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00:00 Hello everybody, this is Taming Nganlani reporting to you for Wrappler.com at the Cary Sports Gym in Fort BGC
00:05 Where we got to talk to members of USA basketball to ask them
00:09 How are they feeling about their roles in the team?
00:11 What kind of imprint Filipino American basketball head coach Eric Spolstra brings to USA basketball as an assistant coach and some funny stories
00:19 Of each other during their stay here in Manila now USA won their opening game in the World Cup against New Zealand yesterday
00:25 And it seems like they are in good spirits entering their next contest against Greece
00:29 It was it was the sign that solidified it all you know me over LeBron
00:41 Valid statement
00:45 That was it was funny just because you know me and Brian have such a good relationship
00:55 Obviously he's the greatest player ever but hey I appreciate I appreciate the sign
00:59 Are you gonna send that to your Laker group chat that signed? I did no I'm sure
01:03 They're all on social media. They seen it Austin. Do you think that was kind of a miracle year for you?
01:09 You know increasing your role as a starter in the Lakers team
01:13 You know signing a new contract and also being in the national team with
01:18 Important role to say the least has been a very amazing year for myself
01:24 You know my family a lot of good things have happened, but I feel like you know that's kind of
01:30 You know this well-deserved. I feel like my whole life. I've worked for this
01:36 And I've never taken shortcuts. It's always been the hard path and
01:41 I feel like you know finally you know got rewarded for you know everything that I put into it so far
01:47 Oh, there's nothing father this team
01:52 Start yesterday Spain gave you guys a good game
01:55 Yeah, I feel like I feel like it starts from the top
02:00 You know Steve
02:02 He's you know preached a million times that our depth is gonna be able to wear teams down that we just gotta keep sticking
02:09 With you know what we're doing and the talent that we have is obviously second to none
02:16 You know we got 12 guys on this team. They're you know arguably
02:19 you know they're all starters on you know teams in the NBA and
02:23 And on top of that you know we're eager like
02:28 Everybody is put their ego aside to you know come together for the greater good, and that's to win
02:34 You know coach said many a times these games are not gonna be you know the most beautiful thing in the world
02:41 But at the end of the day if we win you know none of that matters, so
02:45 I think it you know all that kind of you know contributes to you know not ever panicking
02:50 I'm feeling like you know we're always in the game have a chance Austin. What kind of imprint this coach will have on this team
02:56 huge imprint
02:59 You know I think the coaching staff has done an amazing job kind of
03:03 Being open to you know
03:07 everybody
03:10 For Hall of Fame coaches and all of them, and you know it's not one guy out
03:14 They're trying to you know have his way or no way every they're putting their minds together for like I said the greater good
03:20 I said you know the team is
03:22 Egoist but coaches you know everybody in this you know organization is is ego listen like I said it's all to for the greater good
03:38 Going back to the like hundreds of people
03:40 Shows like they love us for basketball they watch
03:48 So you know we thought we're here a lot about like the heat culture right
04:02 But now having worked with coach Poe in USA basketball
04:04 what exactly that culture that he brings to the team man just like intensity and and just hard work and
04:11 Defensive and officer mind, but everything is just so sharp
04:15 It's dope man. Just to see it, and you know come from Villanova
04:19 It's kind of same type of feel and you know just intense and it is dope
04:24 So you're about to like have probably the biggest responsibility you've had in your NBA career this coming season your first full season
04:31 With Annette this experience in USA basketball playing against this guy's daily playing against tough competition
04:36 What's your like expectation or standard that you want to live up to now heading into your season with Brooklyn?
04:41 Just become the best leader I can be I think that's the biggest thing and you know do whatever it takes to win
04:47 that scoring pass and rebound and defend and just do whatever it takes honestly and just
04:52 You know be with my teammates, and this is how that will to win. Can't just get your thoughts
04:57 What made you do the Austin thing that everyone's seeing on social now? I?
05:01 Mean they was just yelling his name, and I was just I just repeated after him here
05:05 Oh, no, no, they say like that everywhere we go. They'd be yelling his name
05:13 So yeah, we always mess with him
05:15 You guys get back to the hotel lobby and you just see hundreds of people just screaming for all of you
05:19 Does it ever just like surprise you?
05:21 Nah, man cuz in Spain it was crazy, so yeah at this point. We're just used to it
05:27 Yeah, how's your body clock adjusting to the different hours here? It's hard. It's hard. I ain't got a good night's sleep yet
05:34 So hopefully it comes
05:36 I mean it's summertime, so it's hot everywhere. Yeah
05:43 So Paolo after your big game yesterday. You know you look really comfortable out there
05:47 Would you say now compared to when it started with team USA you just know where to fit in where they like
05:53 Go and your spots and whatnot
05:56 Yeah, definitely I think just the exhibition games is going back watching film
06:01 You know seeing where where I can make plays on the floor
06:05 And they're just continuing to bring energy. I think that's been my biggest
06:08 You know just focus you know
06:11 We're entering this tournament
06:13 You're spending a lot of time to a lot of time with your teammates
06:15 You know being all over the world getting a lot of time with each other which teammate that you maybe weren't so particularly close with
06:21 before you suddenly have a friendship with
06:24 Honestly, I say all of them. You know I'm a rookie, so I just got over my first year I
06:28 Didn't know many guys outside the league unless they were you know from my city or you know around my same age you know a
06:34 lot of these guys are
06:35 Actually all of them are older than me so I think all of them
06:39 Just getting to know all of them being with them for a period of time traveling around with them
06:42 I've been able to you know become friends and build relationships with everybody so it's been good
06:48 You have any rookie duties for team USA as well. No no rookie duties
06:53 So you one of your teammates in Orlando Franz Wagner is also at Germany right now
06:57 Are you both keeping in touch during this FIBA journey? Yes, definitely?
07:00 You know we've been texting each other after each other's games
07:03 You know he I think he went down with a sprained ankle in his first game
07:08 So I wanted to text him make sure he was all right
07:09 He texted me after yesterday's game and today's his birthday, so I wish them a happy birthday
07:13 So a lot of people assume you and Franz are gonna be like with Jason and Jalen are for the Celtics
07:20 But for the magic moving forward this season your second season together
07:24 You're already thinking playoffs with both of you leading the way for Orlando
07:27 For sure I mean that's that's our goal
07:30 You know that's what we got our eye on that's the next step for us is to you know find a way to you know
07:35 Better our team and you know get us to where you know we belong and that's in the playoffs
07:39 You know I think we have the talent
07:41 We got the coaching staff and you know it's just up to us now
07:45 So have you been by any chance keeping up with what team Italy is doing - they're in the Philippines as well
07:50 Maybe watching their games and whatnot
07:52 I think a little bit. I think I saw their first game
07:56 I know they're on our side, so I haven't been keeping up too much, but I've definitely seen what they've done
08:02 You wish them success in their journey in the World Cup as well. Oh yeah for sure
08:06 You know obviously I don't want them to beat us, but you know it's you know
08:11 I am Italian at the end of the day and so I want Italian basketball to grow
08:15 As much as they can and so you know the better they do the more will
08:19 Yeah, we've heard a lot about heat culture I would coach culture, but now having worked with Spohan in hand
08:26 What exactly is it that he brings that's so unique I?
08:28 Would say just energy every day consistent energy intensity as a coach
08:33 You know he's always live. He's always ready
08:36 Locked in and you know you can see why he's such an elite coach
08:40 And why he has been for a long time you like how your role is for the team right now particularly on defense
08:45 Do you feel like you're feeling more and more comfortable? Yeah?
08:48 Especially defenders
08:54 You look forward to the challenge of practices
09:01 You know going up against all-star caliber players trying to hold them down contain them and when they attack you on defense
09:07 For sure you know practice is way harder than the game you're going against the best in the world
09:10 It just gets us ready now
09:13 We've heard a lot about the heat culture that coach Poulter brings but having worked with him now for the last few weeks
09:17 What exactly is it about him that makes him so unique?
09:20 It's mainly just like how attentive he is how intense he is you know requiring all of us to give that effort and that next gear
09:28 That next layer is great
09:30 Have you been chance spoken to your teammate John Moran recently? How is he doing a scene good spirits?
09:34 He's always in good spirits
09:36 I'm just curious now many consider you the best defender in the NBA and rightfully so considering your defensive player of the year
09:42 But if I ask you who do you think are the top three defenders in the NBA excluding you who would be safe?
09:47 Probably Marcus smart
09:49 Dylan Brooks
09:52 And probably Jamie Daniels, thank you so much for your time