First, can we just start with how you feel?

Physically and even mentally?

After a rookie season that saw injury and a pandemic, if you could just kind of start with how you feel both mentally and physically entering your number two, if that's okay, I feel great mentally and physically.

Uh, like you said, you're one was was a lot mentally and physically for me, but, you know, I needed that experience.

Um, showed me a lot.

And now I'm getting ready for year two.

Zion.

Chris Clark here with no dot com.

Um, you know, last year a lot of your offense was off of post stops.

I was just curious.

Do you feel like there is a slashing and then driving element to your game that we maybe haven't seen yet at the N B A.

Level?

I'm sorry.

I didn't hear, like, the first half of the question.

Can you repeat that?

Yeah.

Sorry about that.

So ah, lot of your offense.

Last year was off of post ups, and I was just curious.

Do you feel like there is a slashing driving element to your game that we haven't seen at the N B A level.

Maybe yet, Um, I feel like there's a lot of my game that I wasn't able toe showcase last year due to, like just trying to fit in with the team, find my place and, you know, just trying not to be the rookie to mess up.

You know, it was there's a lot mentally that I was trying to process all at once, But I'm starting off fresh year, too, you know, we got a lot of new.

It's new staff.

The new thing is going on around here so hopefully we can come together quicker with sub Sinuses.

Will Guillory with the athletic.

What do you think you could do this year to make a bigger impact Defensively, I know that was a big part of your game, that dude, what are you trying to do this year, toe?

Make your presence felt on that end?

Um, honestly, just be a basketball player.

You know, once I feel like you know No, my teammates, um, know where everybody is gonna be.

A certain points Just being a basketball player will allow me toe attack from anywhere on the court, get better shots and just, you know, facilitate Zion.

Scott Kushner with the Times Picayune.

Uh, Brandon Ingram gets the max contract.

He's obviously going to be a very large part of this organization going forward, you are clearly, you know, a cornerstone pieces.

Well, how do you and Brandon kind of How do you feel that as a foundation of this team And you're kind of the future of this.

How do you guys feel?

Like you play best together And how excited are you?

Kind of have that, you know, known going into the future now?

Well, uh, I answer the question.

I want to say, you know, congrats to Brandon.

You know, Brandon was more than, like, deserving a that max contract, You know, all the extra work he put in always, you know, trying to get better.

And, you know, being a great teammate.

So he was well deserving of that Max contract.

And I'm glad he's gonna stick around ast faras me and him, you know, me and him have a great relationship, and we're honestly, we're just excited toe make some moves and try to win.

Yes, Just like as simple as I could put it.

Way Wanna win together a time.

It's Andrew from ESPN E.

No, it wasn't abbreviated offseason, but what was your offseason like?

Where were you?

Uh, kind of working out?

Who were you working out with?

What was that process like for you in the off season where it was, like, working?

Let me start.

This e was just like I said before, before I left the bubble worked out with people that was closer to me.

Uh, because, you know, they've been there my whole life, and, you know, I took their opinions and stuff and we applauded our training.

I can't go into too much detail because, you know, I just I just don't like doing that, but yeah, put in a lot of work.

Was with my family a lot.

You know, with Kobe going on, you just never knew what was gonna happen.

So I always had to play that safe.

But outside of that, I was just with family and just working out with my stepfather as I marked beginning here with U.

S.

A.

Today.

Good to see you.

Thanks for doing this.

And hope you're doing well.

Um so wonder when you look at the bubble and the differences that will be for this upcoming season.

Do you have a feeling of which scenario is gonna be like mawr?

Easier difficulty.

And what's your reasoning for that?

You repeat that.

I'm sorry.

Yeah, like you're looking at what the bubble was like.

Do you think this upcoming season assed faras navigating the new set up?

Do you think that that could be easier to get through or more difficult.

And what would be your reasoning?

Um, me personally, uh, I had no problem with the bubble.

I think the NBA handled the bubble very well, you know, with testing and making sure everyone was safe the whole process.

I didn't mind it all, but you know, this year, I think, uh, it will be easier for a lot of people to navigate because, you know, you got a fact in people's families, kids, and you know what they have going on in their life and not being restricted to being in one spot.

So I think it will be easy to navigate from that point of view.

Thank you, sir.

A design Rod Walker with the Times Picayune.

What's up?

Something.

One thing that you may have learned about yourself or even about just the MBA itself last season that that you want to sort of, you know, pick up on and improve on for this season or something you learn from, I guess, last season.

Uh, you know, I said it a lot last year.

Um, but over the summer and the, you know, the off season, I think I've come to truly understand a lot more and that's Ah, it's just take take each moment like by each moment, like live moment by moment Because the last year, like so much happened and I felt like it all happened at once.

And there was so many directions that I had to like look like things that I had to do that I couldn't live in the moment.

But I think this year I have a better understanding of and it will be living in the moment because fuck when I live in the moment, I could cherish it a lot more, and you know that allows me to have fun and be who I am.

Hi, Zion.

My name is Britney Hardy.

I'm with NBA TV and TNT.

My question is the pandemic has changed the way we watch sports.

What is what is it about the game?

Um, that keeps you engaged and motivated as a player during these unprecedented times.

And what about the game draws and fans and keeps them watching?

Um, I think just the love and excitement for the game.

Whatever excites you about the game for me, Like I've always loved basketball eso whether the stadiums full or not full, like I'm I'm still gonna love the game, preferably full because you know the fans.

Uh, home court advantage is always nice, But I think for me it was the love of the game, right?

My love would just always be there.

I can always stay engaged, I think, for you know, the fans.

It's just the excitement and maybe their love for the game as well.

Zion, with so many new players on the team, new coaching staff and things like that, I feel like it might take a little bit longer to build that chemistry that you're used to having on a team, especially with all the Kobe 19 protocols and you not being able to practice is a team for a while.

Um, how long.

Do you anticipate that on court chemistry to take?

Do you think it will take a little bit longer than maybe a normal season?

Um, honestly, I'm not too sure because, you know, we could get out there and we could click in the first week and, like, I just have a natural field for, um, Or it could take longer because, you know, we confined ourselves in different situations of the game, and, you know, we have to learn to trust each other, and maybe the trust will be their first.

Maybe you won't, but, uh, honestly, I'm not I'm not too sure.

Right.

Go ahead.

Brett Martel Got it.

Hes on, uh, with Steven Adams acquisition.

Obviously, management really likes the way he is.

A strong presence inside and set screens and so forth.

I guess the knock I've heard from some analysts is that they believe that what the pelicans really needed, you know, more perimeter shooting, which would punish defense, is from collapsing on you.

But how do you How do you see the Adams acquisition and the pairing the front court with him?

He said, how do I see the apparent with me and Steven in the front court?

Yeah, the potential to be in the front court with Stephen.

I think it's gonna be great.

I think me and we're gonna do just fine.

But as far as the other stuff, I think that's just I'll be able to answer those questions better.

You know, once we actually get together as a team because, you know, right now, I can only speculate and just say what I feel.

But I'll be able to answer those questions better once we get together as a team.

Is I in a Christian Clark here one more time?

I know.

You know, you guys have been able to get on the floor together as a team is you just mentioned.

But in the early conversations with standing Gandhi, just kind of What are your impressions about getting toe work with him?

Um, my impressions are very great about him.

Uh, you know, I think he's a great guy.

Uh, he's he's old school, just like my stepfather.

And just like Coach K.

So I feel like that's gonna be something that I'm gonna easily relate with.

Personally, I'm excited to work with him, you know, he just I can see his love and passion for the game when he's like, even showing me, like, small things within the game.

And, you know, I love stuff like that.

So I'm very excited to excited to work with.

Well, go ahead.

What?

I'm talking about that as well.

From the athletic again.

Is there any particular part of your game you're looking forward to showing off a little bit more this year?

Now that you're more comfortable with the game, maybe things are slowing down a bit now that you got a year under your belt, Uh, just honestly probably gonna hate me for this, but my answer is probably my answer's gonna be very big, But this answer duck, this means a lot to me.

Uh, what I'm looking forward to is showing the world meet, just being myself and going out there and having fun and so my competitive nature and trying to win.

I know that is very big and not the answer may be looking for, but that's the answer is that just hits different for me.

I'm just want to show the world my love or passion for my competitive spirit for the game.

That's when I'm most excited to show the world a Z in its Andrew again.

Um, I know you said you were you refined physically and mentally.

Are you looking forward to having a year where you don't have any sort of restrictions on you?

Um, whether that's practice or minutes or burst or anything like that.

Um, of course.

Uhh.

I'm looking forward to that very much.

Uh, you know, I don't think no player wants restrictions, so Yeah, I'm hoping here, too is gonna be a lot different.

Hi, Zion.

This is Britney again.

Um, for this upcoming season, if you had the opportunity to put something on the back of your jersey, um, whether it's a name or a statement, what would it be?

Okay, just don't write to it.

Uh, I haven't thought too much about that at the moment from being honest, but probably in a another week or two.

Probably have an answer for you.

I'm sorry if I don't have an answer for you right now.

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