Atlanta Hawks’ Kobe Johnson Pre – Summer League Media Availability

Atlanta Hawks’ Kobe Johnson Pre – Summer League Media Availability

Welcome to the event. Thank you. Thank you. Um just what was Jaylen’s reaction when he found out that he got got to sign here? I mean, it was incredible. I mean, it just just tears of joy at that point. I mean, to not only be able to live out my dream, but to be able to live it out the same team that he’s on. I mean, that’s every brother’s wish. So, I mean, I’m just grateful for this opportunity. I’m ready to take advantage of it. What have first few days of practice been like for you working with NBA coaches and kind of finding ways to develop your game? It’s been intense for sure. It’s definitely a step up from college, but you know, I’m just trying to come in here and be as competitive as possible. I’m just trying to get better each and every day, and that’s the main goal. Kobe, what abilities are you trying to show the Hawks that you have over the stretch of time? I’m trying to show them, man, I’m the best defender in this country. I think I truly have the tools and, you know, the capabilities to be able to lock up any player uh that I guard. So, I’m trying to come in through these practices in the summer league to show that I can be the best defender on the court. What are some of the things that you’ve learned from your big brother in this game throughout this duration thus far? What you taking from him pretty much entire? Yeah, it’s just patience is key. Um, you know, I know not right away I’m going to be on the court playing 20 minutes, uh, you know, expecting all that. So, I just got to come in right away. I just got to be able to take advantage of every opportunity I’m given. You know, I got to be able to, you know, go to the Gil when I play in there. I got to be able to kill it down there and do exactly what I need to do. So, I just got to do the little things that will take care of itself. Your brother had time to work with College Park. What What advice is he giving you about using the Q-League to your advantage and showcasing what you can do? Yeah, especially College Park. He knows how good the develop developmental uh system is here. You know, he tells me to go in there, just be a dog. Like I said, you know, just go in there, be the best defender, let everybody know that you’re on the court. Just be a dog. Everybody will notice that you come. And sorry, I know you keep talking about your defense. you’re really versatile as a defender. When did you start to finesse that and figure out that that was really going to be a part of your game that you drive? Yeah, I think in high school, I think my sophomore year in high school was the big uh you know, I got to be a defender to be able to make it because that’s my first play with Jaylen uh and some other good guys on the team. So, I didn’t have the ball in my hands. So, I need to be able to score without the ball in my hands. I need to be able to go to best players. So, that’s my You mentioned high school. You and your brother won a state championship together, right? Yeah. What was that experience like with you? I mean, that was amazing. And I mean to not only win one with your uh brother, but to be able to bring that school the first ever championship. I mean, it was a huge feeling and uh I mean, you know, we’re legends at that school now. So, that’s something that that we’re going to hold to ourselves really. Now, thinking about the opportunity to be on a team with your brother again. I know you were asked about it earlier, but what emotions kind of came out whenever you figured out this is an opportunity we haven’t had since high school? Man, it’s unreal. I mean, there’s 30 teams in the NBA and to be able to join the same team that my brother’s on, I mean, it’s a dream come true. But I mean, we’re both going to come in. We’re both going to work. I mean, it ain’t no fun in game. I mean, we’re coming here to work. We’re coming here to be the best version of ourselves and prove that the Johnson’s are here to stay in the game. Between the high school game and the AU game, you get enough time to like play one-on-one with your brother. What were those games like? Yeah, it’s been a while since we played one-on-one, but uh when we do play, it’s very competitive and uh we definitely it’s hard to finish the game cuz neither of us want to lose. Kobe jokes that there isn’t any differentiation in Kobe’s on the team. You just say Kobe and expect one of you to turn around. Have you? It’s bad. It’s bad. Cuz I’m not used to playing with any other Kobe. So, I mean, when I hear Kobe, I’m just turning my head and they’re not looking at me. So, I’m like, “All right, I’m not talking, but it’s definitely an adjustment, but we’ll figure it out.” How do you adjust to that? I don’t know. I just how the way Kobe like said, I can kind of tell who’s being talked to. So, I mean, just kind of I still look whenever it’s called, but you know, if they’re not looking at me, I know it’s not. Kobe, welcome to Atlanta. You did talk about your strengths. Just what are some parts of your game that you want to work on and improve upon? Definitely. I know coming to Lee, I got to be a great catch and shoot player. So, just trying to work on my partner catch and shoot three as much as possible to be able to, you know, be plugged into a game right away and to be able to make open shots. [Music] Thank