Darius Bazley | Exit Interview
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00:00 >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:10 >> I thought it was really good.
00:18 Like super young teams are like everyone was super duper close.
00:23 Everyone was super proud of everyone else's success in different parts.
00:27 Whenever they had some, but it was really fun to just go out and
00:31 compete and get better with everyone every day.
00:35 >> We saw you kind of be a really big encourager for your teammates both on and
00:39 off the floor.
00:40 In what ways were you kind of taking pride in supporting your teammates this year?
00:46 >> Whether it was just watching someone score or hit a big shot and
00:50 cheering them on from the bench or maybe I see someone in the same spot I was,
00:55 like a game ago or maybe my rookie year and just pulling them to the side and
01:01 kind of like guiding them and kind of help them get through it.
01:05 Whether it's like defensively or just a different way to do something.
01:10 I just wanted to be the help because I knew how much it was for me.
01:15 >> How much are you looking forward to this being your first real chip?
01:19 >> I'm super excited.
01:22 I've had a lot of experiences throughout my three years.
01:26 And I think this offseason probably the longest I've had.
01:31 So I'm excited to be able to string together all these days and
01:36 just work consistently.
01:38 >> I know that you were wanting to take on a bunch of tougher covers this year as
01:42 a defender.
01:43 When you look at how you were in the beginning of the season towards now,
01:47 how do you think you truly progressed over this season on the defensive end?
01:51 >> I thought those progress made and I mean,
01:54 we play these guys twice or four times, depending on who it is.
02:00 So just being able to get that experience under my belt and
02:04 then be able to learn from certain games and come back and try it again.
02:10 Has been really good and I'm looking forward to the same thing next year.
02:15 But just improving no matter what,
02:19 just getting ready to be able to be on those assignments and
02:24 be able to guard those guys.
02:26 >> Mark said this offseason would be kind of your first to be turned loose to do
02:32 whatever you wanted to do with your time.
02:34 So how are you planning to structure your offseason and what are you hoping to do?
02:40 >> I'm hoping to improve in a lot of areas.
02:44 Just take everything day by day and
02:49 just focus on that day solely get better that day.
02:55 I kind of have this thing I've been doing and it's been really good to me.
02:58 Like I have three things that mean the most to me.
03:02 It's my family, basketball and God.
03:06 And so each day I make sure I pour into those things like,
03:09 whatever it is calling my family, talking to my mom, siblings,
03:14 checking in whatever.
03:15 With basketball, it's a very long offseason.
03:19 So just being able to kind of take it like a marathon and
03:22 be able to finish my strongest towards the end.
03:25 So whether it's eating the right things or taking the proper recovery that day or
03:30 going to the gym twice, whatever it is, lifting.
03:34 And then God just spending time with him and reading and stuff like that.
03:39 So just doing it like that, just making sure I keep the main things,
03:46 the main things and just stay laser focused.
03:51 Because at the end of the day, I just wanna continue to improve and
03:55 be able to come back the best version of me so I can help this team.
04:00 >> How's your knee feeling and
04:01 when you expect to ramp back up to kind of full basketball activities for you?
04:06 >> My knee's feeling pretty good.
04:08 I am taking this time off to just kind of let it heal, it's bone.
04:14 But I'm just looking forward to being able to get back on the court.
04:22 And like you said, ramp things up, but I just gotta take it time by time.
04:28 I'm gonna take the rest of this month and just kind of chill and
04:33 give it the proper healing, kind of take back.
04:37 >> First, I can talk about how much you love to cook.
04:42 Is that something you are going to do a lot in offseason?
04:45 Do you have time to do it during the season?
04:47 >> I'm gonna leave that to the professionals.
04:50 >> [LAUGH]
04:55 >> There is one of the longest tenure
04:57 guys on this team.
04:59 I'm sure you're aware of the rebuilding plan and everything like that.
05:03 How much talk do you have with Sam or the front office to make sure you're on
05:07 the same page with them and you sort of know what to expect moving forward?
05:12 >> I think as a whole, everyone kind of understands our goals here.
05:17 And there's been a lot of communication and
05:25 there's clarity for everyone here to understand that we're focused on getting
05:29 better as individuals, as a team, because at the end of the day,
05:36 you wanna win and compete.
05:39 So I think we're building something really special here.
05:42 And we've done a really good job of just creating an environment where guys can
05:47 come in and work and be able to get better and be the best version of themselves.
05:52 >> Derek, how close do you think you are as an organization to be back
05:55 to your intending level that you were saying you're looking for?
05:59 >> There's no telling.
06:03 I mean, I think that, like I said, the most important thing is just growth,
06:08 just to be able to continue to get better.
06:12 I think we finished the season a way better team than we were in the beginning.
06:16 I think we were a way better team than we were last year.
06:20 And I think the growth will just continue to keep going upward.
06:24 >> Derek, talking about growth and improvement, was there a guy,
06:28 maybe on the team that you helped along the year that something happened later in
06:33 the season, you're like, yes, that was what we were talking about.
06:36 He made that step, anything like that that stands out for you?
06:38 >> No, no one in particular, I would say it kind of takes like a village.
06:46 We're so connected and so together.
06:49 Everyone just kind of chips in and helps everyone.
06:53 Everyone has their moments where, has had their moments where they've made a step,
06:57 or they've grown in some area this year.
07:02 So I mean, it's been good to just watch guys just get comfortable and
07:07 kind of like just go through their seasons.
07:09 I mean, like I said, it's a really young team, had a lot of rookies, and
07:12 I was there three years ago.
07:14 >> Is there any moment for you that you had that like, you thought, yes,
07:18 I've been working on that, I've made a big stride, anything like that for you?
07:22 >> Nothing like on court, like skill wise, anything like that.
07:29 It's more so just kind of like mindset stuff, stuff like that.
07:34 >> Can the fans expect any more music from you in the off season?
07:38 >> [LAUGH]
07:44 >> No, I mean, it's a hobby.
07:47 I mean, you probably could expect music under like a video of me working out or
07:53 something, but I mean, I don't want people to think that like,
07:57 I'm trying to become Jay-Z or something.
08:00 >> [LAUGH] >> You're gonna leave that to
08:03 the professionals.
08:04 >> Exactly.
08:04 >> [LAUGH] >> How closely do you follow the draft?
08:09 The front office has four picks, like the top 34.
08:13 There's gonna be new guys coming in.
08:15 Like how close have you followed the lottery and then the NBA draft itself?
08:19 >> I watched the draft when it's on.
08:24 I don't know what day it is.
08:27 And I might see like lottery stuff like from scrolling on Instagram and
08:32 like slam or somebody posts like these guys have top picks or whatever.
08:37 But I don't really pay close attention to that.
08:41 >> Does that generate any excitement for you guys knowing that somebody
08:46 likely in the top ten will be joining your team next year?
08:50 >> I can't speak for everyone else.
08:52 Me, I mean, I don't really care.
08:56 Like I'll be happy for whoever gets drafted and stuff.
08:59 But when I say I don't care, it's like I don't pay attention to that stuff.
09:03 Like I didn't even pay attention to the last,
09:07 like past these guys that are on the team now.
09:12 It's like when they got here, it's just like just trying to become as close
09:17 with them as possible and just keep going.
09:20 >> You've been around Shea for a while now.
09:22 He seems to just be more and more confident every year.
09:26 Like what have you seen as far as like him just growing more comfortable and
09:30 stepping into a larger role, just how his personality has changed?
09:35 >> I mean, it's been a pleasure to be around Shea and play with him,
09:40 play alongside him.
09:41 I mean, I think his game kind of speaks for himself.
09:45 He's had an amazing year.
09:48 Like you said, he stepped into a bigger role and
09:51 you could definitely see down the stretch and stuff.
09:54 But I started smiling when he mentioned his name because just Shea the person is
09:58 like, he's just a joy to be around.
10:04 You know what I mean?
10:05 I've never seen Shea mad or not in a good mood.
10:10 Like he's always smiling, laughing.
10:12 And I think he's just becoming a better leader,
10:16 helping the young guys and stuff like that.
10:20 And that's what I've been most proud of is just like
10:25 kind of seeing him become more of a leader.
10:29 >> Is that sort of set like a better mood among the team that your leader is like
10:33 seemingly always in a good mood?
10:35 Have a good time out there?
10:40 >> Yeah, I mean, I think as a whole, we've, like in the beginning of the season,
10:45 we all agreed that we were gonna create an environment where people could come in and
10:51 get better.
10:52 I kind of said this to her earlier, but
10:54 just create an environment where people can come in and get better.
10:59 And just continue to be the best version of themselves.
11:04 So that I would kind of give that to everyone,
11:07 everyone kind of pitched in there.
11:10 >> Anybody else in the room?
11:13 We got two of them.
11:15 First of all, Christos, go ahead Christos with your question.
11:19 >> Hey, base, hope you're doing well, first of all.
11:21 What was the biggest lesson or the best lesson for
11:25 you during this season to carry over for the next season?
11:28 >> Good question.
11:32 [BLANK_AUDIO]
11:36 No, I'm gonna be honest,
11:38 I haven't really taken the time to really reflect on this season yet.
11:43 That's not something I'm able to answer right now.
11:47 >> Two more actually, we got Clemente Almanza,
11:50 go ahead Clemente with your question.
11:53 >> Hey, Darius, so you're gonna be eligible for rookie extension this summer.
11:57 How do you just plan on approaching that?
11:59 >> I don't know, honestly.
12:04 I don't really pay attention to that.
12:08 It's kind of like, I think my agent will call me at some point.
12:12 I don't know how that goes, so.
12:14 >> And then we got last question with Travis Singleton.
12:18 Go ahead, Travis, with your question.
12:20 >> Hey, Basley, with you being one of the faces of New Balance,
12:24 can we see a signature shoe coming from you?
12:27 Moving forward in the future?
12:29 >> [BLANK_AUDIO]
12:37 >> Is it in the works?
12:38 >> No.
12:40 >> [LAUGH] >> Thanks, Bas.
12:44 >> Thanks, Darius.
12:46 >> [LAUGH]