You have chosen number 5 instead of your usual numbers 0 and 23. What is the story behind it?
Initially because I couldn’t wear 23 or 0 I went back to the only other number I wore as a pro. As it thought more into it the number 5 seemed to be a number that followed me this year leading up until when I was asked to choose a number. First, my favorite number 23/2+3=5, I won 5 European championships in 5 years (took me 5 years from college to get to the NBA), and the two biggest are family related being that my nephew skyler who’s name I kiss after every 3pt shot is 5yrs old. The biggest reason is for my brother surviving 5 gunshots and being the biggest inspiration in my life as well as who I dedicate this season to.
What was your biggest anticipation going into the first game of the Preaseason?
Just to finally step on a Nba floor against the best talent in the world and compete at the highest level.
Statistics wise your best games were vs. Spurs and vs. Pistons but if you had to pick the game where u felt best, which one was it?
The pistons game was my best game because I played my style and just had a great feeling of the game flow on both ends of the floor
Your team finished the preseason with a 5-2 record. What do you think you will have to work on going into the regular season? Personally and as a team.
We just have to continue to play unselfish and get better defensively. We have all of the pieces to be successful now we just have to put it all together.
You are playing the first home game (season opener) vs. Washington Wizards. What will be crucial for you and your team to come out victorious in that game?
They have great guard play and we need to contain them and just play our style. We match up well with everybody so we just need to stay aggressive on both ends and not take plays off.
What do you like most at this point about going back home and playing in the NBA?
The biggest thing is being around my real friends and family. Also enjoying the American culture and being comfortable in every day life.
Preseason Statistics
Opponent | Min | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | W/L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +11 | 4 | W | |
24 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 5-5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -12 | 13 | L | |
16 | 0-7 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -6 | 0 | W | |
15 | 5-9 | 2-3 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +6 | 13 | L | |
18 | 3-6 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | W | |
14 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 2 | W |