Cole Swider Summer League Media Availability | July 4, 2024

Cole Swider Summer League Media Availability | July 4, 2024

last year you were in summer league with the Lakers this your first summer league with the heat you know obviously you spent all the last season with the heat pretty much um what do you hope to take away from the next two weeks and and how beneficial can this experience be um just getting these reps yeah should be Ben beneficial I think I’m just trying to take my next step and uh I think on this team I could I could help Dan um especially just just being a leader I know the system obviously was under SPO this whole entire year under our great coaching staff and just to be able just to teach these young guys what it is to be a part of heat culture um and then obviously take my next step of what they want to see out of me get better defensively keep on making those tough shots and just keep on the on the development track that they have me on and you are restricted for agent still with the qualifying pen uh offer pending um obviously both all three two-way spots are full at the moment what what is kind of the approach as simple as just trying to earn that standard contract this summer in this offseason um entering summer league yeah I think it’s the same mindset I’m just is worried about just developing um I can’t control if what what contract I’m going to sign or not going to sign obviously the heat had my rights and as a restricted free agent so um I want to be here but at the same time it’s it’s all up to um the things that I can control and I’m going to bring the energy the effort and try and Lead this summer league team to have a great summer league thank you up next our windman Sno go ahead hey Cole good to see you looking forward to seeing you out of Vegas um I’m I’m just curious you spoke to us after the season also the question with you always is what else can you do what else are you going to show us you have pointed out you know continually to us about Duncan and what he did how he became a guy who went to the rim became a better Defender so I’m just curious one can those strides be made in a setting like summer league and if we were to tune in the col swier show every day during summer league what should we be looking for as far as Cole is trying to improve on X Y and Z what would those be I think you just hit hit the nail on the head I think all those things that that Duncan improved on are things that it’s just the next step in my development right uh the questions always are going to be about my defense and and what I what can I do to improve those things so um just trying to expand my offensive game as much as possible if that’s getting to a basket that’s creating a second opportunity um just continuing my development as a passer as well and then just the the just the continued development of being a movement shooter um defensively just being able to pick up Concepts being able to guard the ball um and I think I’ve had a great offseason of being with guard guys like ales Williams and Josh Christopher and um and and a bunch of these guys being able play in these one-on-one settings that are really tough and really challenging um and and being able to work out with those guys every single day and and obviously being with Dan during that time has been a great it’s been great for my development so I think just continuing my development and and not worrying about the the outcomes as much as um just getting better every single day and to piggy back on Anthony’s question you’ve only been the league a couple of years but you know all about the business a year ago you’re in summer league actually out there with the Lakers and all of a sudden you’re not with the Lakers what’s this ride been like to you how much I know you love the game but the business side of it from being in in two-way with the Lakers boom that ends now the Heat have three two-way guys there’s only three-way slots you’re in this limbo of of of you know being restricted what’s the business side like and how do you separate the two at moments like this thanks yeah no doubt I I I try just just to focus on my daily progression um when you start worrying about all the other things that that might be going on around you it’s it uh it’s tough I definitely went in the business the hard way last year getting cut so I’m able to understand that that teams are going to do the best things that they think that that are for themselves right um I think the next step for me is just is just continue that development and if that leads to a contract and that leads to a contract if that leads to um a two-way opportunity somewhere here or somewhere else and that that’s that’s the the path that it’s going to be but as of right now I’m just focused on helping this team and and and continuing my development uh during the summer leag right up next brandan Tobin QAM go ahead hey Cole um what has been your uh early Impressions I know it’s only been one practice but what have been your impressions of the rookies of of Pella and khil the first impressions that you’ve had of them on the court yeah know those guys are super talented super athletic um both have both have have a good basketball IQ and uh no they seem like they’re hungry and eager to learn which is always good for for first year players so I’m excited C is a a physical monster um you could throw the ball anywhere and he’s going to catch it and and finish he reminds me a lot of Derek Lively um and what he was able to do this year he has all the measurables and and definitely wants to learn and get better and then P just has has unbelievable Talent you can tell he has a great nose for the basketball and he’s uh he’s deceivingly athletic right right that’s uh it was well noted in his in his pre-draft process of of who he is as a shooter and um and some of the things that he can do on the defensive end but he was throwing down some dunks today I was like wow this this guy is underratedly athletic and just uh you’re you know talked a little bit about that leadership role that you want to take but I guess what of those first things like when they’re you know got the bright eyes coming in there to a new franchise uh what are the things that you like to do to try to kind of settle them in and get them ready for the summer yeah I think the first thing first and foremost is that obviously those guys are on guaranteed contracts right so focus on winning focus on development and everything else will will take care of itself um the heat as you guys know they’re they’re locked in on helping these guys develop and making the most out of out of out of them and their opportunities so I I would just say take a deep breath take take every single day um and and try and make the most of it and and just continue just to to get the best version of yourself each and every single day when you start thinking big picture and good game bad game you guys know it’s a long season it it could take a lot out of you but um just focusing on on you your development and then obviously anything you can do to help the team win will take a lot of the pressure off up next Shannon Irish go ahead hi Cole um you know summer league is about development but it’s also about coaches development and this is Dan’s first time as the head coach in summer league you’ve obviously been with him you mentioned him earlier what are your thoughts on this opportunity for him and how he can improve his skills and how do you think it’s going to help you guys grow as players yeah first and foremost is well earned Dan has put his time in he’s I think this his 10th year with the organization so he’s definitely earned this opportunity um I was I’ve been with Dan a lot this year and I’ve been able to learn a lot from him um he he’s he’s in it with us day in and day out just putting the Sweat Equity of uh early workouts late workouts coming in the gym multiple times a day so I know he been really looking forward to this opportunity and and he he did a great job in this first practice of attention to detail um being on top of the things that that he want to get across and and put together a great practice plan so I’m excited to continue to learn from Dan I think he has he has head coach in his future so I think it’s a great first step for him and obviously for the whole entire team it’s great to learn from Dan because Dan’s able has been the head video coordinator under SPO where where SPO started and he understands what it takes and and what and what SPO expects uh for these young guys to learn from so uh I’m really excited to just to see Dan’s development as a head coach and and obviously be able to continue to learn from him

Cole Swider speaks to the media following Thursday afternoon’s practice in San Francisco.

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