Alex Toohey & Will Richard's First Press Conference with Warriors

Alex Toohey & Will Richard’s First Press Conference with Warriors

danny Emerman with San Francisco Standard here What What have this these past few days been like for you personally like from the draft to now It’s been exciting Um obviously kind of you’re not sure where you’re going one day and then three days later you’re getting ready to play games with them So it’s definitely exciting and um very thankful to be part of such a cool organization and having Andrew Bogurt around he’s told me a lot So yeah luck of the dice but feel like I got pretty lucky
What are some things that Bogat has told you about the Warriors organization Yeah Well first thing he said he loved the city here Loved his time here Likes to get back here And then um just head to toe the organization’s committed to winning and everything’s trying to get better each year and the way they play basketball is also um very Australian and I think he understand that and when he played back in Sydney brought that kind of play style So um very exciting I think it’s going to be pretty easy to fit into that play style because that’s how we like to play But yeah excited
In what way is it Australian like I’ve never heard that that put it that way before
I think the fact that we kind of pass the ball a bit more instead of like the ISO one-on-one stuff So I think yeah Australians a lot of the guys like Gideon Dyson coming in it’s it’s very pass first kind of play style And um sometimes that can go the other way and kind of got to be a bit more aggressive But I think just looking at finding your teammates more and um enjoying your teammate success is is a big part of Australian basketball and then just being tough being versatile and um being smart basketball players
Hey Alex Daltton Johnson NBC Sports Bay Area To kind of keep that going what’s your relationship maybe with Taran Armstrong and just what do you maybe know about his game as well
Yeah um obviously competed with Taran this year and knew him before that So um first of all cool to see him get that 2-way at the end of the year That was definitely exciting and then um doing workouts here and seeing him around and like seeing how his body’s changed and seeing how he’s talked about how his shots improved how he’s just an all round better basketball player It’s definitely cool to see that kind of progression as a as a player and a person So excited to to get into that side but um just be around Australians I think it’s it’s always nice to have people um from where you’re from So excited for that And he’s said nothing but great things
How would you describe just the the pre-draft process going through the combine all of that And did you have an idea that the Warriors their interest was this high in you
Um I did a few workouts and this is probably one of my worst ones So um when I got the call I kind of felt like apologizing and saying like I’m sorry about the workout but thanks for doing your job earlier and and researching and stuff but um yeah it was exciting and coming from Australia it’s just cool to be in different cities and meet new people and um get some free gear as well was pretty cool So yeah enjoyed the process and um yeah I’m happy to be here
How was the how was uh how was the draft work out bad I mean you said it was one of your worst workouts What what went wrong
H I didn’t shoot it very well Um and then yeah I probably didn’t play my best but I mean that’s how it goes You’re going to have good games bad games So um yeah I had a few more after that but yeah was excited to get the call and definitely thankful
I saw you were at the Valkyries game last night I was wondering did you get to meet Steph or did you already meet Steph or Pods or kind of what was that night like
Yeah it was it was incredible Um first of all the atmosphere was was unbelievable and um kind of nothing I’ve ever been like before So that was cool And then um sat next to Brandon and that was uh super cool He’s such a great guy and had some good conversations and loves the city and loves the team and spoke about his process and how he got to where he is And then um saw Steph on the big screen which was pretty cool but I’m sure I’ll meet him in the next few days Uh Alex Sam Gordon San Francisco Chronicle Nice to meet you Welcome to the Bay Um what was the actual draft night Like did you were you back in Australia for that And how who were you watching with How did that whole thing go
So I was training in LA Okay For the last few months with some other draft guys and kind of went to our agents house and chucked the TV on and me and Locky the other Australian that was in the agency um just sat and watched as a as a group and it was exciting a lot of nerves but um feel like we both got some good situations out of it
And then Mike told us the other day Mike Dunle he mentioned that you know he had sent some scouts over to watch you you know watch you play during the season Did you do you remember that when when Warriors scouts were there Did they meet you at all Like what when did you find kind of first sense that the Warriors in particular were interested I think the scouts obviously do their job um from early on and I’m sure there’s probably games and when I was much younger where I can’t remember they were watching or probably didn’t even see them but um I think the blitz there are definitely a few scouts there and and played well So um knew there was going to be some interest but I think just kind of looking at how I play and how different NBA teams play I think it’s probably one of the best fits possible So um I was excited and yeah when I got that call it definitely made my day And then to to kind of follow on what you just said from a fit standpoint what do you like about the way your skill set fits with how the Warriors play
Yeah I think just being versatile I think um being able to play in big lineups playing small lineups and be able to set screens play out the short role make shots um make actions and yeah find my teammates So just excited
Thank you
Hey Alex Chris Alers from ABC here in San Francisco Um obviously you said your workout wasn’t great but how was the interview process that day That must have gone well right
Yeah I felt like I um had a pretty good interview and um it’s obviously pretty stressful but after you do a few it’s just another conversation and they don’t want to make it too serious They want to just hear what you’re like and kind of get a sense of your personality So um felt like I was pretty comfortable being myself around them and um they all seem like great guys and I’m I’m just glad that they believed in me So excited across the board Maybe not with the Warriors but when guys go through draft process sometimes they get asked these really oddball questions in the draft process What was the oddest question you were asked that kind of threw you for a loop I got asked um like what my teammates would say about me And that’s a pretty interesting one because like obviously you got great relationships with your teammates but um like the Australian sense is like there’s a bit of banter and like some like sometimes some things that we find funny other people don’t really find too funny So um I think I just had to kind of dial it down to just saying a pretty funny teammate and someone that tries to yeah make a joke now and then to kind of follow up on that When you think about the fact that now you’re a part of the Golden State Warriors any players after 20 or so minutes of being drafted that you say “I want to ask them this I want to pick this person’s brain I want to get to know this person as soon as I meet them because I need to understand this about the franchise?” If so who are those players
I think the first ones um that come to mind are obviously Stephan Draymond They’ve they’ve been here for ages And then I think Andrew Bogat as well um someone that was a part of those championships and kind of has that Australian um glimpse and kind of how he sees things So speaking to those guys and then um definitely excited to speak to Draymond about his journey and obviously he was a second round pick but um how he just found a way to influence the game and he does so many things well and obviously he’s an elite defender and I think that’s kind of someone that I can definitely look up to and learn a bunch of things from Last one Do you see yourself as more of a three or a four I think in the NBA today they’re pretty similar Um I think either position I play I think if I play the three I had that kind of being able to set screens pick and pick and roll Um had that sense and then playing at the at the four being able to take guys off the dribble and having that um advantage and having a good handle on me So I think a combination I think it’s just going to be um every night you’re going to be asked to do something different So being able to feel both Great Thank you
Thank you
Hey Hey Well uh what’s just the last few days been like for you just coming in here and what has that been like
Uh it’s been a surreal feeling Um I mean it’s a blessing to be able to uh join this organization and be a part of it So uh just spending time with the family uh celebrating and just getting ready for this next step
And what’s your first impression of the Warriors been just as an organization
Uh it’s been great I mean I’ve been watching them since I was a little kid so it’s definitely a blessing to be able to join him and be on the team So uh just just happy to be here
Do you have a favorite player as a kid
I did Stephen Curry
I did
How surreal is it to know that you’re going to be on the same team as him
Yeah it’s um crazy I’m definitely going to be watching him a lot asking a lot of questions Try to learn as much as possible
How you doing Will Sam Gordon uh San Francisco Chronicle Nice to meet you Welcome to the Bay Um you came in for a workout correct I did What was that process like getting to meet you know folks around here and and what was draft day like for you Where did you watch the draft Did you expect to get drafted How did that all come together Yeah Yeah the pre-draft workout was great I mean uh everybody in organ organization was very welcoming Uh it was fun I mean being able to come out here and uh work out for the team So it was fun And then uh draft day I went back home to Atlanta Um kept it tight Had just immediate family some friends over We watching at the house and we kind of knew the second round was where I was uh where my night was going to start So uh definitely just watching But when we heard that Golden State was a team I was I was very excited and was ready to get down here
Yeah And just how do you feel like your game you know fits knowing the way the Warriors play knowing the skills that that you bring to the table
Yeah I think it fits perfectly I mean I’m a guy that can do a little bit everything to help the team win So whether that’s spacing the floor uh just guarding at a high level rebounding I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help us win
Any uh any trash talk with with LJ from uh National
No I I kept it cool I mean uh he’s a great player I respect his game so it’s it’s good to be on the same team with him Awesome Nice to meet you Hey Willa Daltton Johnson NBC Sports Bay Area Just what are you looking forward to the most with summer league and just kind of seeing your game continue to grow
Uh yeah just going out there uh enjoying the game having fun with it and uh just improving showing that um I I’ve improved my shot improved my game uh as a complete player So just going out there and competing at a high level and trying to win
Well what part of your game do you think maybe needs the most growth and what do you think can be your foundation from day one Maybe Um yeah I think coming into the league uh I’ll say uh just stretching the floor knocking down catch and shoot threes spacing the floor uh finishing at a high level and just guarding But I’ll say uh what probably needs to improve is definitely playmaking But I think that’ll come as long as long as I keep uh growing and just uh with experience
Obviously Sam brought up the national championship game but in that game obviously you had a great game 18 points you know the eight rebounds four threes What do you think that those big-time games that you were involved with at Florida how did that prepare you for the next level for a franchise like the Warriors
Yeah I feel like it just shows that um I’m ready to play at the highest stage and uh playing in a game like that and just coming out and competing at a high level and helping my team win I feel like that shows who I am as a player and I feel like I’m ready to do that at the next level as well
RC Davis Warriors Radio I always like to ask guys this Now that you’ve made the NBA when did you know that it was more than a dream When did you know that it was an achievable goal Um I’ll probably say I started really noticing probably like my freshman year of college like it was right there I had a chance So uh but just knowing that I had a lot more work to do and I still have that same mindset It’s still a lot more work to do So just staying uh staying humble not getting content and just uh putting in the work to get to where I want to be Hi Will Chris Alvarez from ABC7 here in San Francisco Um you obviously played here at Chase Center too So was it fun to be back What are your fond memories of that weekend here at Chase in March Madness
Um yeah it’s definitely great to be back I mean I I was 2 and 0 when I came here so uh definitely got a got a history of winning So I’m excited to be back
Uh a couple fun ones for you If you weren’t a basketball player you’d be doing what
Um I feel like I’d be in NBA front office somewhere or habachi chef That’s a big difference
Y
let’s go on a habachi chef Like what what interests you about that
I’ve always been like intrigued with like the little tricks and the fire and stuff Like that’s always caught my attention So I’d say that
Uh what was your best summer vacation as a kid Uh me and my family used to go to Myrtle Beach a lot as a as a fan That was like something we did every year So I would say that Aaron Wilson Crownfor San Francisco Just interested to know uh being if you’ve kind of kept up with the Warriors and how they use their draft picks A lot of them get some valuable minutes even in playoff games Have you looked at that And when you see that is do you think about you know that could be me this coming season
For sure Yeah I’ve definitely looked at that and uh it’s definitely blessing to be a part of organization that does use their draft picks in that way So I’m excited but I know I just got to put in the work and when the opportunity presents itself I I’ll be ready
The Warriors run a pretty distinct offensive system
How do you see yourself fitting in that once you know your numbers cold
Yeah I see myself fitting in uh perfectly Uh they run a great system Um a lot of movement um a lot of threes uh good cuts and stuff like that And I feel like it definitely helps that I came from a system that uh ran something similar to that We’re always moving Um definitely using IQ and stuff to get the best shot available So I feel like I’ll fit in fit in very well You guys anymore Monty can you uh can you hear online there Can you ask questions if you want to I can hear but no questions
All right good stuff All right man A few words Thank you