steps Risha has taken. I think I’m excited for that. Uh, his Euro his Euro League um or Euro basket, excuse me, Euro basket um was kind of cut short. I think it was uh not really his doing. I think the coach just wanted other people to play. Yeah, man. I think so, too. I think I think we I think the Atlanta Hawks going to surprise some folks if if that’s if that’s your team. But yeah, man. I think Atlanta’s going to surprise some folks this year. Um for sure. Uh not just off the Chris Davs Porzingis. I think that’ll be the biggest addition. But I think having someone like Nquille in the locker room is going to be really impactful. Um we do have a bunch of young guys. We are the third um youngest team in the league. So you need that veteran leadership or just that maturity to say, “Hey man, just focus on the game, bro. Just focus on this. Don’t focus on that.” you know, teaching the young guys what’s important and and what isn’t early on, I think is probably I would think is clutch like for a young player. So, a young player don’t really get like distorted and like get caught up in some that don’t matter, you know? So, that’s what I’m saying, bro. Keep sleeping. Tell them, right, keep sleeping cuz it’s I think it’s going to get dangerous, bro. Especially All right, so last year I thought we were just as good as the Pistons. I thought we were just as good as the Pistons. And with health not being on our side, it didn’t look that way, per se. I mean, granted, we were the seven seed just, you know, we could have fought with them, jockeyed with him for positioning, but obviously we didn’t have our second best player on the floor, and that being Jaylen Johnson, and that impacts a lot. I But if y’all know, y’all know. So I don’t got to explain it to y’all. What’s understood? Don’t need to be explained. So with that being said, I think this year we going like like everybody in the chat saying, man, we going to surprise some folks. They they going they are going to surprise some folks. I’m trying not to say we, but I mean I feel like uh as fans, we’re entitled to the Wii. I mean, obviously we not out there playing. Obviously, we don’t got to be stupid about it, but bro, I am a part of this franchise, too. I’m a fan, I’m a fan. And I can say we I don’t give a We obviously didn’t put no work, bro. I’m cheering y’all on. I’m defending y’all off the court. I’m a fan, bro. I’m a part of the organization. What can I say? It’s all good. I’m delusional. Hey, man. Everybody got to be a little bit delusional, bro. You know they had everybody everybody 30 people 30 folks today and if everybody’s meeting today is today said they want to win the championship in some form and we all know nobody not everybody can win. So everybody got to be a little little delusional at first. So and then the realist the realism can all come after the season starts. So let me have my delusions right now. Atlanta is going to go to the top next year, man. 2026 chance. I hope y’all ready to link up for that parade that’s going down Peace Street uh in the in summertime next year. So, I hope y’all ready. We We’ll pull up there. We’ll pull up there for sure. I see I see y’all Kim folk out there for sure. We going We gonna have to plan that. We gonna have to plan that for sure. But yeah, man. I’m excited. Not just for the additions, but I think I think Atlanta has a good chance to show improve. East is going to be a little banged up. You know, Celtics. Um, no, Pacers. Uh, Cavs are probably going to hold it down. Um, you got the Bucks still in question. And yeah, I mean, I didn’t even mention the the Nickerbachers. The nicker boxers. The nicker boxers. That’s crazy, bro. We ain’t even worried about the Knicks, dog. them. them. We not We not even worried about the Knicks, real, bro. That That’s Little Bro. That’s Little Bro. Honestly, that’s Lil Bro and them up in up in New York. So, I think the East, I’m not going to say cakewalk, but I think Boston might come back at the end of the year, surprise some folks, unless they just shut everybody down and just blow it up. But I think they might surprise some folks. Same with uh same with Milwaukee, but I think they have a chance to just the bed as well. So, that that one is real 50/50 cuz if anything goes wrong with Yiannis, brother, season down the toilet. So, but yeah, man. Enough about the rest of the East, but I really have faith in Atlanta this year. Um, I mean, when when don’t I whether it’s But this year is backed up, though. This year, my claims just aren’t baseless and just aren’t off faith, man. We got something to look forward to. So, preseason coming up soon. Um, make sure to follow and subscribe. tap in to the open gym or whatever platform it is uh to be tuned into the open gym stream. We’re going to be going trying to go 82 this year, but um but I already know I’m going to go to a couple games. So, I’m going to be pulling up to stay form this year, but we are going to be here for I would say at least 75 plus, man. 75 to 80 games, I’ll say. So, aside from a couple here and there. So, if you haven’t, it’s never too late, man. Never too late to follow or subscribe to Open Gym. I greatly appreciate everybody who pulled up this little impromptu little open gym stream. Um, we got the uh Hawks media day. We got full interviews, some reactions. If I’m not muted throughout the whole thing, but if I am, oh well, bro. We got we got the reactions up. So, I wasn’t really saying nothing in between them. So, I was just trying to let them talk, man. I wasn’t really trying to speak over them. So, but yeah, man. Again, I appreciate everybody. I’m going to go ahead and get the rest of my day going. Um, start knocking some stuff out again. So, but yeah, man. I appreciate everybody. Y’all take care. Again, follow, subscribe, whatever platform you’re on, whatever, whatever way it is to be tuned in, and tap into the uh next open gym stream. Again, basketball season is upon us, y’all. We going to be back in here frequently, frequently, frequently. Almost every Hawks game, all that stuff. Probably more NBA games this year. So, make sure to tap in and we’ll be live in the open gym, man. I hope to see y’all there. Y’all take care. I hope y’all Monday is fantastic. Hey, man, basketball is back. So, you already know that we’re having fun with it. But, all right, y’all. Y’all have a great day. I’ll see y’all tonight. We will be streaming uh back in the open gym. probably some 2K runs with the homies, some open gym crew runs. So, so we’ll be back. I’ll see y’all tonight. Then if y’all check back in on YouTube and Twitch, probably won’t be on playback uh for the streaming like games. So, we’ll be on Twitch and playback. Open Gym TV. I’ll see y’all later.

Pull up to the Open Gym Tv Stream for the Atlanta Hawks Media day!
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