KUMINGA: “back home ppl watching me playing against KD, it’s mind-blowing”; SCHRODER: “game-changer”
captions +👇timestamps below, scroll down or tap “More” … PREVIOUS VID: Kerr https://youtu.be/RNF03F_ypsQ … KUMINGA Q&As: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszalip37vKLy42Zj_1DPRLmJ48RVApSa … SCHRODER: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszalip37vKLreYeRltkjuZFYseU9pe_Z … KUMINGA ANALYSIS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszalip37vKJge8J9T7u3afpgPrKoe6KR … ALL PLAYLISTS: https://youtube.com/letsgowarriors/playlists
🔊 AUDIO ENHANCED TO HEAR REPORTERS’ QUESTIONS — NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE! 🔊
PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT (SEE COMMENTS FOR FULL):
00:00 How big was that three tonight for you?
00:08 DENNIS SCHRODER: I mean, it helped us a lot. We took the lead. Felt good, for sure, to knock down a three. It’s been a rough couple of games. But I’m glad we won the game.
00:26 You’ve transitioned to new franchises plenty of times in your career. Has this one been more challenging at all than past ones?
00:35 No, I mean, from Boston to Houston was one and Toronto to Brooklyn. That was my only two. But this organization, I mean, they stand for championships and winning organization. And I just, it’s different if you go to the Houston Rockets or you come into this organization and you play with Steph Curry, Draymond, Andrew Wiggins, Kuminga. I mean, you just gotta fit in, kinda. And we’re just figuring it out right now.
01:16 How much of the transition has led to kind of your colder shooting struggles and how much is it just maybe a little cold patch.
01:24 Yeah, it shouldn’t affect me because, at the end of the day, defensively, I think that’s where we gotta focus on. That’s what we did tonight. I think defensively was really disruptive and just making sure they feel uncomfortable and we dictate the game. And that’s what we did tonight. And I think when that is solid every single night, it gives us a chance to win the game. And even if you’re not shooting it well, you can have a great game. I just gotta focus on that side of the ball first and then all the shots I’m taking in the game, I take them every single day, so they’re going to fall eventually.
05:08 Steve Kerr said he thinks something’s broken through, something’s happened here for you in the last week or so. Do you feel that way, that there’s been a breakthrough or do you just feel it’s just the natural process for you?
05:20 JONATHAN KUMINGA: I feel like it is a natural process. Everybody in the organization playing a big part of it, helping me throughout every situation including my coaches, including Steve, including my teammates, just trusting me, having that trust in me and stuff like that. And I feel like it’s been like that all season. Like, I always say before, if you play great, they’ll just look at that, but they don’t see it when you just play normal. You try to win, but I feel like I just been trying to win, that’s all.
05:59 How big did those free throws, feel down the stretch?
06:02 I felt great. I miss couple. It was — I was nervous a little bit, I ain’t gonna lie. I’ve never been in a situation where I gotta go to the free throw and everybody’s quiet. And I gotta make those free throws. And I’m glad and lucky I made those too, so.
06:23 Has that — I think your percentage this season has dipped from last year — has that been frustrating, your free throws?
06:31 Not really, no. It’s all about just focusing and locking in and just making those free throws and I feel like I was shooting well, free throws throughout all my workout and stuff like that. And then when I get to the game, something changed and I didn’t know what it was. But Wiggs is one of the people that helped me. There was a year Wiggs struggled shooting free throws, so he was just in the same situation as me, but Wiggs is one of the people that kind of helped me and just gave me a little tip to it and I feel like I’m getting…
[entire Transcript in Comments 👉]
ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT OF THIS AND OTHER INTERVIEWS ON OUR WEBSITE: https://www.letsgowarriors.com — transcript is already done, as it was edited as necessary for the captions of this video. The difficulty and delay lies within the reformatting of it to conform to YouTube Description and Comments character limitations. Please be patient as we go through that process.
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: We do not own any of these videos or clips, but we are still a news reporting agency. The final work here transforms the original works by improving the audio available so as to hear the reporters’ questions, adding edited captions plus a compelling thumbnail, and providing a complete and edited transcript to enhance viewership knowledge, context, understanding and comprehension with said news reporting. Fair use rights should be considered. CREDITS: Warriors, NBA.
FROM DEC 28, 2024, postgame after Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors, held at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA.
#goldenstatewarriors
#dennisschroder
#jonathankuminga
#stephcurry
#stephencurry
#kevindurant
#phoenixsuns
#warriors
#nba
#dubnation
11 Comments
00:00 How big was that three tonight for you?
00:08 DENNIS SCHRODER: I mean, it helped us a lot. We took the lead. Felt good, for sure, to knock down a three. It's been a rough couple of games. But I'm glad we won the game.
00:26 You've transitioned to new franchises plenty of times in your career. Has this one been more challenging at all than past ones?
00:35 No, I mean, from Boston to Houston was one and Toronto to Brooklyn. That was my only two. But this organization, I mean, they stand for championships and winning organization. And I just, it's different if you go to the Houston Rockets or you come into this organization and you play with Steph Curry, Draymond, Andrew Wiggins, Kuminga. I mean, you just gotta fit in, kinda. And we're just figuring it out right now.
01:16 How much of the transition has led to kind of your colder shooting struggles and how much is it just maybe a little cold patch.
01:24 Yeah, it shouldn't affect me because, at the end of the day, defensively, I think that's where we gotta focus on. That's what we did tonight. I think defensively was really disruptive and just making sure they feel uncomfortable and we dictate the game. And that's what we did tonight. And I think when that is solid every single night, it gives us a chance to win the game. And even if you're not shooting it well, you can have a great game. I just gotta focus on that side of the ball first and then all the shots I'm taking in the game, I take them every single day, so they're going to fall eventually.
02:06 It's been kind of a cold shooting stretch for the whole team, as a group, obviously not just for you. How much can one game and sort of one positive outcome at the end kind of turn things around mentally for a group?
02:16 Yeah, I mean, before I got here or when I got here, I mean, there was, I think, they lost out of 10 games, they lost eight. And, I mean, mentally, everybody was positive. Everybody in practice, it felt like they was winning. And that's what I love about this group. Everybody is just being positive and doing everything together. I mean, the leaders were Draymond and Curry. They set in a great example, how to be a pro and how you do things on a day-to-day basis. And yeah, I mean, of course, it's great to win while we transitioning into how we want to play, yeah, but, yeah, we're not going to change if we lose games. We're just going to stay with it.
03:10 Steve mentioned your defense on Tyus, in particular, and how you're able to disrupt what he was doing, like you said. And when you're trying to get yourself going, how much does it help to be able to sort of throw yourself into things on defense to give you some energy and momentum in the right direction?
03:22 Yeah, I mean, that's what I did my whole career. That's what got me on the floor when I was with Atlanta and that's just me. And the last couple of games I wasn't — I mean, Clippers game first half, but then James Harden did a great job of passing it and then just going into the post, but I gotta set the tone on the defensive end, picking up 94 feet and offensive end is going to come.
03:51 Dennis, I know you've only been here a couple of weeks, but what have you learned about Jonathan Kuminga since you've been here and how much can he change the dynamic of this team if he can be productive the way he's been the last few games?
04:04 Yeah, I mean, you can't control if the ball goes in or not, but how professional he is on a day-to-day basis, every single day being positive, having a smile on his face, it's important for us. I mean, I just got here and I tried to feel everybody out, but I had a couple of convos already with him because I think when he is a screen-and-roller or we hit Dray in the pocket and then he coming out of the corner to slash to the basket, it's really unstoppable. And I think, of course, he can handle the ball. He's a great player, but I think when we really want to be effective for him as well, that's how he gotta play, like he did tonight, open shots, threes, dunks, in the post a little bit. Like, he's just a game-changer when he plays that way.
05:08 Steve Kerr said he thinks something's broken through, something's happened here for you in the last week or so. Do you feel that way, that there's been a breakthrough or do you just feel it's just the natural process for you?
05:20 JONATHAN KUMINGA: I feel like it is a natural process. Everybody in the organization playing a big part of it, helping me throughout every situation including my coaches, including Steve, including my teammates, just trusting me, having that trust in me and stuff like that. And I feel like it's been like that all season. Like, I always say before, if you play great, they'll just look at that, but they don't see it when you just play normal. You try to win, but I feel like I just been trying to win, that's all.
05:59 How big did those free throws, feel down the stretch?
06:02 I felt great. I miss couple. It was — I was nervous a little bit, I ain't gonna lie. I've never been in a situation where I gotta go to the free throw and everybody's quiet. And I gotta make those free throws. And I'm glad and lucky I made those too, so.
06:23 Has that — I think your percentage this season has dipped from last year — has that been frustrating, your free throws?
06:31 Not really, no. It's all about just focusing and locking in and just making those free throws and I feel like I was shooting well, free throws throughout all my workout and stuff like that. And then when I get to the game, something changed and I didn't know what it was. But Wiggs is one of the people that helped me. There was a year Wiggs struggled shooting free throws, so he was just in the same situation as me, but Wiggs is one of the people that kind of helped me and just gave me a little tip to it and I feel like I'm getting better at it back again.
07:08 Any specific tip from him?
07:12 Just not doing too many motions. I feel like I had too many motions throughout my free throws. And just wanted me to shoot through one motion. And I feel like that kind of helped a lot.
07:27 How did — over here — how did tonight, if at all, feel different than last night in the sense that Steph, a lot of what you did tonight was with Steph and Draymond on the court with you? Steve had said before the game, he felt like that was the next step for you, to be assertive and have this kind of big night playing with Steph and Draymond, who obviously didn't play last night.
07:45 They make all of us life easier, things I don't need to work for myself. When I have those two guys on the floor, I just get easy bucket. So just having them, they make my life easier on a lot of aspects and perspectives. So I'm just glad they came back and we got the dub.
08:11 Taking on the challenge in guarding KD in the fourth quarter, how much did it mean to you to get a couple steals, get a couple stops against him?
08:23 Sorry. Yeah, it means a lot. KD is one of the people that we always look up to. Obviously, back home, people watching me playing against KD, it's mind-blowing. We all as a kid used to watch those type of guys, KD, and just going out there playing against him every other time I get a chance, it means a lot. Like I said, I love guarding those type of players, one of the best players in the league. And it's a challenge. It's a — you gotta put your mental focus on it, to go out there and get a couple of stops. Obviously, you're not going to get all of them, but just going out there against him and taking that challenge, it means a lot.
09:10 They've been talking about getting you the ball on the move. We saw that clearly yesterday. Does that mean doing different things for you or are you just thinking cut, cut, cut? Is there action that helps you be able to get the ball on the move? And is that kind of what happened on that last play when you got under the rim from Draymond and got fouled?
09:29 The last play was with actually anybody that could be open. And I ended up being open. Well, obviously, where the ball was going to Steph, but I ended up being open and Draymond trusted me and he threw the ball to me. So, I mean, it's just about going out there and just playing free and not overthinking. And I think that's why Steve been telling me and the rest of the guys, just don't overthink, just go out there and play, just be you.
10:03 Draymond has been one of your strongest advocates since Day One. How would you describe him as your mentor?
10:11 It's not that much to — it's a lot to say about what Draymond has been in my life. He has helped me a lot, on and off the court. And it's he's a vet for me throughout my career, throughout my fourth year, four years I've been here, so. And I really appreciate the little tips and things he tells me and help me here and there. He just keep helping me, helping me to become the person I want to be.
10:48 Kerr said they're gonna stick with this lineup, with you coming off the bench pretty quickly. It looks like maybe, but are you getting used to this? Do you have to prepare differently? You might get 34 minutes, like you did tonight, but you're still coming off the bench.
11:00 I mean, I feel like I only started, like, six games out of I don't know how many. I don't know, what, 31. So now I feel like my role being coming off the bench. I'm used to that. And there is gonna be nights where I'll start, gonna be nights where I'll go out there and play a lot of minutes. But my focus is staying the course. And anytime I get that chance to start or just coming off the bench, that anytime I go out there, I can impact. That's my main focus. The more I start thinking about starting and not starting and — I'll lose my own mind. So I'm just focusing on just anything that happen, I want my mental just be right when I go out there and just play for my team and play for my team.
So great to see Schroder get this three. Really feel for him and Buddy at the moment. 3pt shot just not falling during the game. In saying that they have been playing some reasonable DEF. Dennis contributing to turnover on Durant with a minute to go. Timely rebounds. Buddy with a steal. Imagining a game where most of the team is firing again.
The problem is Steve Kerr give the young guns chance 2 play! Look at what happens to buddy fields hields confidence.😢
The lack of SloMo minutss makes no sense. Kerr and these 3 guard lineups… it's not sustainable. More TJD. More SloMo. More Looney. Steph and Dray are too old to play undersized at every position, Steve
Great job jk❤❤
Keep it up young man🥰🥰😘
Watching from Philippines🥰🥰🥰
God blessed u always jk🥰😍😍
Always stay humble🙏🙏🙏🙏
Keep on winning
Where the fake fans at lol. "Trade kuminga" 🤣🤣
Trade slow mo u not going play 😔 him
Pff…we barely won against a depleted Suns team without two starters and their top defender. JK has finally put up two good games, but this team has deep issues that some rando win can't disguise.
Jk growth is putting pressure on Steve to play him more and also his maturity is inspiring
he burned the rockets so hard.