Hunter Dickinson on signing with Pelicans, Derik Queen | 2025 NBA Summer League
when you uh you talk about the decision to to sign here. What made you want to come to California? Yeah, I felt like it was a great fit for me. Um you know, I felt like, you know, wherever I wanted to go, I wanted someone that believed in me and believed that I was an NBA caliber player and I felt like here, um you know, after my workout, they they spoke really highly of me and um felt really confident in my game and uh that’s where I wanted to go, somewhere that believed in me and uh wanted to give me a chance. How did how the first three days of practice going for you? you feel like they’ve been good. Um it’s definitely a transition from college just playing with so many great players and um playing against um you know really good defensive players and stuff like that. It’s been a good transition for me. It’s been a lot of fun and I feel like we got a good chance to go out there and you know win a couple games at Vegas. What do you think you can kind of bring to this team? Um even though I’m a rookie, I’m one of the older guys so I feel like you know I got some some uh you know experience out there. Whether it’s not uh NBA experience, I still got a lot of games under my belt. But I think a big presence down there, somebody that can really u make plays for others and and and help guys get open whether it’s screening, passing. How much does it have to come from a problem like Kansas before that Michigan? How much does that have to feel like? A lot. Uh playing for coach Howard and coach Self. Um those are two guys that have, you know, either NBA experience or developed a lot of guys into the NBA. And so that’s definitely helped me um prepare for this moment. you know, they’ve been, you know, instilling, you know, little bits and pieces of details of how to prepare and what to expect when you get here. So, the transition’s been um pretty good. I feel very prepared for this moment and um I I definitely feel like having that experience has helped. What are some of your initial impressions of Derek Queen of going up against him as a big guy? Super skilled. Um, you know, somebody that’s very versatile that can play a couple positions and somebody that I think, you know, you can run your offense through and somebody that’ll definitely, you know, has a bright future ahead of him. Same question for you, my opinion. Why you kind of standing there? I I I think he’s definitely, you know, going to be the, you know, the general of the offense for sure. Um, Coach Burr’s definitely put a lot of onus on him to kind of take control of the team and kind of, you know, run his team and and and take over the show. I think, you know, it’s it’s my position. I think Eve, you know, we’re just going to try to help him out, you know, whether it’s screening or passing, you know, trying to get him open and just help him make plays cuz he’s so talented. What do you think about Eve? I guess you wouldn’t have played him. I’ll play you. Okay. What are your thoughts about him? Super athletic. Um, you know, really high motor. I think, you know, that’s what’s really helped him in the NBA. He plays so hard. He’s so relentless. Uh, that’s the reason why, you know, he’s top 10 in offensive rebounds in the league. And so, um, he does a really good job of, you know, putting pressure on the rim and, um, you know, collapses the defense, uh, allows for, you know, kickouts and stuff like that. How many times did you play your father? Just a one time. Twice. How much have you seen him jump from the end to now? I feel like he’s he’s super confident. Um, I think definitely having a year under his belt here. Uh, definitely has a lot to do with that. I think the coaches have put a lot of, you know, confidence into him, but he definitely feels really confident out there. I feel like, you know, he definitely knows that he belongs in India. Being as accomplished as you are, like a three-time all-American, four time, like first team, all conference, what like not being drafted, like how much maybe did that put a chip on your shoulder with like all you were able to accomplish in college? Yeah. No, definitely. I think you know, everybody’s trying to look for a chip on their shoulder. I think a lot of people feel like that helps them play. And um I knew with my age and how many years I’ve been in college, it’s going to be really hard for me. Just, you know, that’s the name of the game now. But um I knew once I got here um I have a shot and that’s all I was looking for was you know to have a shot to be able to prove myself and you know again that’s why I said earlier that’s why I wanted to go to New Orleans cuz I feel like the organization had you know a plan for me and and felt like um you know I felt like I deserved and belonged here. So there have definitely been some additions here during this off season but last year this team struggled with rebounding or maybe been at the center position. Did that attract you to coming to New Orleans? Like knowing that you would have an opportunity to contribute on this team? Yeah, for sure. Um, being able to stretch the floor, I feel like is something that I bring to a team and, uh, obviously having Zion on the team definitely, you know, he attracts a lot of attention and so he needs some spacing. So, I feel like, you know, that’s something down the road that I feel like I can bring to the organization is somebody who can space the floor for guys like Zion, Derrick Queen, Jordan P, Murray. I mean, we got so many talented players that, you know, if you give them enough space, they can be really dangerous. And so that’s something that me and the organizers should felt like I can bring to the table in terms of stretching the floor there between maybe you, Eve, uh, Queen, you know, as far as the length. Can you speak to the advantage of that? You see it around the NBA now. Um, a lot of teams are playing with two big men and one of them needs to be able to kind of stretch the floor a little bit and the other one is definitely somebody who puts pressure on the rim. So you see that with Queen and Eves and then, you know, either me or Queen, me and Eves. I think, you know, having that two big lineup is something that a lot of teams are trying to, you know, shift to because you see a lot of teams had success in the playoffs this year and especially, you know, the Thunder have Chet and Hearnstein there. I think, you know, it’s a copycat league and so I think that’s, you know, something that the organization is trying to experiment with for sure. What about your game? Do you want to showcase in the upcoming days? Uh, just being able to show that and prove that I belong here. Um, I felt like I did a lot in college and I think now, you know, the next step is is the NBA level and first before that you got to prove it in summer league. And so just going out there and, you know, trying to be an unselfish player, trying to make winning plays for my team. Thank you. country. Thank you.
New Orleans Pelicans center Hunter Dickinson speaks with the media following practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on July 8 ahead of 2025 NBA Summer League.
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2 Comments
Dude is cloud soft, watched a lot of KU this year
Boy was throwing up bricks in the back ground