Media Availability – Wizards at Pistons: Brian Keefe, Kyle Kuzma, Marvin Bagley III | 01/27/24

Media Availability – Wizards at Pistons: Brian Keefe, Kyle Kuzma, Marvin Bagley III | 01/27/24

Think it was actually a continuation of what we built off the other night um we started to have a little more defensive activity in our in our last game and I think that carried over to tonight um like I said in our pregame you know defense has to be our calling card what

We we put our name on and I thought the guys really were competitive and fought and uh those habits were were great tonight first SN what’s that mean to you uh obviously very cool but most importantly just really excited for our guys um and how they played and how they trusted each other

Um get my glasses out here I thought we we really trusted each other on the court our communication was great on defense we were putting multiple guys in there to rebound and then when the guy was open we made the correct pass so I took great joy in our team doing that

And I think was really happy that that paid off for a win for them uh that that brought lot for me personally because it to see them Bond and connect with each other uh that’s why we all play this game so I was thrilled for them sure

You’re aware of this but kma is from Michigan from Flint yes um what have you grown to learn about him over the course of your time with him and what you think about the way he played down the stretch I’ve known Kyle so I coached Kyle when

He was a rookie uh so I was with him with the Lakers so I’ve known Kyle a long time uh he is someone who has great belief in himself and and I’m someone who is a great believer in him um so I’ve seen him from when he first started

And how he made himself into this career this guy has worked himself into a tremendous player and I had complete faith in him down the stretch to make the right plays and and he did and uh nice to have a guy from Flint on your team is that point cous something that

He had early in his career is it something you’ve seen him develop in he’s had that and he’s developed it more uh he had a belief in himself when he first came out but this is someone who’s worked hard on his craft and continues to so he’s a great example for our rest

Of our team about how to be a professional and how to have great habits um so I’m thrilled to coach him th thrilled to be back with him I saw after the game you know you kind of waited for each guy to finally kind of come off the court um had a few

Words with Jordan and Kyle you know what was the message um kind of in the locker room once you got all the guys together uh that they they followed that the stuff that we talked about we talked about the beginning two days ago I guess now we got to become a better defensive

Team and we have to trust each other more offensively and I think they they have done that so far um we’re not there yet we have a long way to go this is just couple days into the journey but this is the habits we got built and

That’s what we talked about during the game how we got the lead how we got the lead is because we were defending and that’s something we just got to keep working on what’s Marvin been doing so well you know I think this is six Straight Dope figures for him yeah Marvin’s great

Obviously just getting to learn him uh this his activity level right tack in the rim he’s got great hands obviously great athletic ability to get Second Chance points second jumps off the floor uh and his defense has been great communicating physical rebounding uh he’s been he’s been awesome thrilled to

Have him with us for sure approach it better than I did uh last time we play Detroit um you know especially this game obviously I always come home and play well I love playing here obviously my mom and stuff is here and I don’t want to play Bad in front of my family

Because I know I’m going hear about it and I don’t really like heing about how bad I play so um yeah like I said we owe these guys uh we had a disappointing effort couple week like maybe a week ago whenever we played those guys and um

Yeah I I just Tred to rise the occasion um my teammates trusted me uh coach Keith he he trusted me as well and um it turned out well so what you like about the defense in that fourth quarter uh I like the defense in the second half you

Know I think we we did a great job of just um communicating I think that was the number one thing first half we didn’t really communicate it and you probably saw a lot of times pick and roll happens two guys go go to the ball leaving one

Guy open you know that was a theme for us in the first half a little bit second but we just did a great job of just communicating uh having good low man and finishing possessions rebounding and that was a huge thing especially against this team because they pummeled us first

Time we or the second time we played him this season so what the message from Brian and and has has it felt much different with him you know I know it’s just you know only been a couple days but kind of what How’s he kind of put

His I don’t know stamp for what’s been his message since kind of taking over I mean this is like a fresh start for us you know obviously playing 41 games having a halfway point new coach is tough you know something I never went through a lot of us probably never went

Through having an interm coach but you know I can say one thing about Keith is is no nonsense like if you messing with the game like you probably won’t be on the court so um for us you know I think that just holds a little bit of more

Account accountability for all of us uh to not look bad you know you don’t want to be on the film the next next day looking crazy so um you know great defensive performance by us tonight um I think the biggest thing for us is to do

It in San Antonio um because I think we had our a nice defensive energy the past two nights probably couldn’t tell a lot with the Jazz but it was a little better they just kicked our butts but um tonight was great and um we have to do

It again how’s the dream of uh growing up wanting to play in the NBA out of Flint compare with the reality of being able to put on the performance you put on uh here in your homest stad I mean it’s just a blessing at the end of

The day I used to watch this Pistons broadcast all the time uh Blaha ke Kesler you know um I every time we play them I always go say hi to them just being a fan Fanboy that I am um and you know growing up if you play basketball

In Michigan you’re going to love the Pistons especially within my era when it was Chon SE and those guys um running East and um you know it’s just childhood dream so just seeing Monte on the other sideline obviously you guys were teammates you growing up together what’s

It like having that type of reunion with him I’m just happy he’s on the court now he hasn’t played all season um had couple couple tough injuries but um you know hopefully he gets a a rhythm and um that’s my brother forever you know I’ve

Known him since I was 8 years old so it’s about 20 years now so um always wish the best for him that’s family you know just the message of thought you know Trey mck’s next out of Flint your thought on you know message to Flint hoopers and what have you seen from his

Game your thoughts on his game I know a little bit about him uh haven’t talked to him much but um you know the people that are in his Circle um I I I kind of really grew up with you know I know a lot about him obviously just through

Talking with them and um you know he’s got a chance like you know you’re a Flintstone you got a chance so he’s great what’s Marvin done so well since he’s done here energy played hard play hard as hell um that’s the number one thing um you know his energy has been really

Contagious for us you just see it with his offensive rebounding his rebounding skills um and just him on offense you know I really like him on offense you know I think him playing at five anytime he has situations where he can get downhill close space on Defenders he’s

Tough because he’s long he’s uh mobile athletic and um skilled too so no it was a little weird man uh know I know all those guys built a good relationship um so kind of be on the opposite side of it um opposite bench just everything it was

A little weird but it was fun it was fun you know I wanted to come in and get the win and uh compete um help us win the game and uh we we did that and I I did my best and uh I’m happy we came out

With the w what do youbute the quick success you had with this wizard te it’s tough adjus to a new team where you jumped right in and made um I mean basketball is you know basketball end of the day um no matter where it is um good

Thing about the NBA is pretty much all the same um systems but they just call them different things call plays different names um but once you pick that up it is it’s just like anywhere else so I think I’m getting more comfortable um every game now just time to keep building on

That and uh continuing to grow someone faces their old team there’s a little extra motivation behind wanting to play well how do you kind of uh me just playing my game man um know I wanted to win this one um every game you want to win but like you said coming

Into somewhere where you’ve been playing for for a minute um where you’re used to everybody’s faces and used to the plays the coaches uh everything is is familiar you know you you want to you want to you know come in and win with the new team

So I’m excited that we did that and uh now we just got to continue to build on that and uh take what we did in this game and go into the next game and um continue to grow uh no they just gave me my uh gave

Me some extra jerseys they had um and back in the storage uh they probably going to send me some more um but they asked if I wanted them and I told him yeah I’ll take them home with him what you guys do so well defensively in that

Fourth quarter uh we just talked we communicated uh got some deflections uh we were just active uh active hands um active communication and we were helping each other out and I think like I said if we continue to build on that then you know we we’ll

Grow and uh continue to um get to where you want to be what do you learn about C in this short time playing with him I’m sure you’ve done you know runs with him over the course of being on the same team oh it’s great it’s great um you

Know he’s been helping me out he’s been helping out a lot of the guys um know he’s very vocal um good leader um you know good guy to be around and uh to compete with so I’m excited excited to keep uh building on that relationship and it’s Contin to grow and um seeing

What we can take this thing how have you been able to get comfortable so quickly how yeah uh just playing my game just you know doing what I do best um being active playing with energy and um just competing at a high level playing hard and living with the

Result um as long as I go out there and compete play hard I can I can sleep at night and um that’s how attack every game and that’s how I will approach every other game moving forward

Interim Head Coach Brian Keefe, Kyle Kuzma and Marvin Bagley III spoke to the media following a win over the Detroit Pistons.

🎥 #ForTheDistrict #Wizards #DCFamily

📲 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗢𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟
𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 → https://www.facebook.com/Wizards
𝗧𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 → https://twitter.com/WashWizards
𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠 → https://www.instagram.com/washwizards/
𝗧𝗜𝗞𝗧𝗢𝗞 → https://www.tiktok.com/@wash_wizards
𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗣𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗧 → https://www.snapchat.com/add/washwizards

𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗭𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧
💻 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://www.nba.com/wizards
📱 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/washington-wizards/id518100653

𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝗪𝗜𝗭𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦
🎟 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/806042?home_away=home&CAMEFROM=CFC_WWIZ_SOCIAL_TTO_2324SGB
🛒 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵: https://shop.monumentalsportsnetwork.com/