Gordon Hayward Media Day 2023
Transcript
00:00 Thank you.
00:01 [inaudible]
00:02 Yeah, no, it was – had a great offseason.
00:03 I think I – it's not a bad season.
00:04 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:05 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:06 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:07 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:08 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:09 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:10 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:11 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:12 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:13 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:14 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:15 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:16 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:31 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:32 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:33 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:34 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:35 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:36 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:37 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:38 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:39 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:40 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:41 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:42 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:43 I think we were able to get a lot of things done.
00:44 do what I wanted to do. So I feel great right now and healthy and ready to get going.
01:10 Um, yeah, I mean, I learned it early on. I had a lot of vets that were on my
01:14 teams early in my Utah days and just learned how to be a professional there.
01:19 And, you know, you can always get better each off season. I think it's
01:23 it helps you, um, kind of get through the grind of of training every day with
01:29 no games and trying to improve something, trying to get better at
01:32 shooting or ball handling or even more specific things. Post up shooting
01:37 behind screens, shooting, going left, shooting, going right, different feet
01:40 footwork that you're doing, whether it's 12 or a hop or, um, you know, all
01:46 kinds of the parts of the game that I think you're able to work on in the
01:50 summer. I think if you have goals in mind of what you want to do, it helps
01:53 you get through that. So certainly, um, I've gone through my whole career and
01:57 every summer try to improve different things. And as Cliff said, you can
02:01 always get better.
02:09 Work out.
02:10 Yeah, certainly it's what drove me to have the summer that I did. I think
02:26 you're you're
02:27 not happy with how things have gone and some of that's out of our control just
02:33 with the health and different things like that. But I think these last three
02:36 weeks have been really good for our team to kind of build some chemistry
02:40 here and get acclimated to how each other, you know, wants to play out
02:44 there. But certainly it's, um,
02:45 you know, hopefully this year it was differently.
02:48 How
02:51 far
02:54 coach
02:56 about that.
02:59 Yeah, I mean, I think it's more it certainly is a health thing. We got to
03:06 stay healthy. I think every team in the NBA has to stay healthy to have a good
03:09 season. I think, um, the teams are always there at the end usually do. Um,
03:14 but I think for us, it's also going to be about how we gel as a team. We do
03:18 have a lot of talent, a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things, but
03:21 we gotta put it all together. We have to play together as a team on both ends
03:25 of the floor. And I think these three weeks have been a good start for us.
03:29 Um, but certainly room for growth in that area. And I think that's gonna be
03:33 our focus is how we play together.
03:35 Uh,
03:35 experienced a lot of life with and without.
03:39 Specifically,
03:41 like,
03:43 yeah, no, he brings a lot of versatility. Um, you know, he can play 234. He
03:52 plays 54 sometimes when we like to go small. Um, the energy that he brings the
03:57 activity, um, and that's on both ends defensively being able to guard one.
04:02 He should be able to guard one through five, um, switching on the big
04:06 switching on, you know, guards. Uh, the rebounding, I think, is something that
04:10 we didn't. We struggled with a little bit last year, and he's somebody that
04:13 can obviously grab, you know, rebounds above the rim, which will help us and
04:16 hopefully help us then, you know, push out and and get out in transition. Um,
04:21 so I think those are some of the things that he provides.
04:24 This
04:27 most
04:32 yeah, we certainly have a lot of talent, and I think we've had this
04:36 talent, but
04:37 the last couple years, but then adding obviously the rookies that we added
04:41 this year, um,
04:43 and then giving some of these other younger guys a whole another year of
04:47 experience. I think that also really helps. Um, so this is what year is
04:52 your four from mellow? Um, that's right, right. Um, which that's that's huge.
04:58 And even, you know, P. J. And miles and some of these guys were when I first
05:02 came in, it was their first or second year. You know, now they're in your
05:05 four year five. That's huge. I mean, you can't you can't teach experience. Um,
05:11 and so hopefully we can add to the talent that we have with some of these
05:14 experiences that we've gained, um, these last, you know, two or three years.
05:19 I feel like you were asked to shoulder a lot of responsibility when you first
05:23 got here. Now,
05:25 increase talent.
05:26 Shut her away from that. But you feel like you're able to have your low light
05:32 a little bit because being able to pass on responsibility. Yeah, I mean, I've
05:36 seen my role kind of shift throughout my time here in Charlotte, and I just
05:42 want to help us win basketball games. So, um, you know, if that means handling
05:47 the ball more, some games not handling it as much others, a more of a spacer
05:52 cutter. Um, you know, I'm ready and willing to do whatever it takes. It's
05:56 nice that we have so many options and so many weapons. Um, I think, like I
06:01 said earlier, if we're able to put it all together, it just makes us more
06:04 dynamic. Um,
06:06 but, you know, that's that's obviously a chore. So we gotta we gotta try to
06:10 do that to the best of our ability.
06:11 Somebody
06:13 what?
06:15 Hello.
06:19 A lot more physical, especially early on in the summer. What if you go?
06:23 Yeah,
06:24 also trying to take more of a step at a leader. Yeah, I think I think his
06:31 approach has been a little different. Um, you know, I think you can tell that
06:35 this is your four. Um, just in how he approaches the work and how he's
06:40 approached these last three weeks. Um, you know, certainly it's
06:46 I don't think there's there's any more time for like we're we're a young team.
06:50 Um, you know, it's all it's just their first first couple years in the league.
06:54 Like it's about that time now. So I'm looking for, you know, big leaps from
06:58 him not only as a player, but also as somebody that our team and teammates
07:04 and coaches can lean on when we get into these tough situations throughout
07:07 the year.
07:07 I would like to
07:16 yeah, being the thing that's been most impressive to me about Brandon just
07:20 playing with him the last three weeks is his feel for the game. Um, he's
07:24 obviously got size, he can shoot and he can score. But I've been impressed
07:27 with his ability to be poised in the pockets to make the right reads and
07:32 picking roles. Uh, he doesn't get sped up too much. Um, which is which to me
07:38 is rare for young players. It took me a little while to learn that when you
07:41 first come in the league, you're going 1000 miles an hour, the game so much
07:44 faster and you're forcing things pressing a little bit in the pickup
07:48 games we've had. That's been what's been most impressive. So he certainly
07:51 will be asked to help us this year and should be able to help us. He's got
07:55 great size. Um, so offensively and defensively provide some versatility
07:59 for us as well.
08:00 Mm hmm.
08:07 Summer.
08:11 You're one here.
08:12 Yeah, I got a chance to work out with Bryce this summer and I think Bryce
08:18 has a bright future in the NBA. I think you've you're going to see him take
08:22 steps just from maturity physically. Um, because he's so young and came in so
08:28 young and some of it is it's just how we all work as as men like he's going
08:35 to start to just fill out a little bit and I think that size and physicality
08:39 will help him. Um, and then just continuing to do what he does. I mean,
08:44 he's he's a hard worker, no nonsense type of guy and that's what I love and
08:49 he's a competitor. Um, but I think I think the he spent a lot of time in the
08:53 weight room. So I think the added strength will certainly help him. Um,
08:58 and then that that year of experience like I talked about earlier, I think
09:01 that will be really big for him being able to slow down. Um,
09:06 you know, be somebody that can can run for us on the wings, knock down open
09:09 shots, defend multiple positions. He should be big for us this year.
09:14 Okay,
09:17 we need to get the season. Is there always sort of this like resetting
09:22 chemistry?
09:23 It's
09:25 following
09:27 it.
09:29 Yeah.
09:34 Yeah.
09:35 Other.
09:37 Um, yeah, I mean, I think you always have a little bit of that naturally
09:44 just because you you everyone's working on their games individually and trying
09:49 to expand their games and get better. I think it's been nice that we've kind
09:53 of had this same kind of core here. Um, so we've kind of already had that built
09:58 to some degree. Uh, the health problems obviously changed that up. But, um, yeah,
10:04 I mean, you want to get right on the same page as fast as you can. So I
10:07 think having everybody in here these last this last month's been great.
10:10 These
10:16 Yeah. So I got to ask this question earlier today and my kids are a little
10:23 young for Mr B stuff. They are right right there at that age, though. Um, I
10:30 was familiar with with his videos and stuff. I mean, he is a I mean, he is
10:34 arguably the most popular YouTuber in the world, right? And, uh, I didn't I
10:39 was not aware that that we are now he's got the patch here. So that's actually
10:45 really cool, though. I think it shows, um, just how far we've come here and
10:50 how far YouTube has come and influencers have come. Um, I haven't
10:54 tried the candy bars. Anybody tried the candy bars at any good? It's good.
10:59 It's good. All right. Um,
11:00 and I know my kids will like the candy. So
11:04 the one
11:06 yeah,
11:07 Oh,
11:10 you
11:16 take them tomorrow.
11:17 Yeah, I think Mark Mark had a great rookie year on. I talked about it last
11:24 year, but to have to play in the G League and kind of wait your turn and
11:29 then still continue to work and then to have the last couple months of the
11:33 season that he had. I think that was really impressive and also expecting
11:37 big things that I marked this year. Um, he's gonna have to anchor our defense.
11:40 Um, rebounding will be huge to for him controlling the glass, controlling
11:47 the paint. Um, you know, we need that. That'll be that'll be huge for us.
11:52 I thought he grew. Actually, it could be his hair, though. His hair is longer
12:01 on top, but like after not seeing him for a while, it's like, man, you are
12:06 huge.
12:13 Yeah, yeah. I think catching things, um, you know, I think not being able to
12:19 move him as easily underneath will be big for him. Thanks, guys.
12:24 Yeah.
12:25 Yeah.
12:26 Yeah.
12:27 Oh,
12:28 okay.
12:28 Yeah.
12:28 Yeah.
12:28 Yeah.
12:28 Yeah.
12:29 Yeah.
12:29 Yeah.
12:31 Yeah.
12:33 Yeah.
12:35 Yeah.
12:37 Yeah.
12:39 Yeah.
12:41 Yeah.
12:43 Yeah.