Jaylen Hoard | Detroit Pistons | Apr. 01, 2022
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:02 >> Jaylen, how much did your last 10 day get you ready for this one?
00:06 And how did it feel out there to get your first career start?
00:10 >> It felt good, just to be out there with the guys.
00:15 I really wanted to get attended in the season.
00:18 And I found out yesterday that it was gonna happen.
00:21 So I was really excited and couldn't wait to join the group and
00:25 get a chance to play with everybody.
00:26 And getting my first start, I was just really happy today.
00:30 >> And then just what do you think allowed you to be so effective,
00:33 especially on the glass tonight?
00:36 Mark just said, you have that motor and you have that competitiveness, but
00:39 why were you able to be so productive?
00:41 >> To be honest, I think it's just playing with the blue, just being the rhythm.
00:48 The past couple games with the blue, I've been playing a lot of minutes.
00:51 And I was playing the five, so I had a big responsibility as far as rebounding.
00:55 And so I just felt like it was kind of the same thing,
00:58 it kind of just translated today.
00:59 So just having a feel for the ball now, just going out there and
01:03 competing hard, I feel like that helped me a lot today.
01:05 >> One more, it seems like you're talking about playing the five with the blue.
01:08 It seems like just from watching those games,
01:10 you're starting to find your identity more as a player.
01:13 That you can be this forward, center, rebounder.
01:17 Are you feeling like you're kind of tightening,
01:20 honing in on your identity as a player?
01:22 >> For sure, I think just there's some skills I feel like I can rely on every night.
01:27 And rebound is one of them, being solid on defense.
01:31 And then trying to just impact the game with my energy.
01:34 I think those are things I can bring to the team like any game.
01:37 >> Paris Austin, okcthunder.com, wanted to ask you about the crazy connections
01:42 that you have in this locker room.
01:44 Obviously, Tao and Olivier, but even Aaron as well.
01:47 Just what's that like walking into the locker room and
01:49 immediately having that many familiar faces out there?
01:54 >> Like you said, knowing so many guys on the team just made me really comfortable.
01:59 I was just talking about that with Aaron, just having those guys there.
02:02 It's making me way more comfortable just as far as the play sets, everything.
02:07 And just being a part of the team, they made everything pretty easy for me today.
02:11 So having all those guys here has been fun.
02:15 >> And then coach gave you just a lot of credit for your professionalism and
02:18 just your readiness to work.
02:19 Just what's been your mentality throughout all this?
02:21 Obviously, you've been around the team for a couple years now.
02:23 Just what's been your mentality as you,
02:25 obviously have another really great opportunity with the 10 day right now?
02:28 >> Mm-hm, just try to bring energy, try to just play hard.
02:34 No matter if I'm playing good or bad, just playing hard is the main thing.
02:38 I think that if I do that, I'll get minutes, I'll be able to impact the game.
02:43 So that's really the main thing I try to do, play hard, compete.
02:47 >> Does rebounding feed off itself?
02:50 Are you aware you're getting those rebounds?
02:52 And you get one, makes you wanna go get another one, you're piling them on.
02:55 Is it kinda like scoring a little bit?
02:56 >> No, today I didn't even know I had so many rebounds.
03:01 It would kinda just fall into my hand a couple times.
03:05 A couple times I was tracking them down, and
03:07 I just feel like I got a pretty good nose for the ball.
03:09 So that helped me out today.
03:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:14 >> Have you ever had 20 rebounds in a game at any level?
03:18 >> Yeah, back in France, when I was like 15, 16, but not since then, no.
03:24 >> Just what is it like for you?
03:25 You said you were hoping you would get this call and
03:28 be able to finish the season on a 10 day.
03:30 You've been with the organization quite a bit, sort of bouncing back and forth.
03:35 What is that like for you, not knowing when that next opportunity will come, but
03:39 working hard with the blue, hoping it will?
03:41 >> It hasn't been too hard, to be honest.
03:45 Like I said, I was with the team last year, and being with the blue and
03:48 the Thunder, besides the fact that it's the NBA and the G League,
03:52 it's pretty similar, plays are similar, the way we do things,
03:55 the way we work out every day, the practices, everything is kinda the same thing.
04:00 And then as far as opportunity,
04:01 I think the main thing at this level is just patience, you know what I'm saying?
04:06 Just waiting for the opportunity, it's gonna come at some point,
04:09 just gotta keep working hard.
04:10 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:15 >> When did you find out you were gonna start, was it yesterday or today?
04:17 >> Today.
04:18 >> Like a couple hours before the game or Saturday?
04:20 >> Yeah, right before the game, coach, he told me that I was pretty much gonna
04:24 replace Poku since he was absent today in the rotation.
04:28 So that's when I found out I was starting.
04:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:32 >> Anybody else?
04:32 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:33 Yeah?
04:34 >> Yeah, no problem.
04:35 Yeah, I appreciate you guys.