Toronto Raptors Media Availability | January 24, 2024

Toronto Raptors Media Availability | January 24, 2024

Scotty uh what does it mean to you to be named to that 41 man long for USA BK what would it you get further along in the process you know it’s honor to be selected with those group of guys um you know hopefully I’m able to participate

With them this Summer um but if not you know you know I got I just hope for it in the future you played for obviously your country at under 18 level level um how different is it than the NBA and what do you like about

It I would just say well I was younger so um I play for the u5 U6 U u19 uh you know it was it was incredible U being able to go overseas just see what the basketball is like see what the time like is like uh just seeing all the

Different brands of basketball how other teams play and how they you know how fundamental they are uh it was fun it was physical you know uh it was it was a great experience uh you know something that I look forward to doing in the future of situ I have no

Clue Scotty given the newness of of the roster some new guys coming in over the last few weeks how helpful is it to have three days in between games a couple of practices like is this something that you think you guys need oh for sure just

Keep getting to know each other um keep learning our offense learn how to play with each other um you know it’s not going to happen overnight you know you just got to keep working on it keep getting through it uh it’s going to help us have you learned about Emanuel in his

Game specifically when since he’s been here yes so you know he’s been great for us uh you know teams they have to they have to respect his shooter and how he comes off the screen and have they have to get over and you know he makes those read out of those screens

Um hit in the pocket uh H in the next action so keep going then just be able to just make shots and shoot the ball really well so they attract attention attention towards that and him just trying to talk be a leader out there on the floor as well Darko mentioned kind

Of call the next couple days training camp the other day does it feel like it’s starting fresh with some of these guys and having these these days off sort of got that training camp feel say it again does this period right now with a couple days off Darko compared to

Training camp does it feel more like that with so many new guys compared to just a regular practice um I’m one set for me uh you know I feel like these guys they already know how to play basketball so I know how to blend in and

You know fitel into the system uh you know just learn each other games and going from there Scot um on Friday um it’s going to be the last home game before the road going Advantage being on the road away from sort of the noise being away from Toronto

Uh I don’t think so you know I think being at home you know gives you more of a Home Advantage uh but you know it’s fun playing on the road as well uh I don’t really think it matters for me uh it’s fun playing on the road it’s fun playing at home

Uh at this point you know what’s what’s been happening you know I don’t think nothing can really take your attention off more than what happened what’s the biggest challenge that comes with trying to learn your teammates games while still in season um just learning the right way to play I

Think last game you know we got a little stagnant out there um but just Hing up fixing that getting through it having that mental toughness and knowing what we need to get to you know it helps when I lived uh with my family in in

Memphis uh we got in uh touch with uh St Jude Hospital uh Children’s Research Hospital in uh Memphis Tennessee and it really touched our heart to see um all you know the care that’s there for the kids that that all the car is is for free for them um and that everything is

Coming through don’t Nations you know so uh uh it’s it’s a it’s a good cause we believe and it’s something that we really are passionate about and uh we wanted to uh to uh you know collect some uh uh resources there and to help hospitals in uh St Jude in in um Memphis

But also sick kids in Toronto and uh one of the children hospitals in Serbia so all the money that we’re going to collect this year we’re going to divide between three hospitals I imagine it wasn’t a coincidence that you chose assists to kind of connect with this right like something that you’ve been

Emphasizing and kind of a positive stat for sure I mean uh we were thinking about this and this was the idea from the start of the season I just uh today we’re going to have pay a visit to the sick kids hospital it was just good timing to announce it today but yes

Assists are something that they are important on the court but also of the Court you know uh when when we were in the position to help uh to help others to help those in need that’s kind of like our civil Duty so uh we would just

Like to to to make a little contribution from our side what does it mean to just also you know just takeing on to that not just a monetary but also to spend time in these places and get to know the staff and the kids that you’re actually

Helping what does that mean to you um means so much because uh you you can see what they’re really going through you know I always say like when we’re healthy all all of us we have thousand desires thousand things that we would like to to to happen when you’re sick

You have only only one desire just to to get healthy you know and to see those families and those kids fighting so bravely and uh all the support stuff that’s there for them they in and day day out it’s something that’s very very inspiring and it’s it’s a great cause

You obviously have a great passion for FIFA basketball what do you think Scotty will learn being around that americ even train I think the being uh around surrounded with the with the best players on on the national team uh it just uh gives you different perspective how they’re working uh how how they’re

Approaching preparation for the game uh I think that’s that’s that’s amazing amazing opportunity and then playing uh FBA International game the rules are a little bit different uh you’re playing different styles of basketball different different teams I I think it just like pushes you forward to see the game with

Different set of eyes you you know and good example this year was um Anthony Edwards who played the USA basketball and he took a lot of positive things with him into this this season and um I first of all hope and believe that that Scotty is going to make the team and and

Be on the team and then take a lot of lot of from there but being around those like the veteran Pro for two weeks or whatever you learn right you learn how to prepare you learn how to go through practice and how important is that for a

23y old k for sure it’s it’s a huge importance like uh lot of times like young players they they think they have answers for many things but once they uh they they’re surrounded with vets and they see how they’re operating how they’re working when you see one uh

Steph Curry the way he’s working when you see one uh Kevin Durant the way he’s working how every rep is is so important how they’re taking care of their bodies of the Court uh it just goes a long way and sets you for a long-term success excuse me kind ofun

Uh in what what what regard talking on defense like talking teammates yeah he he’s he’s uh still learning you know it’s it’s hard U it’s hard to be a good communicator on on defense when you don’t really know what to say you know so uh we’re really uh

Trying to implement those two days are kind of like first practices that we having a long time to teach those guys where they need to be on the floor what they need to say how to how to communicate that’s that was big big part of our practice today and on offensive end is

Just like recognizing the spacing on the court and uh how he can get us in offense and inside the offense how he can get uh his looks and and open open shots you know so it’s it’s a work on progress but he is very willing actually

To to to say say things on the court and uh and to help teammates he he did uh uh half court staff today with the team uh he started running and jumping he was doing more today uh he still not cleared for full contact and with with him we’re just

Going to go day by day at this point correct correct it’s a fitness is a big part of it now uh getting his conditioning back and feeling him comfortable you know we want to get him in a good spot so he can finish the season

Heal what do you see uh Jon’s Ro being for these guys back like more in the 905 or bench big how do you think that’ll shake out uh I mean when when Yak is back I still see Jon staying with us and and getting his development with us as

Much as possible um I like his game I think he’s a young player with with with potential and definitely we want to give him a chance and a look uh you know we are learning a lot about the team we were building a new team over here so uh

We got to give a give him a really good look uh so we know what we have with him Coach just overall because you said earlier this week that you know these next two days could feel like a training camp potentially how did today go today

Was great day uh we head out Raptors UH 60 which is uh 60 Minutes of work before the practice where players are getting on court workk individually they’re getting uh lift they’re getting treatment for some of the new guys that was like kind of like new what is this

To have all that kind of structure but so introducing them for to that was very important and also we went uh uh practice today it was around hour 10 hour 15 uh and we were able to do a lot of stuff offensively and defensively we

Played live at the end as well just to get those guys you know acclimated you know at this point we have pretty much like five new players in rotation of nine 10 diak did not play whole season he’s playing now jante RJ uh quickly and

Now Bruce brow like there is a lot lot lot of people over there like you guys are lucky to have a lot of to report on um what’s the balance between you know making those adjustments for those new talents and like understanding their style of play versus incorporating them

Into a system that’s already established uh I think uh the big picture uh of where team is going and how we need to develop this team to towards the end of this season and into the summer and into next season that trumps everything you know so uh if that means we’re going to

Play less Zone uh so we can get better in our individual defense and really focus on that then it’s going to be that you know we’re not going to sacrifice anything uh uh on on our team development at player player development that’s most important thing for us establishing a Chemistry Between the

Players and and uh developing those guys on the court and off the court that’s absolute priority for us Jon with with all the newness on the roster here has this sort of been a helpful stretch with three days in between games a couple practices a chance to kind of go back to

The basics a little bit I’d say so for sure a lot of these guys have referenced it’s kind of like a mini training camp in a lot of ways um we have five new guys in the rotation myself included so um with that is going to come a lot of

Uncertainty a lot of jelling takes time to gel I mean most teams they have a full six weeks of training camp to like get together and learn each other’s game and all that we’ve had you know two days in some instances to incorporate Bruce Brown and all them so uh days like today

Are going to be really helpful for us and who knows what’s going to come with our next slate of games our next road trip and all that but I know for one thing um we’ll definitely be much better teammates we’ll be sharing the ball learning each other’s Tendencies and all

That which typically leads to success you learned you up yeah I’d have to write a book to write down all the things I’ve learned in this short period of time every game every matchup it seems like I’m learning something new um a lot of the times it’s from mistakes

I’m making which you know it sucks to make mistakes but at the same time you’re learning from those to not make those mistakes again in the future so every game I’m having uh a lot of experience and I’m just happy to be out there but at the same time I’m learning

So that hopefully the next game out I can do better eliminate those mistakes and help our team win um but for the steady minutes in the steady gameplay it’s just a blessing man and uh yeah it’s been a lot of fun to just play basketball take where journal

Over C for sure yeah and I was just getting with drill one of our assistant coaches he shows me all the film every every day and uh points out the mistakes but also Praises me Pats me on the back what I do do well to not kill my

Confidence all the time but uh no I think I’m doing all right man I’m doing my best to go out there and compete and in the meantime learning like I said from those mistakes but also leaning on my strengths and um you know it sucks to

Be losing but at the end of the day we’re all getting better and hopefully those turns into wins really soon what’s the tougher end to sort of get the habits down correctly the tougher end like offens oh oh s um definitely defense those I mean offense comes

Naturally just passing the ball and then knocking down your shots that’s really what I’m asked to do um which I haven’t been doing amazing at but that’s just something that you know you don’t have to think too much about it defense is like a game of chess out there

Especially with these matchups I’m going against whether it’s porzingis or vuich or every big you play against you have to do a different coverage and uh not make a mistakes my leash is a little bit shorter naturally so I’m always thinking out there like don’t make that mistake

Or else you’re going to get yanked I mean we saw that with the Memphis game right so uh that’s not a bad thing necessarily it’s stuff to learn from but defense is definitely the side of the ball that um though I do do some things good naturally and uh you know and real

Coverage as one of them you always have to be thinking like your mind has to be racing 100% of the time you can’t just like autopilot it out there or else you know you’re going to get yanked whether you’re Scotty Barnes or John C Porter so what’s your biggest takeaway style of

Playwise from this team that is maybe bit a bit more unique uh my me personally saying or the team just the team and then also you can insert yourself the team is interesting um like I said we haven’t had too much time to jail and there’s been a lot of new faces

If you asked me this day one when I got here with Pascal and OG it’ be a different answer than it is now so we’re still learning ing those Tendencies and you know who demands the ball when there’s 5 seconds left on the shot clock

Like who’s the guy to get it to with the grenade situation um but with this team in general I think an big heavy emphasis Darko has put on is just you know the point five basketball Swinging The Rock getting everyone involved is really contagious I felt that in a certain some

Some games we played where we’re winning by um a lot of points where we probably don’t have business winning those games but it’s because of the way we play the way um we’re getting Shooters open passing the rock getting everyone involved it’s contagious makes every happy to be there and uh that’s the

Thing we really got to get down he was emphasizing today we played a little bit about play a little bit of five on five is like get the get the rock make a decision we don’t want to take 10 pounds and you know hoist up a jumper that’s

Not the right way to play basketball especially with the Personnel we have on this team so that’s going to be a season long process and I know every team kind of puts an emphasis on that 0 five it’s a you know a trendy topic nowadays but I

Think that’s something that this team in particular can really hammer down on and that’s going to lead to a lot of wins in the future dark talked about positivity and coming in here the season and stilling confidence in guys uh how has he done that for you yeah I’m in a tough

Position as a young guy signing a twoa and then instantly kind of being brought up in the rotation it comes with a lot of nerves and I think I’m naturally a little bit more nervous of a guy you know before going into a game like there’s just a lot of nerves you was

Shaking a little bit so um I think it was really important for me in my confidence to have a coach like him who’s constantly um pulling you aside sharing what he sees sharing how you can be better even after practice before he came over here and talked to you guys or

Sorry after practice before we came over and talked to you guys he pulled me aside and just shared a couple tips on defense like if it’s one through five red and we’re switching and I’m on a guard the right footwork when uh a guard tries to blow by you which happened a

Couple times I think in the Chicago game which is why I got yanked in the fourth quarter so things like that I’m just super appreciative of that he’s not just throwing me out there with the sharks and just like you know hoping I don’t sink but uh he’s helping me actively

Swim he’s teaching me new things every day along with the rest of the coaching staff um that’s going to lead to a lot of success in the future not only for our team but hopefully for myself so he’s been awesome through and through you’ve gotten this opportunity to start

With the yak out and you’ve talked a lot about your history in the game going up playing with some really good players and learning to complement those really good players has that kind of helped prepared you in a sense has made it a bit of a natural fit to to play with

Some of these guys in the starting lineup for sure yeah and um just you know I first got here and I wasn’t playing just watching these guys watching how Yak is a good connector and he doesn’t demand shots you know it comes to him sometimes he’ll shoot 10

Shots a game sometimes he’ll shoot two it just depends on the matchup and what’s going on that’s kind of the same role I’m in and obviously our games are a lot different I kind of stretch the floor he’s more of interior guy but I think he does a tremendous job at uh

Knowing his role as a big man and really excelling at it and that’s something I admire so our games couldn’t be further from each other’s I guess in a sense but um looking to him especially as well as the Vets Garrett and uh Thad and them

Kind of just teaching me along the way has really helped prepare me to kind of be in the starting lineup um and who knows what the future holds minutes wise but whenever I’m out there I know I’ll be better prepared than I would be without these guys at my I know you

Pride in your passing has been has watching th been sort of even more instructive given how quickly you can theall from yeah for sure it’s been a bit surprising actually I wasn’t too familiar with this game I mean obviously like I grew up I was a baby and he was

Probably playing in the NBA but um I I never really studed his Darko literally calls me Thad junor because he says he should be my dad the way we’re both lefties and he’s been 30 years older than me but um we both pass the ball and kind of under the rim

Players but yeah watching him just the way he threads threads the needle pretty much every time it’s open um not only you know encourages the guys to do more cuts which helps me um but it kind of just shows similar to football you have quarterbacks like Mahomes that are just

Like Gunslingers and they aren’t afraid to make mistakes I think that really takes that characteristics where it’s like he’s going to make risky passes and um you kind of have to to be considered a really good passer joic Luca all them make you know behind the back passes and

All that stuff and it’s risky sure but if you’re going to be a good passer you have to be willing to take risks and that’s something I’m going to have to do as a two-way player being kind of put in this lineup I’m going to have to

Take risks and uh luckily I have coaching staff that believes in me and is going to let me make some mistakes um but that in particular the way he passes the ball and you know I try to model that a little bit and even if that comes

With the turnover or two I’m sorry if uh someone already asked I was finishing up with Coach but um dark was saying just now to us that he imagines that you’re going to stay with this team continue to practice and learn when comes back what

Do you hope your role will be on this team going forward and what do you hope to continue to learn yeah I don’t know I I haven’t really thought too much in the future I’m kind of taking it day by day at this point and like like you said

Like yak’s about to come back who knows what my role will diminish to or grow into eventually I don’t know but every day that I’m you know assigned to the Raptors as a two-way I’m going to try to learn and whether I don’t whether I’m with the play groups or I’m in the

Starting group like I’m I’m going to try to learn from these guys because all of them literally all of them have more experience than me in the NBA um so yeah I’m not sure I don’t really have any expectations or hopes as it pertains to minutes played or whatever but um as

Long as I’m continually getting better so that when my time eventually does come to kind of step into a bigger role I’m ready for it and ready to excel so

Players and Coach speak with the media following Wednesday’s practice. #raptors #torontoraptors

00:00 – Scottie Barnes
03:51 – Darko Rajakovic
11:47 – Jontay Porter