Media Availability: Brian Keefe, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, and Tristan Vukcevic | 04/02/24

Media Availability: Brian Keefe, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, and Tristan Vukcevic | 04/02/24

Hi Brian uh obviously a big win for you guys what do you attributed to uh it was a team effort uh everybody contributed obviously we got down a little bit of numbers but we just kind of stuck the G of the game we trusted the pass um and

We finished off the game in the fourth but credit to the guys who are on the court tonight terrific job how about the strip from JP with about 45 seconds left there big play Big play for sure U we made a lot of big plays tonight a lot of

Guys made a lot of huge IND plays throughout the course of the game so a lot of guys contribute great team win ran do you have any um injury update on Marvin unfortunately uh just a right knee sprain for now we’ll know more um that’s all I have for right now what did

You like about um Cory who didn’t have it necessarily like he always does from three but turned in 27 I think a season High uh he’s just generated so much offense for us I think you guys see this like the cutting the moving obviously the shooting but it’s more than that

He’s rolling to the basket the drives um he’s like a oneman motion out there old school John hav if you guys like that reference but that’s how no one knows that David do you know that one I’m I grew up in Boston so I know about Hondo but yeah the constant motion is

Impressive um and you know big scoring night for him um I just wonder about Jared had three huge threes I think at the end of the third beginning of the fourth Tristan had a really nice game how much is it self-belief is it determination what did you kind of see

From those particularly end of the bench guys tonight uh I think it’s just the preparation and the work behind the scenes I I get to see that every day um so the work that these guys put in and Jared’s always been a you know a guy who

Is competitive wants to make big plays and he made some Big Shots tonight and then Tristan got extended minutes and showed what he was capable of so big contribution from him tonight coach what does it say about the resiliency of the team when so many guys are on available

With injuries and then Marvin goes down to use the you know the the depth that you have on hand to get a win like this what does it say about them I it shows that we have High character guys and the guys who do the right things to prepare

Themselves to play and this is the stuff that we talk about we want to build in this organization the character and we’re seeing that in games um so I think we’ve seen this you know lately with guys have stepped up when it’s then their opportunity and I think it goes to

The preparation that they put in with us a lot of it’s the go go quick shout to the go go tonight Unfortunately they lost at the buzzer um but like what a great experience for our guys of playing a playoff intensity playoff basketball so Jules Bernard Justin champeny Patrick

Baldon Junior and all the guys the coaching staff had a great year but like what a great opportunity for them to play When the stakes are High um Unfortunately they didn’t get done but a great year for the go go Ryan is this the kind of game that whatever the

Result was is going to be due to the but because of the effort showed maybe that the the team’s really on to something that it’s making growth to trying to build an identity and the toughness you guys want yeah I think so um it always

Helps when you get to win to back up some of the things that you’ve been doing that’s so that’s you know thrilled for the win for the guys but I think we’re seeing it on a day-to-day basis we’re seeing it that we’re growing with how we approach things and our mentality

And our habits tonight that resulted in a win um so thrilled for our team thrilled for our guys because they put a lot of work in obviously we’re a little bit short-handed but like we didn’t use that as an excuse and we never will here and uh really happy for them what uh

JP’s growth as a playmaker in the last couple of weeks I I think it’s been great I I told him just told him right after the game he really just managed the game um he set the table 13 assists um he kind of controlled the flow and

This is kind of what we envisioned when we put the ball in his hands more um for his growth his development and I I like the floor game that he played tonight um scored when he had to but found his teammates and got them going because they needed the confidence that he can

Build that’s what he’s capable of so it was great Brian how do you describe the mood in the locker room after this one uh the guys were you know guys were happy uh for sure um because I think they felt that the contributions from everybody everybody had contributed and

I think when you have team wins like that I think those are the ones that feel the best so the guys were happy about that Tristan had his best game of the season it seemed like and he seemed like he was moving pretty freely on both

Ends of the floor what did you see from him uh I think you you saw a little bit of everything um you know the floor spacing the passing um I liked his defense mostly I think that was what he’s big vertical at The Rim got on the

Perimeter and switched a little bit so we saw a little bit of everything and this is just great for development we’re learning him too and discovering parts of his game as we go but this is why he’s here and we’re thrilled that he wanted to be part of us and be part of

Our program Brian it will as far as you know will more will some Imaging be done on Marvin’s knee the the only update I just had is this you know he got the knee sprain and then there’ll be further evaluations going forward but nothing specific right

Now I’m speaking about the DC crowd um so tonight usually when they’re playing like these bigname teams there’s a lot of fans from the opposition that are cheering but tonight the DC crowd was very into the game to the very end what can you say about the crowd

Participation in tonight’s win uh I think David would speak to this but I think people from DC in this area have a great understanding about basketball and they like good basketball so I think they’re really supporting our team because we’re playing a good style they like the hustle they like the sharing I

I think they the crowd has a good basketball IQ so I think they could feel the way we were playing tonight I think that was really key tonight so great support from our fans was terrific coach how is it seeing Danny AIA turned into an NBA star Denny’s been great um growth has

Been tremendous you know we’ve put the ball in his hands to make plays for himself for others the rebounding has been great so like going to keep pushing Danny to do more um because we think he can be keep growing and he’s shown growth over these last few months and

We’re going to keep pushing them to do that what’s up guys what team do you feel like you were able to take advantage of tonight in terms of yeah we got out in transition um we ran really really hard um we knew that we were going to uh probably probably lose the

Rebounding battle um we were able to kind of take advantage of our possessions when they did Miss uh they we held them to a really low three-point percentage and when we made the Miss we got out and we got out and run and and

Made him pay um and plus I mean like our bench was incredible tonight Jared was really good Tristan was really really good um and then Gino came in there and and um guarded really tough so credit to those guys and stepping up when um they were unsure if they’re going to play

Tonight sat in front of us a couple nights ago when you guys lost to Detroit and talk about the apprach step what do you call it yeah it’s a step forward maybe two steps forward um this is the attitude we need to have and the aggression we need to

Have when we play these kind of games especially against a championship team like this um super proud of everybody who played tonight with um yeah with with the approach uh we came in locked in ready to go from the jump and um you can’t afford

To you know hesitate for a little bit uh when you play a team like this so uh credit to everybody who stepped on the floor tonight for sure Cory Cory congrats on the win how how much do you enjoy playing with Denny AIA he had that big assist to you yeah

Denny’s I mean he’s grow I mean I’ve got to see him for three years now grow and the way he uh is able to make the correct play over and over again now is is something that’s added to he’s added to his his toolbox I mean he’s been um

An offensive catalyst for us um he has the ball in his hands a lot we trust him with a lot and uh tonight he made the the right play a lot of times so um it’s been really fun to watch him grow um and and become more complete player over the

Three years that I’ve I’ve played with him why get to uh because he’s no yeah very serious um well it’s it’s twofold right like it’s number one because he’s stubborn and he he’s like he always needs to have music playing it’s kind of just who he

Is and number two like he kind of brings he he rounds out our music taste in the locker room you know we kind of listen to a lot of the same stuff over and over again then you know when Denny gets on the aux I mean you guys were in the

Locker room you heard it and um he rounds out our music taste so I appreciate it I know a lot of guys do and um yeah and he’s stubborn and he wants the AL bad yeah you’s mhm yeah he’s he’s taking what the defense has given him um 13 assists

Tonight um with only three turnovers is a really really good line and um he’s the focal point of every team’s plan when they’re when they’re you know trying to play when they’re playing us and um instead of forcing things and um trying to get himself going he lets the

Game come to him and he made the ride play a lot tonight um I’m proud of him man um he’s dealt with a lot of pressure and a lot of things over the course of this year here and um never once did he lose confidence or um lose his love for

The game and he’s he believes in in me personally a lot a ton and um I get a lot of confidence from Jordan too so it’s not only just his playmaking but when he passes me the ball like he wants me to shoot it and he wants me to make a

Play and um It’s that kind of you know unselfish nature that he he’s playing with a lot more recently that um is really really fun it’s contagious you Jordan’s personality is contagious and um when he plays that way and he plays with the joy that he does it’s super fun to play with

Jordan the Bucks were the number two seed in the East um going into today what does this win mean for you guys I think is definitely one of our best wins this season um we competed I think we competed knowing that it doesn’t matter what seed the Bucks are doesn’t matter

The players like I think everybody took the challenge today um and competed and you saw the defense on yianis like it was Collective um honestly just a brilliant game from from start to finish defensively offensively I mean I got no words to describe this win it was

Amazing what did you see from Tristan bich in his um you know biggest game yet so far I’m so happy for him you know it’s it’s crazy how um you get into the NBA you play your first minut and he got adopted so fast and I feel like he’s

Getting more and more confident he’s very skilled for his size and I think he can really help us a lot and I’m happy that he’s here and he found a new home and hopefully he’ll just keep going stay humble keep working hard and and be a part of this organization Danny

Obviously this game didn’t really mean anything for the standings or anything like chase me but you looked so happy after the win what did it mean for you and for kind of the team going forward it means that we nobody believed that we’re going to win this game tonight uh

But we did and I know and and the team knows how much we’re working and how much we um suffered losses during the season and when you when you see an improvement when you see that fantastic win that we had like do you see you see

The people around like coming to I feel like um excelling in a lot of things on the court is just just like I’m happy for the group I’m happy for the group because we needed it like it’s a definitely a confidence booster um and it makes us believe that we can do good

Stuff even though we came as an underdog I asked you earlier this season Denny about the crowd participation and cheering for the opposite team now tonight we had the crowd in here for they were part of the game the entire game from beginning to end so how did

That feel this is what it is all about this is part of sports is the the beauty of the crowd I feel like we were happy to perform for people that come in and supporting us even when we’re out of the playoffs but they’re showing support and

Honestly I I’m I’m thankful I’m I’m really thankful for them to to keep coming and keep cheering us even though um even though we’re not really competitive yet like yet this season but um honestly I’m just calling for more fans to come out and support us uh the

Team needs it the players need it we we want to build something here and it’s it’s it’s a part of it we’re just we’re just getting to know Tristan um off the court what is he like uh what is he like um he definitely remind me some of

Um he’s a great dude he’s he’s he’s an amazing dude I’m getting to know him too Josh like I had like two dinners with him it was good um get to know his story a little bit um very smart player um knows a lot of languages um I

I asked him to uh help me out with my Serbian a little bit so um hopefully that will go good and that’s it he’s a great person great teammate uh well we went to my uh uh favorite restaurant uh the Diplomat I took him there so and um and we went

Yeah it is and we went I don’t remember where we went but that’s probably it can you describe kind of the mood in the locker room when you guys all got in there amazing I was uh music going on we were really happy really happy you know

There’s there’s parts of the Season like that it was a such a collective win we we gave in such effort like everybody wait like worked so hard for like those moments and when you when everybody plays good in together and we get the win it’s like it feels

Like this is like what we waited this season we waited for those typee of moments and when it it comes you got to you got to embrace it and we’re we’re really blessed and also shout out to uh Marvin honestly like he got injured um hopefully he uh

Returns um fast and hopefully it’s nothing severe and that’s it our prayers and with them how valuable I know you have seven games left and they mean everything to you but how valuable will this summer be for you in terms of getting into the weight room in terms of

Learning the game f the US game further yeah so you know I want to stay here as much as possible uh during the summer and you know uh for the wers to help me you know improve and be as prepared as possible for for next season both mentally and and physically so it’s

Probably my biggest summer of of my career and I have to be very you know concentrated very willing to to learn to grow so yeah have you I know you’re busy and you have bigger priorities but have you had a chance to walk around and see any part

Of this nation’s capital yeah um I think I saw more when I got drafted so in uh July but yeah I’ve seen I go for walks pretty much every day uh so yeah it’s a nice city I haven’t seen a lot uh I don’t have a car so I’m just you know

Walking in the in the areas you know seeing what’s what’s nice taking pictures calling family showing them around so yeah it’s been nice when you have to play 31 minutes in a game like tonight um obviously you played well but like how how well do you know the the

Plays and like the system and like are you still kind of yeah to be to be honest not much but they’re helping me they the assistants are helping me a lot Al on the court telling me hey do this do that so so yeah but it’s I think we

Play free we play uh a good free game uh the first half and the second half where I think we’re more like plays and you know getting the right shots and uh we did a great job for that we didn’t really shoot the ball well but other

Than that uh we had a we had a good game how are teammates here treating you amazing they’ve been they’ve been very helpful um you know it’s it was not easy you know it’s like you move very very far away just middle of the Season like that you know it’s not something that

Was like planned or like a new up front um so it was like a like a shock let’s say you know just coming here for the last month and you know they’ve done a great job like also the management the you know front office and everyone has

Made me feel very comfortable I feel very comfortable and very good so yeah as great as your English is and it’s better than ours um do you feel do you get homesick a bit yeah it is uh you know but there’s some like Serbian there’s

Some Greek spots out here and I go to them so like I can feel a bit like closer to home I’d say but yeah like the people around here good so it’s not something that’s really like going through my mind but yeah I may sometimes you know feel like you know my friends

My family cuz now it’s I’m very very far away but it’s I’m playing basketball doing what I love so yeah um we asked you the night of your debut like your family was able to watch you said the time difference yeah actually my mom my

Mom watched yeah so my mom uh my mom watched my dad and brother didn’t she we’re talking right now uh you know she’s very happy so so yeah Denny knows what it’s like to live Halfway Around the Globe how much has he helped you knowing what you’re dealing

With yeah a lot you know he always uh also after practice after games we may grab dinner we may hang out so he’s done a great job in helping me you know feel good telling me what to do what not to do and uh you know he’s done a great job

He’s I’m calling my vet even though he’s what two years older than me but he’s he’s amazing you know and he’s also have Serbian so I’m I’m teaching him a bit of Serbian

Interim head coach Brian Keefe, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, and Tristan Vukcevic spoke to the media following Tuesday night’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena.

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