San Antonio Spurs rookie speaks to the media after his team's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks about facing Giannis Antetokounmpo, being competitive through injury and making a statement for Rookie of the Year and All-Star selections.
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00:00 [INAUDIBLE]
00:06 So, you know, the design was to fake going for a pick and roll,
00:16 but for actually going to a three for Devin, you know,
00:20 and kind of see what happens.
00:22 But we had to put up a shot.
00:24 And I think we put up at the end of the position
00:29 the best shot we can expect from in a moment like this.
00:32 And of course, the outcome isn't what we wanted,
00:37 but it's--
00:39 I mean, it was the widest open shot, so it's positive.
00:43 And everyone was--
00:44 I mean, we're satisfied with the outcome of the play,
00:47 except the ball not going through the rim.
00:50 How happy were you that you were able to be
00:52 on the floor for the end of this game?
00:54 And as the minutes worked out, it was a really good night.
00:57 How did I feel?
00:57 Yeah.
00:58 Oh, I mean, I felt like--
01:03 you know, of course, I can't spend the whole game
01:05 on the floor, but I felt like I made those minutes count.
01:09 And we managed to keep me enough minutes
01:13 to-- so I could be in the court at the end.
01:16 And I mean, the management was good, but--
01:20 I mean, yeah, until--
01:22 pretty much as good as we can do until I
01:24 can get play full minutes.
01:26 Did going back and forth with Giannis
01:27 bring something out of you competitively?
01:29 I mean, did you feel how excited people were--
01:31 Of course.
01:32 --watching you going back and forth?
01:33 Yeah.
01:34 You know, somebody I grew up watching
01:37 and one of the greatest players in the world,
01:40 so it's always extra motivation.
01:43 And I know I'm a competitor, so I want to go at everyone
01:51 and be the bad guy on the court.
01:53 So it was a great matchup.
01:55 Was that final block on him the most satisfying play
01:59 of a series of--
02:00 I mean, so many satisfying plays, but was that the most--
02:03 The block?
02:04 Yeah, your block on Giannis.
02:05 I don't know.
02:09 I need to re-watch all this, but I
02:12 think KJ told--
02:15 Kelden told me that was his favorite play,
02:17 so I need to re-watch it.
02:20 The alley-ooping through to yourself,
02:22 is that something that just happened in the moment
02:25 or on the gather were you already planning that?
02:29 Kind of happened in the moment.
02:31 I saw the open lane, but stopped my dribble a little too early.
02:34 But I'm resourceful, so even with no dribble,
02:39 I can do some stuff.
02:40 But Devins was definitely not on purpose.
02:43 Yeah, it was nice seeing it from up close.
02:45 I don't know if it was on purpose, but it was nice.
02:48 Along the lines of how competitive you
02:50 are and motivation, anything you have
02:53 to do with the Rookie of the Month for the West
02:56 was announced today.
02:57 All-Star voting came out today.
02:59 Any of that tie into what we saw tonight?
03:01 Of course.
03:02 Of course.
03:04 I'm dedicated, and I know at the end of the day,
03:08 I'm going to get what I deserve.
03:11 Every game is a statement for now.
03:13 What did tonight feel like?
03:14 You guys have had a lot of downs this year,
03:17 but what did a game like this feel like?
03:20 What did that level of competition,
03:22 that sort of atmosphere, what did that feel like for you guys?
03:26 Today was a satisfying point to me.
03:31 We really had our rhythm at some point.
03:33 I mean, just the fact that we can compete with a championship
03:36 level team like this is promising.
03:38 And it's also the first thing Pop told us,
03:41 coming back to the locker room.
03:42 And we had some moments in the game
03:47 where everything seemed to work out.
03:50 And I could also feel the crowd believing in us
03:55 and getting going.
03:57 So some of this was satisfying tonight.
03:59 When you say every game is a statement from now on,
04:01 who is that statement to?
04:04 To everyone, simple as that.
04:08 Not other players, specifically?
04:10 Not fans?
04:11 Not coaches?
04:11 No, everyone.
04:13 How much closer did you guys get tonight
04:14 and fall short at the end?
04:17 But that third quarter, a lot of times this season,
04:19 that third quarter has kind of been the difference,
04:21 where games have gotten away from you guys.
04:22 What made the difference to be able to stick around this time
04:25 around?
04:25 I mean, we did start the first minute, first couple of minutes
04:29 a little bit slow.
04:30 But I mean, I'm glad we get it back together.
04:36 And of course, I mean, during the game
04:41 is one of our main focus points in the locker room.
04:43 We know we've been bad in third quarters
04:46 before, and it's one of our main focus points.
04:49 You mentioned that Giannis is a guy that you grew up watching.
04:54 Is he someone you look to emulate, to copy?
04:56 Or do you feel like that's not how you operate?
04:58 Of course.
04:59 I mean, I'm trying to gain knowledge
05:03 from as many great players as they are.
05:08 And Giannis is one of them, one of the players I watch
05:12 the most, of course.
05:13 So by the way, with the way he uses his body,
05:20 he makes 100% of what he can do with his body.
05:22 So it's, of course, something I looked up to,
05:25 and I still do.
05:26 So it's a player I know pretty well.
05:31 And the Bucks is probably also the team I've watched the most
05:33 in the past three, four years.
05:37 Giannis, I just asked Giannis what advice he might have
05:40 for you, and he said, you don't need any advice.
05:43 How does that make you feel?
05:46 He thinks you're already on the right path.
05:50 I mean, I think I need some advice, of course,
05:57 from the coaches and from some great people we got here.
06:03 But I think what he means was, I don't
06:07 need to change anything totally in me.
06:14 And I appreciate that he recognizes I'm healthy,
06:19 physically and mentally.
06:20 So I know I'm on the right path, but it doesn't
06:23 mean it's going to be easy.
06:24 But I appreciate it.
06:26 Yeah, that's what he did say, was to stay healthy.
06:28 Yeah, thanks.
06:29 What was it like to say--
06:30 Just take a couple in French.
06:31 Go ahead.
06:32 [SPEAKING FRENCH]
06:33 Merci.
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08:07 Merci.
08:08 Merci.
08:09 Happy birthday.
08:10 [SPEAKING FRENCH]
08:12 -A little extra water, I'll be there.