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  • Chris stuck toe Shacochis Alexander a few weeks ago, and he said that one of the things that he really loves about your game is just your understanding of the geometry of floor spacing and just of the game in general, just in your limited time with him than ask competitors.

  • Last year, in those few games you guys played like you see similar potential in him to see the floor like you do shaken play.

  • I was a fan of his while he was at the Clippers, and actually, still probably contrary to popular belief.

  • I have a lot of friends that still work within the Clippers organization.

  • So especially Jason Power to hear.

  • Trainer.

  • I don't want to get him in trouble.

  • I talked to him all the time, but you know J J P and even sample Sale, uh, used to rave to me about Shay all the time.

  • And I used to tell him I used to love watching him Hope And, um, it was crazy.

  • I actually saw him in some at summer league after he had been traded, and I was telling him, You know, I'm excited for you.

  • You know, I love watching play and we talked.

  • Who knew a week later we'd be teammates, you know?

  • So I'm a fan of his, and I'm excited about the opportunity watching, but also to play with How is the focus different from this year as opposed to past years in your career?

  • Um, it doesn't change.

  • I tell you, um, I am who I am.

  • Uh, I'm excited about our team.

  • We're gonna go out toe win every single night.

  • You know, I always say, unless they started playing where you can put seven other guys on the court.

  • 808 guys on the court, not five.

  • Then we're in trouble.

  • But I'm excited about what we have.

  • Of course.

  • Ah, Eric.

  • Horny Oklahoma.

  • How do you feel about your tenure in Houston?

  • You'll obviously had a lot of success, but then, you know, on the way out reports of you and James and how you guys kind of clashed on court.

  • How do you feel about how the way things ended in here?

  • So it's tough.

  • I enjoyed my two years there.

  • It was amazing.

  • Had some unbelievable opportunities, made some great relationships.

  • But his business, you know, things happen.

  • Um, you know, I wish them nothing but the best, you know?

  • And like I said, people always try to tell your story or try to tell your truth.

  • But I have to be who I am, you know, and, you know, continue to do that.

  • And I think everything else to take care of itself.

  • Chris, you're 34.

  • Year 34 58.

  • So you're fine.

  • How tough is it?

  • Toe.

  • Keep playing at the level.

  • Your plan.

  • You don't look like your games falling much, if any of you.

  • How long will we be able to keep doing this?

  • Playing at the late level you have?

  • Uh, it's competition.

  • I think that's the thing that fuels me is competition and always trying to get better.

  • Always trying to pay attention, seeing how I can improve.

  • I got an unbelievable team around me, People who try to help me day in and day out.

  • But is is the competition of it and, you know, having opportunity tohave Ah, number of really good friends.

  • We did it for a long time.

  • To you know, I mean, I got a chance to see the way you know, mellow and you know, you see Braun it you're 17 or how years So having that, I had veterans I play with, like Chauncey Billups.

  • Um, I played with Grant Hill his last year, you know?

  • So you always just trying to figure out ways I eat a lot different now than I did when I used to go right out to Southern as a reason for practice every day.

  • But, you know, it's just this is all about learning and evolving.

  • Chris said Murray from O E T A.

  • You talk about happy to be back What you remember about your first stay here in Oklahoma City?

  • We all had the famous Charles Barkley to have cows in your backyard thing.

  • But what do you remember your first journey here in Oklahoma City?

  • Man, it was a lot.

  • You gotta remember.

  • My first time ever leave in Winston Salem, North Carolina was coming here to Oklahoma, and the fans were unreal.

  • Uh, unbelievable.

  • And, you know, my brother had a house out of em, and then I used to eat Charleston's everyday pregame, You know, uh, but it is amazing to see you know how much the city's changed.

  • Um, coming here to play on opposing teams.

  • You know, just certain stuff.

  • You remember.

  • Like we used to come out to the same song, you know, it's the prayer before the game, but to see the community and the people, that's what I always said is, you know, the people here, the fans here make this city what it is.

  • And, you know, it's crazy that life comes full circle now.

  • I got my kids.

  • I have two kids and, you know, to bring them out here.

  • That came out here this weekend to see me them and my wife is cool to give them perspective.

  • Because, you know, is it changes, Chris, Like you said, you've been here before, But you weren't here when.

  • Sam, you haven't been here since Sam Press.

  • He's been the GM.

  • So I'm just curious what the communication between you and him been like and what your impression spent of him thus far.

  • Man has been great.

  • Sam has been amazing.

  • Him everybody.

  • Donny, strike everybody within the organization.

  • Just, you know, asking if my family needs anything.

  • They have helped out tremendously.

  • So I'm extremely grateful for that.

  • And, uh, you know, the dialogues been been really good.

  • Hey, Chris.

  • Daniel Dwyer, Fox.

  • 25 sports all the way back here.

  • Um, kind of picking back, piggybacking off the question before coming back.

  • Have you had a chance to kind of get around the city?

  • How have you seen it changed since you were here the first time?

  • And what memories maybe come back to you from when you were here the first time?

  • I haven't got around the city quite yet.

  • I went to an escape room with my kid just today, and I went to go see abominable something like that at the movie theater.

  • So it's a lot different.

  • When when I was here, it was just me and my brother, you know?

  • And now it'll just be me here, but my family coming to visit as much as possible.

  • Um, I want rookie of the year here, you know?

  • And it was funny.

  • We were shooting the day at the gym and somebody asked me some about Oklahoma and hope Dennis, Dennis didn't even know that I lived here for my 1st 2 years, you know, But I don't know if that's date me or what was happening, but, um, to see the familiar faces is really cool.

  • And I'm excited for, you know, like my parents to come to a game or not cause this.

  • This was home for two years, work by Chris Kind of piggybacking on what Barry was talking about in terms of health.

  • Um, you have friends in the league or obviously into the low management, whether it's LeBron or other guys.

  • Where do you see the future of players in terms of the loan management and balancing that with wanting to play a lot, being competitive, but also having to be worried about your health as well?

  • Yeah, I don't know.

  • I can't speak for anyone else.

  • You know.

  • Everyone has their own thing, their own routine, and it's something that I know.

  • I'll discuss what our team here, but I coming from a perspective of knowing that I've been injured before, You know, I just know that whenever I do have the opportunity to play, I enjoy playing because you get respect when you're injured and you can't play, you know, so that when I'm able to play, I want to play, you know?

  • So like I said, I can't speak for anyone else, but, uh, It's nothing like hope.

  • Nothing.

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Chris stuck toe Shacochis Alexander a few weeks ago, and he said that one of the things that he really loves about your game is just your understanding of the geometry of floor spacing and just of the game in general, just in your limited time with him than ask competitors.

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