SUMMER LEAGUE SOUND: COACH AMEER BAHHUR , JASE RICHARDSON , NOAH PENDA & TRISTAN DA SILVA

SUMMER LEAGUE SOUND: COACH AMEER BAHHUR , JASE RICHARDSON , NOAH PENDA & TRISTAN DA SILVA

Amir, what’s this opportunity like for you to to represent the Magic and be the team’s summer league head coach this year? Oh man, I I I can’t overstate it. Uh I’m just I’m really grateful to Coach Mo, to Jeff. Um like I said, Coach Mo to me is like one of the best culture setters in sports. And so uh I view my job as like how much of that can I instill here in these two weeks? And uh so far really really awesome how the team has responded. But yeah, just really excited and and uh ready to get out there. What have you learned about Jason Noah through these first few summer league practices? Yeah, it’s been a short time, but the amount that they’ve picked up in such a short time, uh their willingness to learn, how coachable they are, um both of them like are doing exactly what we’ve asked to a tee and uh and it’s just been awesome to see in the first couple days. I think it’ll take them a long way. What’s the biggest thing you’re looking for from guys during summer league? Uh yeah, like I said, we’re trying to carry over our style of play from the Magic, right? We we we talked to these guys about being the most physical team, being relentless, right? Uh our style of play that we show on the court and how much of that can we accomplish in in two weeks. So, defensively, it’s physicality, it’s relentlessness. Offensively, we’re asking these guys to play fast and and be unselfish. And so far, it’s it’s it’s been there. How valuable has it been to have, you know, more veteran voices, you know, not veteran veterans, but Tristan, Tristan, the second year player, Ethan was with the team for for part of last year. how valuable have their voices been as they try to get their work in for the summer league and and help bring along the younger guys. It’s been incredibly valuable. Like those guys have been around here. They know exactly what we expect and and I’ve been uh really impressed with how vocal they’ve been and helping to kind of guide some of the younger guys along the way. So uh it’s invaluable because uh they know exactly what we need from them and so their ability to relay that is great. What do you what do you want to see from from Tristan? Obviously second year guy, played played some meaningful minutes last year. What do you want to see from him in this second goound and summer? We just want him to be aggressive, right? He’s he’s very versatile on both ends of the floor. And so, uh, the main thing we keep telling him is be aggressive. Uh, and and just continue to attack, continue to attack. And so, that’s what we’re looking for. Jason mentioned he’s a little banged up. What is he dealing with and what are your expectations for his status just next week, next month or so? Yeah, he’s just had a little sore ankle, uh, but progressing well from what we’ve seen and he’s able to do more stuff today and so, uh, not not too worried about it. You know, we hear so much about Jason as a shooter, but what else stands what else has stood out to you in practice about him as a player? Uh, to me, it’s just like how cerebral he’s been so far. Uh, like I said, whether he’s been into the reps, out of the reps, his ability to retain uh his willingness to already communicate with the guys on his team and and put them in the right spots and get them organized to me has been really impressive and uh testament to how well coached he was in college, but but just need him to carry it over. outside of the rookies, is there a player or two that should Magic Pinch should know a little bit more about going into summer league? Uh, we’re really excited about a lot of these guys. I think uh you guys will see when when kind of like that second unit steps out, there’s a lot of guys that have been playing at a high level, whether it’s at the NBA, uh whether it’s G-League, whether it’s overseas. So, I think a lot of those guys are going to be able to contribute and I think Magic fans should be excited about watching all of them. All right, Coach AB. Thank you guys. You talked about how surreal it was. you know, it just started to set in that you’re in the NBA when you start putting on a jersey and start doing drills, you know, how much more real does it feel for you now? Uh, it still doesn’t feel real, honestly. Um, you know, just going through all the practices, you know, being here with the guys, getting accustomed to it, and, you know, it’s amazing. Still doesn’t feel real. I think once we play our first summer league game, it’s really going to start feeling real. What have these practices been like for you? Uh, I mean, it’s been kind of slow. You know, I’m just trying to get back on the court. Uh just a couple things here and there, some ball movement, some shots, uh getting up and down, and then uh get into the five on five. What do you What do you want to kind of You’re obviously kind of getting your feet wet in in the pace of this, but what do you want to kind of showcase or work on as as you look ahead to training camp through the summer? Uh definitely physicality. I think the league’s super physical as you’re seeing in the playoffs. So, you know, just building up that muscle, getting stronger every day, and just uh working on my body. How excited are you to get to the summer league and play in, you know, more or less a real game against other players? I’m super excited. Um, you know, going into those, that’s something you always want to play in. And then for me, I lived in Vegas, so I know a lot of people that are going to be there, so it’s going to be a super exciting feeling. You know, you come into this with with Noah. You know, what has stood out to him stood out to you about him since seeing him on the court? I think his defense. Um, you know, he’s really defensive. He’s picking up 94 ft, super physical, and he can guard four positions. So, I think that’s one thing that’s kind of stood out to me about him is just how hard he plays defensively. Can you talk about having a chip on your shoulder? You talked about after the draft, you know, needing to prove yourself a little bit. Can you just talk about that dynamic as you enter, you know, summer league here? Oh, definitely. You know, being a smaller guard in the NBA, you always kind of have that chip on your shoulder. People are going to try to pick on you defensively. So, you know, just coming out playing as hard as I can defensively, offensively, just trying to make everybody better. Physically, you think you’ll be able to go 100% in summer? Yeah, definitely. I think just working on my body with the recovery team has been really good. So, definitely. Is there anybody out in summerly you’re looking to looking forward to playing against or battling here in the next couple weeks? Uh I think we got the Nets. Uh Danny Wolf we worked out together uh with CA. So that’s going to be super exciting. Him and Drake Pal. We were all in the same workout group. So I think that’s kind of one game I’m kind of circling right now. Boom. Pretty good. Is that good level? Yep. Sure. Now has it start to set in that this is real? you know, you’re in the NBA as you put the jersey on, get a few practices on your belt. How much has that reality started to set in that you’re in the NBA? Uh, so I signed my contract. So now, uh, this make it official. So it’s Yeah. I mean, getting in the gym every day is something that, um, I’ I’ve done for my whole career now. Um, but just being around NBA guys. Uh, I’ve seen Tai Jones this morning, Jonathan Na. Those are guys that I used to watch on TV and now I’m I’m practicing with them. So, it’s just starting to kick in a little bit. It’s It’s crazy. What are you hoping to get out of this summer league? Say what what are you hoping to get out of summer league showcase? Maybe showcase something or when you enter the games and whatnot, what do you want to show? Uh I I I just say uh experience uh the NBA basketball cuz uh I know it’s really different from um from European basketball. So just having the right habits uh see how the game is officiated, the new rules, stuff like that. Uh just starting to to learn a bit more about the game and um yeah, after just just do me. Jay has been kind of in and out in and out of drills and so far so far in those backs. What have you learned about playing alongside him, playing playing with them? Uh, I watched him I watched him play uh at Michigan State. So, I know I know how he plays. Uh, and after it’s not like he’s not here. I mean, he’s with us. Uh, we get the occasion to talk uh when the drills are done. Uh, he sometimes get on the floor with us. He in the in the gym with us uh when we practicing. So it’s it’s just that we are not passing him the ball when we are playing, but he’s he’s still here. So it it feels good to like learn about new teammates. He’s just a secondy year player, but how helpful is it to have a guy like Tristan Dilva and maybe a quotequote veteran voice around? Uh it’s he’s cool. He’s super cool because every time he’s really accessible. You can ask him any question and uh on top of that, even if you don’t ask him, he is going to naturally come and talk to you. So it’s it’s cool and even like he’s he got the right habits already. Uh he been in the league for a year now. So you you can you can just like sit back and and watch him do and do the same thing. How excited are you to get out to Vegas and just play meaningful five on five games against other NBA guys. I mean playing basketball is always fun to me. Uh I really that’s that’s a game I really enjoy playing. So being able to be at that level of competition is just super cool. Are there any players former teammates? Sorry. Are there any players or former teammates that you’re talking with that are on other teams that you’re looking forward to linking up with out there competing against them? Uh yeah, I mean I know all of the French guys um that are in my generation. So Bakum Salah uh Mo Jawara, he’s he’s not an NBA player, but he will be in the summer league. uh Alexar, all of those guys I just wish that I can play against and uh I going to see them in Vegas. So, it’s it’s great to be able to um I don’t know how to say it, but uh find us back after all those years because we used to play uh against each other with each other. So, now we’re just every uh everybody’s just on the NBA court playing against each other is super super fun. Yeah, we’re good. Tristan, how’s it feel to be back out with some of the rookies, young guys out here practicing for summer league? Uh, yeah, it’s crazy. It’s kind of a deja vu. Um, feels really good though. Uh, getting up and down, you know, seeing the gym packed again. Um, have enough people to to play five on five, finally, full court. Um, and, you know, getting to know everybody and and getting better every day. How much have you grown since this time last year to kind of reminisce on when you were rookie now? Yeah, I mean it’s it’s a lot of uh experiences that you take in over a whole season. Uh especially the the amount of games that I’ve played, uh the amount of minutes that I’ve played. So, um it it feels it feels a lot different. Um and I’m just super excited with that experience. What are you hoping to get out of this summer league? You know, just just showcase um what I’ve what I’ve been working on. Um you know, kind of kind of play free out there. Uh have fun and, you know, um be be successful. You’ve seen how, you know, obviously focus is on summer league. You’ve seen how this team has changed as you as you look ahead to the fall. What is what has that been like to watch the team change and shift a little bit and how much excitement is there for what this team can do? Yeah, I mean, obviously uh obviously it’s kind of sad to to see people go that you’ve, you know, made uh made strong connections with and and have bonds with. Um but I’ll see them on the other side, so um it’s not like they’re they’re out of this world. Um and I’m super excited for the guys that came in. Uh got to got to talk to some of them a little bit already. Um and then it’s good to see everybody kind of come back a little bit, you know, trickling back into the facility and uh having new names up. Um new logo, new everything. So, uh it’s a it’s a lot of lot of firsts next year, too. What are your early impressions of Jason Noah? Uh fun guys to be around for sure. um and competitors, you know, um Jay so far hasn’t hasn’t been playing hasn’t hasn’t been able to play as much, but you know, the the voice that he brings at at this age, um you know, coming straight out of college and uh you know, how vocal he is. Uh it says a lot about his character and a lot about his mentality, um the type of player he is and and know, you know, the ultimate competitor. Uh you see it when he plays um plays with a high motor. Uh super competitive and it’s fun to play with those guys. just a little banged up and always playing. You can ask him later. Yeah. Where do you think you need to grow most as a player, Tristan, after with one year under your belt? Uh, I mean, I I feel like in basketball, you know, there’s there’s never a complete stage. So, uh there’s there’s a lot of areas in in my game that I still want to grow in. Um, and just being comfortable playing that that role uh that I want to be in. Um, and you know, kind of kind of jelling with everybody together to to stay out there on the court. Buddy, what do you want to kind of focus on in in the summer that you know, you’re coming in with that level that level of experience, that layer of experience? What what do you want to focus on and kind of showcase or or test out in in a five on five setting like this? Yeah, being being more vocal, you know, taking a uh taking a step up from from what I’ve done uh so far. Um, and that’s offensively and especially defensively. Uh, you know, I feel like, uh, that’s that’s areas where I got to grow.

Coach Ameer: 0:00 – 3:06
Jase Richardson: 3:07 – 5:11
Noah Penda: 5:12- 8:49
Tristan da Silva: 8:50 – 12:13

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