The Golden State Warriors held exit interviews in what appeared from on-site reporters’ video clips the auxiliary interview room that was setup for the NBA Finals. From the main court, you would walk through the tunnel past Section 124 then hang an immediate left instead of going straight, where you run into the main Bill King Interview Room (and where players would head downstairs to the locker room). The Warriors obviously had to leave the podium there in case there was a Game 7 and haven’t gotten around to tearing that down yet.
I won’t go through the trouble of listing the names of the players who took the podium — the main guys got the day off — and making it all look nice here as my main goal is an information dump, as usual. Check the names in the headings below, and the full videos.
Coolest parts were when the free agents said how they wanted to come back, and then also the delay by James Wiseman hitting the podium because he had just done a workout. Not sure if Jonathan Kuminga also did a workout, but he was pretty late to the podium as well.
JP
DISCLAIMER: These are all just notes for my main workflow of YouTube videos, tweeted by beatwriters. I used to transcribe every interview but it became too tedious and not worth the investment for the small amount of views we got on the soundbites on YouTube. The links to the tweets are not available because sometimes I don’t use the full tweet and just having a ton of tweets on this website imo isn’t aesthetically pleasing and gets away from the main goal: transferring information (not so much entertainment) asap.
• Jordan Poole on Draymond Green: “Some people just have it.” (Janie McCauley)
• On Green staying in his lane, ignoring the critics, and being resilient: “Like, Draymond did a podcast after the game, that’s awesome.” (Kylen Mills)
• On how Andrew Wiggins has changed: “I think he kinda found out that the guys around him wanted to see him successful… He had to just feel comfortable enough to be himself.” (95.7 The Gane)
• On people still doubting the Warriors: “We rise to the occasion when our backs are against the wall…They can talk as much as they want, but obviously it’s not working.” (95.7 The Game, Madeline Kenney)
• On the viral video of him and Wiggins talking about getting paid soon and his future contract situation: He says he hasn’t thought about it, deflects a follow up and says he doesn’t know about finances he only spent 2 years in school. (Jason Dumas, Kylen Mills)
• Poole’s favorite pair of sneakers that he hooped in this season: Barcelona Kobe 11s. (Jason Dumas)
WIGGS
• Andrew Wiggins on being an NBA champion: “A lot of people didn’t think I could ever be in this position or even help on a championship team. I feel like I’m proving the doubters wrong, I’m going to just keep it going…As good as we were this year, I feel like next year we’re going to be even better.” He expects JK, Moses Moody, James Wiseman to make big jumps this summer. (Whitley Sandretto, Madeline Kenney, Kendra Andrews, Kylen Mills)
• Wiggins said the plane ride home was “a bunch of hungover people with loud music.” (95.7 The Game)
• On possible extension: “I would love to stay here. Being here is top notch, the way they treat their players, the way they treat your family, we’re all one family. A lot of places say that, but they show that through their actions. I would love to stay here.” (Madeline Kenney, Monte Poole)
• On if Wiggins is actually going to go to Spain this summer: “If Jordan (Poole) wants to go, I’ll go.” (Madeline Kenney)
• On Kenny Atkinson’s return: “He gave up a head coaching job to come back and be a part of this thing we got here. It’s amazing. It shows that all we got here is a bunch of people that want to win, that are on the same page. And we’re looking forward to the future.” (CJ Holmes)
• On how impactful this playoff run was for himself, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James Wiseman: “It feels really good to be able to get a ring so early.” (NBCSBA)
OTTO
• Otto Porter is “still processing. It’s the best feeling in the world.” (Janie McCauley)
• On the comparisons to Wilt Chamberlain and Lionel Richie: “I’ll take it, now that I’m champion.” (Janie McCauley)
• On his future: “Who knows what’s gonna happen…I do know this team can compete for another championship. It would be a great opportunity if I could stay here, it would be amazing… to be able to do it all over again…I hydrated all day yesterday. I’m ready to go again, though.” (Madeline Kenney, 95.7 The Game)
• On what he learned from joining the Warriors organization: “Man, I learned a lot. How they win. How they go about doing it the right way. There’s really no place like it.” (95.7 The Game)
• On what he learned from Stephen Curry during this postseason title run:
“That he’s human.” (Janie McCauley)
• On if the feeling of winning a championship lived up to his expectations: “Yeah, times 100 … best experience of my life.” (NBCSBA)
GP2
• Gary Payton II said he felt “just relief” after winning the title. “It’s been amazing, mind blowing, still crazy. Hasn’t really sunk in yet…It’s just unbelievable.” Madeline Kenney)
• On having an NBA championship like Gary Payton Sr.: “He’s not the only one with a ring now.” (Janie McCauley)
• On the viral video with his dad: “He’s not the only one with a ring now. That was pretty much that moment. Just to talk my sh*t.” (95.7 The Game)
• On coming back to the Warriors: “Yeah absolutely hopefully I get to choose this time, I think. I get to choose this time, I think. So it’ll be interesting. Looking forward to it though.” (me, Madeline Kenney, Janie McCauley)
• On the likelihood of re-signing with the Warriors: “I’m not sure. It’s kind of new to me.” (Shayna Rubin)
WISE
• James Wiseman says there’s a “90 percent” chance he plays in summer league, says he’s back running, doing “regular stuff” and trying to get in shape and making sure everything with his knee is right. (CJ Holmes, Kendra Andrews)
• On how he’s feeling: “I’m feeling great. I’m running now…knee hasn’t been swelling.” (95.7 The Game, me)
• “My bad (to a on-scene reporter), I’m sweating. I just got done working out.” (me)
LOON
• How Kevon Looney feels after playing 104 games: “I feel really good. Actually feel like I could play some more but glad I don’t have to.” (95.7 The Game)
• On coming back to the Warriors next season but understanding it’s a business:
“I’d love to come back and defend what we just won, but you never know in this league.” (95.7 The Game)
JK
• Jonathan Kuminga on winning a ring his rookie season: “Very special. Grateful… I’m really happy. I don’t know how to describe it.” (95.7 The Game)
• On his brother going back to Africa and saying everybody is really proud of him: “Everybody is happy that you’re a champion,” his brother told him. (Madeline Kenney)
• On his takeaway from this past season: “I feel like I grew a lot as a person.” (95.7 The Game)
• On participating in Summer League: “I would love to…I want to do it especially if I’m trying to learn and get better…I gotta play.” (Madeline Kenney)
👍👍💛💙