Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> You're just thinking over the games that you had to play with a Thunder Jersey
00:03 on first time in your career.
00:05 Just what has this meant to you?
00:06 What has this opportunity meant to you?
00:08 >> It's meant a lot.
00:09 It's definitely rewarding, all the hard work and dedication I put into it.
00:14 But man, I'm just thankful.
00:15 Like the 10 day came kind of late, but I can't be more appreciative.
00:19 Like, I mean, just being there, having an opportunity to lace up the Thunder Jersey,
00:22 represent myself, my family and friends and the organization.
00:25 Having a chance to go out there and play.
00:28 The coach trust me with a lot of minutes, I'm well prepared for it.
00:31 So I'm just appreciative that just having the opportunity to showcase I had,
00:34 means a lot to myself.
00:36 >> Coach mentioned after the game, but
00:37 he just respected the level of professionalism that you guys came in with.
00:40 That you're able to just hit the ground running and
00:43 play the minutes that you guys played and compete the way that you guys competed.
00:45 Just what did you think of the group that you guys had over these past five games and
00:49 the minutes that you guys played, but also the way you guys are able to compete?
00:52 >> I thought it was a great group.
00:54 Sometimes it's not always about putting the ball in the basket,
00:56 but you're professional as well.
00:57 And I feel like the OKC Blue Coaches that has well prepared us for that.
01:01 As I said, they well prepared us for the terminology, how to carry ourselves,
01:05 the professionalism, just being on time, just the small things that carried over.
01:10 Just being able to have a connected organization with the Thunder and
01:12 Blue, it was an easy transition for us.
01:14 >> You had a career high tonight.
01:16 Does it mean anything more than it was last game of the season kind of ended up
01:19 behind them for you?
01:21 >> Yes, it definitely means a lot.
01:23 Extremely happy for myself.
01:24 But I just wanna keep going.
01:27 I don't wanna get too complacent or keep steady right here or
01:29 hang over this for the next season.
01:32 The game's over and it's the next season, it's a new year next season.
01:35 So I just wanna keep continuing to progress forward,
01:36 keep adding things to my game.
01:38 So I'm gonna have a chance to be playing more games than just sport.
01:41 But any opportunity in the game I can get, I wouldn't take full advantage.
01:46 >> There are a couple tough moments out there on the floor tonight.
01:49 But every time it seemed like you guys were kind of coming together on the floor,
01:53 talking to each other, kind of going up to GK after he missed the dunk and
01:57 just telling him I got you.
01:59 What are those moments like out there on the floor as you all are staying connected?
02:04 >> It's just so that we're a well connected team.
02:06 Obviously we wanna play four games, but we've all played with each other.
02:09 With the whole KC Blue, we've all been down there.
02:11 I'm just getting to know each other on and off the court.
02:13 So I felt like that's kind of where it just feeds off and
02:16 it carries over to scenery like this.
02:19 >> I saw a number five OKC Blue jersey out in the crowd tonight.
02:25 Did you have any buddy here that you know or is that-
02:28 >> No, I actually think my dad,
02:31 did he have a beard?
02:33 I'm not sure. >> I think so, yeah.
02:34 >> [LAUGH] >> My dad flew in today and
02:37 he had an OKC jersey.
02:38 So a big shout out to him, appreciate him coming.
02:41 But I know he's extremely proud.
02:43 I'm not sure where he got the jersey from.
02:45 I mean, thankful for the support.
02:47 >> [LAUGH] >> Stay here with Shay and
02:50 some of the other guys who have been here a little longer.
02:53 They've been out, but they're with you on the sideline.
02:56 What sort of, I guess, support have they given you or
03:00 just cheering you guys on out there?
03:03 >> It's given us a lot of support.
03:04 I'm just saying small things in the game.
03:05 Obviously this is our first, for some of us, for
03:08 myself, this is our first game at any big level.
03:11 So obviously we may be kind of nervous or maybe just over worrying ourselves.
03:13 But just small little talks in between timeouts,
03:16 when I huddles at a half time, it just goes a long way.
03:19 Like I said, the first game I didn't even notice how much they were cheering up my
03:22 hook shots.
03:23 But just being able to have that support behind you, it can go a long way.
03:26 >> Mark Dagnall and his coaching staff,
03:29 how comfortable did they make you when you came into this team and
03:33 make you be a part of this team?
03:34 >> They made us feel real comfortable.
03:36 Like I said, it was an easy transition coming from the blue to that coaching
03:39 staff because the coaching staffs are very similar.
03:42 They all try to play the right way.
03:43 Just the small things.
03:44 So me and them just going under the umbrella and just being listening to
03:48 the coaching staff and they'll give us the support and welcome us up on our arms.
03:51 It made us feel a lot more comfortable just playing in on or off the court.
03:55 >> You always hear that he's a players coach.
03:57 Is that true and what ways is he?
03:59 >> Definitely, I think he's a player coach.
04:01 I obviously only had seven days with him.
04:03 But I think he's a players coach because he's able to communicate on or
04:05 off the court.
04:06 Off the court especially, like just small conversations or
04:09 small questions or just small comments.
04:11 It just makes you feel more comfortable.
04:12 Sometimes guys get here and be tight.
04:15 But if you need a coach there to just be able to just have conversations outside
04:18 of basketball and just being able to just talk with you, goes a long way as well.
04:22 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:24 >> Thanks, Xavier.
04:25 >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you.
04:26 >> Thanks, Xavier.
04:26 >> Thank you.
04:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]