Milwaukee Bucks: Media Day Roundup 2016-17

“I think we all understand it’s a freak accident. As Wes just talked about, it’s sport. We all would love to stay healthy and make every shot but that’s part of the game. We have 15 guys, we gotta keep moving forward. We feel confident that we can still compete, and we are going to compete. The schedule’s out and the next man’s got to step up, and as a team we all have to step up.”

“I think looking back, our defense, we took a couple of steps backwards. We felt that’s what we laid our hat on each night, it was playing defense and using our length, and as a coach I’ve got to do a better job of reminding them that we’ve got to get some more deflections and steals and rebound the ball. But I think it was a big positive because we didn’t have any veterans. You know, we were a young team and we went through it together, understanding that it’s hard to win.”

“That’s the goal no matter if we’ve 15 rookies or we’re the oldest team in the league. As a professional, that’s the bar. If you want to be an elite team in this league, that’s what you work for and hopefully one of these years that you make it to the playoffs, the ball bounces your way and you win a championship.”

“There’s only one team I’ve looked at and that’s Cleveland. LeBron is still in the East, they’re the team to beat. Everybody else I haven’t paid attention to because we’ve got to be worried about ourselves. And that’s the way I’ve always approached it as a player, and now as a coach. If you take care of your business and don’t be worrying about anyone else’s you’ve got a better chance of surviving.”

“Being able to understand the game, the time and score. I think John can probably talk about this, but when they first saw him he might have been playing the point guard position and trying to make plays. He’s a very unselfish player. We gave him the ball when we first got here and things didn’t go well, but it just showed that the next time we gave him the ball; his growth. He just accepted it. He didn’t put any pressure on himself, he just went out there and was himself. I think the game’s starting to slow down for him. He’s starting to recognize what he can do on a nightly basis.”

“We’ll probably look at a lot of things here in training camp, and we’ll probably start off with looking at the second half of the season, looking at Michael [Carter-Williams] and Greg [Monroe] coming off the bench, but we won’t make that decision until later in the week. We’ll go through training camp, we’ll have them start, come off the bench, we’re going to look at a lot of combinations but I think we like the way that it ended last year with Miles [Plumlee] starting. It gave us a lot of firepower off the bench and it made us deeper. We’ll look at all the options but starting tomorrow, we just want to keep everyone healthy, we know they’ll be winded as it’s a long day but we’re going to look at Miles with that starting group. Tomorrow, we’re going to look at Miles and Vaughn in that first group.”

“We had been in discussions with Houston about a week before we made the trade for Michael. We just looked it as an opportunity to add a player to our team who has talent, and the greatest talent is the ability to score the ball, and I don’t think any team can ever have too much of that. We’ve always sort of admired Michael’s game. If you watch him play, the game has always seemed to come fairly easy to him, especially on the offensive end.”

“Our view is to always keep an eye on the future as well, the big picture at hand. From when the owners purchased the team, the message has been very clear and very singular. They want to build this to a championship caliber team and maintain that, not just get there. So there’s a big goal, there’s a big picture in mind. We want to be a playoff team this year but the goal is to get there and stay there.”

“My mood is good. I think this time last week we felt like we had a tremendous offseason. The development of our young core players; everyone worked really hard, I mean if you see these guys physically they look like a million dollars. They look all great, they had a great offseason. The guys we added in, the veterans we added in, you know, one of my educations in the NBA is it’s about talent but it’s also about fit and I just feel like the fit of the team feels terrific with John and Jason’s stewardship of that. Obviously with Khris getting hurt last Tuesday on the most freakish thing to happen, that’s sport and that’s a disappointment, but there’s 15 guys on the roster and we feel great about the team. So we’re still very optimistic about the season.”

“It was a real rollercoaster, one of the real bright spots for the franchise, not just this year but in its history, is signing to a long-term deal and the way that was all handled. I thought he did a tremendous job for a young guy, so we feel that’s a big, big part of the future. Then Khris has worked so hard in the offseason, is in such incredible shape, and then literally slips on a wet spot and has this injury. It’s six months or it’s five months, whatever the prognosis is, he’ll go have surgery in the next day or two, and I think we’ve got the best medical staff, sport science group in the league. Look at how Jabari looks now compared to when he got hurt. It could be a big opportunity for him and it’s a big opportunity for everyone else. We were so optimistic for the start of the season, and it’s not just one player. On many nights Khris is one of our best players and he’s an integral part of the season, and hopefully he’ll be back for the last chunk of it.”

“It was tough. You know, a week before training camp knowing that Khris isn’t going to be with us for six months, it was tough. My main focus right now is I have to be there for Khris, I have to support Khris, and we as a team gotta support Khris. No lies, he’s one of the best players on our team. He probably would have been an All-Star this year, so it’s tough on him. We’ve got to still think of our goal though, and our goal is to reach the playoffs. We’ve got to group together and try to achieve our goal.”

“Thank God, our coaching staff, Sean Sweeney was with me basically all summer. He was helping me work on my jump shot, but he was helping me too in how to learn the game more, how to learn the point guard position more. I sweated a lot, I put a lot of work in this summer, but my main focus wasn’t even my jump shot, it was how to be more comfortable to run the team. To be a point guard and to put my team in the right spot to make plays.”

“I’m 6’11-and-a-half. You know, 7’0″, almost 7’0″, over 7’0″ in shoes, 7’2″ in high heels! I’m going to ask the Bucks to list me at 6’9″ like KD [Kevin Durant]!”

“The way he’s a versatile player and plays both ends. He’s really good at making plays for his teammates. You know, being able to play both ends, make plays, shoot the open shot and make the shot.”

“He’s a great kid first of all. He’s probably one of the few players I’ve seen where I’m like, my God, he’s got so much potential. I mean he’s got so much potential. Obviously he has to work on his game, and he’s going to get better moving forward and he’s going to listen to his coach.”

“Personally, it was a little bit shattering to me. He’s such an important piece for us. He brings so much on the court besides just scoring. He opens up the floor for me, because you know, their man gets hugged up and allows me to penetrate. It’s something we’re just going to have to adjust to. It sucks, but I’m going to take my responsibility in trying to help the team out to my best ability.”

“I’ll just try to stay on him, make sure he’s staying positive. It’s kind of easy when you’re down to look on the negative side of things, but I’m going to make sure he’s in the gym every day getting his work in. I’m going to keep pushing him, because if we make the playoffs, he’s going to be the one to give us that extra boost. Just as I was around during my ACL injury, he’s going to be around during his hamstring injury trying to figure out ways that he can move in right away.”

“Just for the summer specifically, I’ve been able to increase my confidence, do things I didn’t really do in the season; like shoot the long range shot. But it’s different, you know, who knows what may happen during the season. I can’t say if I’ll be a better person or a better player, but from the summer I think my skills have increased and my confidence.”

“It’s definitely taking a risk. A lot of people just portray an athlete as being quiet and doing what you’re supposed to do, and that’s playing basketball, but why not use your gifts and your ability and your media outlets to create awareness. It’s definitely something that I took a chance on, but I’m willing to take that chance for something that’s right, because I grew up reading Malcolm X and reading Martin Luther King. I just try to put myself in their light, and in their shoes because 30 years from now I want to be talked about as leading the next civil rights movement. I took a lot of backlash from it, but I can’t change who I am and I only stand up for what’s right.”

“I was playing pickup out here with the team on Tuesday, and I just happened to slip on a wet spot while we were playing. I was trying to do a move and stop, did a split, I thought I just overstretched it at first. I thought I just tweaked it a little bit, tried to walk it off but really couldn’t put any weight on it. Then I just took it day by day. I got an MRI a day or two afterwards and just found out the news. It was tough at first, knowing I’m going to be out. A couple of months was the longest time I’d been out before, but look it happens, at least it wasn’t anything worse with the knee and just a hamstring.”

“I’m just going to listen to my doctors. I don’t want to rush back and try to do things too quickly. I’m going to listen to my doctors and whatever timetable they give me for rehab after my surgery, that’s what I’m going to go with.”

“I’m having it on Wednesday in New York. He’s the guy who did Jabari’s surgery [Dr. David Altchek], he’s supposedly one of the best in the business.”

“We had a great season the year before and then kind of took a step backwards. But we learned a lot from that last year. We also had a lot of injuries, a lot of nagging injuries off the bench as well as some with our starting guys. This summer, there’s been a lot of guys putting in work. Changing their bodies, working on their games and with the pieces we added here, we’re definitely excited for this year still. I’m confident these guys can still go out there and get the job done with the summer that we’ve had.”

“I think, Moose and I, we kind of knew that and we were try to gel even before camp. You know, him and I, and some of the other guys who we think are going to play with the second group. And we felt really good, you know, our team was definitely doing well and I think if that was the case we’d have one of the best benches in the league.”

“Of course, I love playing, whether it’s off the bench or starting. I’ll always compete to be a starter but whatever coach thinks is best, I’m just going to go out there to help the team, be positive and play the role that I’m supposed to.”

“I think it works out great. I think we’re not going to have a lot of trouble scoring the ball. We’ve got a lot of scorers and I think Matt and I, a lot of our game is focused on defense. He can cover, you know, he can definitely play the point guard position very well. Myself, I think I can play the point guard or the two guard and that’s something I worked on this summer was getting bigger and stronger. On the defensive end I think we’re going to be great. We’re going to cause a lot of problems.”

“Just getting stronger and, you know, working on my outside shot. My mid-range and layups were pretty good, I think I shot about 45 percent from the field, but now it’s just about expanding my game from behind the line and that’s what I really worked on this summer.”

“It feels great to be back. It’s a really exciting time in the program right now. Guys put in a lot of hard work this summer. It was fun playing with them the last couple of weeks. Guys look really good and I think we made some moves that are going to really help us in the long run. Addressed outside shooting issues and that kind of stuff. Overall, we’ve got a lot of really great guys so I’m already excited to see how the chemistry builds.”

“Much more comfortable. I think, especially being the anchor of the defense it has to be instinctual. You can’t be thinking about it, you have to see what’s developing before it happens, otherwise you’re going to get scored on. So that’s been big. I’ve been watching a lot of film with [Sean] Sweeney this offseason and I’m excited to take that to another level this year.”

“I’m ecstatic. I’m really happy to be back here. It felt like it was home. With my teammates and the coaches, it’s just an environment that I’m really comfortable in. For them to show that much faith in me and want me back, just makes it that much better. I’m just really happy to have that behind me, have that security and work on being a better basketball player every day.”

“That was very tough, obviously. He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do here and as a friend you never want to see anyone in that position. But you know, he is someone who I’m pretty close with and I know how much he loves to play and compete. When that’s take away from somebody like that, I know it’s tough.

“It’s next man up. It’s something that you don’t want, obviously, but it’s something that happens in this league. That’s why there’s 15 of us and, you know, some people might be asked to do more. Some who might not have been asked to do stuff might have to do more also. So I’m pretty sure we’re going to adjust some things, but I’m pretty sure we’ll figure it out together.

“I mean, I don’t have any problem playing with either one of them. I’ve played both positions throughout my career, so whatever the rotation may be, or whatever they decide to do, I’ll just make sure to be ready to play my part.”

“That’s news to me, but it’s not the first time. It’s like I always say, it’s about once I’m on the court. You know, that’s all I focus on. If you have a question about the rotation, you’ll have to ask him [coach Kidd], but when my number is called I just try to be ready.”

“I’m very, very excited for it. I can’t wait for it to get going. I know that I’ll be going very hard no matter what, like I always do, and that’s the same message I got from the coaching staff. You know, don’t try to coast or whatever, but just let it all out. So for me, I’m very excited and I can’t wait for these couple of weeks to go by and get the season going.”

“I kind of had to get an up-boost in speed in all aspects of the game, just to get it up to NBA speed level. Whether in the post, outside or whatever. Pick and roll game, I had to get that down. Defensively, watching a lot of tape with the coaching staff, particularly the assistant coaches have been on my case about watching a lot of tape and it’s been great. We’ve seen the results in the scrimmages, I’m getting better and it’s the same way in the weight room too.”

“He’s a cool guy off the court, and then on the court, he’s very competitive. Same way in the weight room too, I mean, very, very, VERY competitive. He’s just non-stop, always working and he’s told me just keep on working and soon you’ll see the results and you’ll like it. I’ve been able to follow him a little bit, in terms of the weight room stuff, the coaching staff have been telling me you don’t have to do what Giannis does every time!”

“The thing that sticks out and has impressed me the most is my team’s work ethic. I pride myself, and I’ve done it for years, on being early and staying late. I can’t beat these guys to the gym, it’s amazing. Not because I’m older and I’m slowing down, because these guys get here early. Giannis is the first one in every day and he’s the last one to leave every night. That’s very impressive. Obviously in their growth and development they have to put the work in, but me coming here and seeing them do so, is encouraging in knowing that’s one battle I don’t have to fight.”

“Giannis is a giver, man. He’s so selfless. He sees the floor. He can play multiple positions. You can post him at the free throw line, the logo, you can give it to him off the outlet and he’s a one man fastbreak. The only guy who has some semblance of Giannis is Scottie Pippen. You know, the way he defended, the way he facilitated like a point guard at that size, would be very similar. Another would be LeBron, but he’s just a little more physically built than him, but Giannis is getting there. I know you’ve seen the muscles, he’s been working!

“I’ve seen him play the last week-and-a-half and he’s explosive. There’s no one better in our game today at driving baseline and finishing in traffic than him and then coast-to-coast, end-to-end, he gets there quicker than any guy I’ve seen. Only guy as quick was Shawn Marion.”

“This is what training camp is for. If you look at any roster, you need three centers. If you have two, you’re rolling the dice. So, you know, I think there’ll be a little big-big perhaps, that’s what training camp is for. It’ll be fun to really see where things shake out.”

“I think it’s consistency. That’s something throughout my career that I’ve tried to get better at. I think I had a good year the year before, last year I wasn’t as happy with what I did. However, for me know it’s really just about staying healthy and getting ready to play. We got three centers so it’s a lot of minutes to split up, if they’re going to split them up. But you know, I’ve been here for five years now, and you guys have seen I’ve been here, there and everywhere in the rotation, so it’s nothing new to me.”

“The biggest thing is communication. If we could just get everybody to talk. Obviously, as we get older it’s going to be a little better, but really it’s communication. Talking to guys, letting them know you have their back, “I’m behind you, I’ve got your back, left, right”, I think we lost a little bit of that communication last year and hopefully this year, older team, we’ve been together a while and hopefully we can get on the road next Monday with the Bulls and show what we’ve got.”

“Like I said before, I’m glad to be around J-Kidd again. He’s a great coach, he understands basketball. He’s a huge professional, I love what he does. He’s very competitive and understands the way he wants to play. He’ll do anything to put guys in the right spot and he’ll build a great team chemistry.”

“When coach Earl Watson came along, it was kind of the same system that J-Kidd runs and I played the same basketball when J-Kidd was in Brooklyn. So for me, it was really easy to get shots and I knew the spots where I was supposed to be.”

“I’m the captain of the national team, it’s my responsibility to take care of the young guys and that’s what I did. I’ll do that any team. I’ve played for 13 years and whenever I get called for the national team, I’ll be there. Bosnia is my country and I love it with all of my heart and it’s an honor to represent it.”

“I’m excited, really excited. Little bit nervous coming in with a new team in a different role, but I’m really looking forward to it. The last two weeks, getting to know all the boys, getting to know the different system, I’ve just been counting down the days. I’m looking forward to getting started tomorrow, getting this thing rolling and getting into it.”

“I don’t think my approach changes. I want to come in and play hard, compete. I think my role here is to help out all these other guys and help them become as good as they can be. We’ve got a lot of young guys, with a lot of potential and are still young and learning a lot of things as I’m still young and learning a lot of things as well.”

“I think defense is something that I’ve always tried to pride myself on. With the length and aggressiveness of these guys, I remember playing against the Bucks two years ago and even last year they were a tough defensive team to play against because they’re different to the other teams in the league. I think I can help out on that defensive side, just talking and trying to make sure everybody’s in the right spot. I’m looking forward to the defensive end because I think we can really get after teams.”

“The Houston organization kind of prepped me for it two days before it happened. When I first heard about it, it was more of a thought. ‘Hey man there’s like a 25% chance this thing happens’, so when it happened I was surprised. But this is the business, put one foot in front of another and just move forward.”

“I’ve never had to been told to shoot the ball. Listen, God gave it to me. When I was two, I cleaned up the best. Put all the stuff in the bins faster than the other kids, you know, I just got a knack for putting things in the bucket.”

“The first time I went it was new, you know, I was in Shanghai, big city. It wasn’t really China, i think that’s what I got the second time. Shanghai is a dope city, it’s awesome. But we all grow and we all get to the NBA and you’ve this guy to do this and that guy to do that and you don’t really realize how immature you are until your stomach is growling and there’s nobody putting food in it. My second year in China, I had my family, I just learned how to live life as a human, not as a star or a rich guy. Got to spend a lot of time with my son and it humbled me. I came in on my high horse, number two pick, not listening to God himself and God just had to show me it could be taken away.”