From Barbosa 🫶 Steph Curry to Klay the “perfectionist” vs Damion Lee

[notes/quotes/video/highlights from Chase to Phoenix]

Going in reverse chronological order, from the HD version of the behind-the-scenes from the Golden State vs Sacramento Kings to practice at Chase Center the next day to morning shootaround before the Phoenix Suns. There are tons of quotes from Klay Thompson and Damion Lee today, plus Moses Moody and Steve Kerr from practice yesterday.

KLAY FROM MORNING SHOOTAROUND

DISCLAIMER: These are all just notes for my main workflow of YouTube videos, tweeted by beatwriters, as listed, or transcribed by me. I used to transcribe every interview but it became too tedious and not worth the investment for the small amount of views we got on the soundbites on YouTube. The links to the tweets are not available because sometimes I don’t use the full tweet and just having a ton of tweets on this website imo isn’t aesthetically pleasing and gets away from the main goal: transferring information (not so much entertainment) to the brains of DubNation asap.

0:39 • Klay Thompson didn’t think he played well on Sunday night and is looking for a breakout game in Phoenix tonight: “Last game, I didn’t play too well. I thought I played well defensively, but offensively I was stagnant, I wasn’t cutting as hard as I should. I look to be even better tonight. I haven’t played in this arena in a few years, I’m excited. It’s like I’m starting over again.” (Alex Espinoza)

1:00 • On the Phoenix Suns: “I love DeAndre (Ayton), being a Bahamian…Devin Booker, how much he’s improved…Chris Paul, first ballot. As NBA fans we should just be grateful…Monty (Williams)…natural-born leader…the stuff they had to deal with, with their owner not being a good person…despicable…kudos to them…very formidable Big Three for anybody…in contention for a championship.” (me)

2:58 • On fighting through minutes restriction: “It’s still something to work with. I know the big shooting nights will come as long as I just stay the course and stay patient and trust the training staff to let me go when I need to. I was in the same formula last year and it led to a championship. I can get frustrated all that I want, but I trust our staff, they know what they’re doing…I’m not going to go out there and worry about made shots or statistics. I’m just going to go out there and play hard and be a two-way impactful player…I was in the same formula last year and it led to a championship.” (Alex Espinoza, 95.7 The Game)

3:45 • On Damion Lee’s game-winner: “Oh yeah I was so proud of DLee…gamer.” (me)

4:02 • On his minutes restriction: “I feel good, but I still know I have another level to get to. I think it will happen sooner than later…It’s a long season. But I got to realize, man, it's a long season. I'd rather peak come playoff time rather than early November or into January.” (Kendra Andrews)

4:45 • On his recent shooting woes: “When you feel like you're the reason your team goes through a slump, it's nice to get that out the way early…On his shooting woes: “I’m such a perfectionist. I want to be great right now…Don't get discouraged with missed shots or missed rotations on defense. Sometimes when you come back from injury, you get in your own way. 'Ahh, I might not be the same player. I might not do this or do that.' But you just got to be grateful to be out there competing. When I play with that mindset, everything else flows so easily…I'm a very prideful person. I forget that what I've been through, it's real…Although I want to have the big shooting nights, I know that comes with hard work and patience. That stuff is organic…basketball’s an inexact science.” (Kendra Andrews, me)

6:55 • On guarding Damion Lee: “It’s weird. Life happens so fast…I know DLee’s tendencies, I’ve played against him in practice for years.” (me)

7:30 • On what he’s learned about himself through the years: “It takes a lot to knock me down. The injuries, the shooting slumps, lessened athleticism, I’m still gonna make an impact on a championship team…I still want more…I can still make shots and get stops.” (me)

• Klay has referred to missed shots that hit the front of the rim as “shortbread” and shots that clank off back iron as “long loaves.” (Alex Espinoza)

DLEE FROM MORNING SHOOTAROUND

(See video above included with Klay Q&A)

8:30 • Damion Lee on any nerves going into tonight: “Not January 10th yet (referring to when the Suns play at Chase and he receives his ring).” (me)

9:40 • On keys for the Suns vs Warriors: “Play with force and pace (something Kerr says a lot).” (me)

10:00 • On any trash talk with Stephen Curry: “We talk. Some about basketball, some about golf…when 7pm comes, game time…we’ll see what happens tonight.” (me)

10:45 • On his free agency this past summer: free agency this past summer: “Guys were extremely supportive of my decision…excited for me and my future just like I supported those guys, the extensions that they got…even Andre coming back for his 25th year.” (me)

• On guarding some his former teammates: “There will be spurts in the game where I’m guarding some of my closest guys…we play these guys in three weeks, too, so it’s not like it’s East Coast-West Coast where it’s the only game we play for awhile.” (me)

12:00 • On the Suns’ bench: “Two guys that were here consistently…continuing to blend.” (me)

13:00 • On preparing for his former teammates: “I’ve been watching a decent amount of film…but I don’t want to make the game about me…January 10th…that’ll be the more emotional one…don’t overreact, those guys are gonna hit amazing shots…we have some of the best players in the world on our team as well.” (me)

14:00 • On any banter expected: “Even when we were in practice…it’s still competition..:you might see some jokes…you wanna be the team that scores the most at the end…enjoying the vibe but at the end of the day, once seven o’clock comes.” (me)

14:50 • On James Wiseman: “literally has everything in his bag. That’s what the kids call it, right?…he was dealt a bad hand. Basically every two weeks (lists various injuries Wiseman had in 2019-20).” (me)

16:18 • On Britney Griner’s appeal denial: “I try not to go on my phone (on game days)…ease my media then look up stuff after…obv this is where she plays…idk her personally…hoping she can get home first.” (me)

MOSES FROM PRACTICE

• Moses Moody on Ty Jerome: “He can hoop…3-on-3s…nice pace to his game, can shoot the ball really well, create for others.” (me)

• On building a rhythm and chemistry: “It’s a work in progress…how people like to guard, people like to switch…it’ll come in time.” (me)

• On the bad plus-minus of the bench, outside of Moody himself, and transition defense: “Attention to detail…we’re all learning, trying to figure out things we don’t know…game reps and just more film study, more practice reps…starters they had their time…and now they are where they are now. We’re just starting from the bottom.” (me)

• On Mike Brown’s defense and carry-over from last year: “Not so many things are different. Shout out to Mike (on a good game played by the Kings last night).” (me)

STEVE FROM PRACTICE

• Donte DiVincenzo will be reevaluated in a week, per Steve Kerr. Ty Jerome will be active during this time. (Jason Dumas, me)

• On James Wiseman: “He's still got a lot of work to do, but we're really excited about his development.” (95.7 The Game)

• On Andrew Wiggins: “This is the best I've ever seen Wiggs. ... I don't think he's ever looked more confident.” Kerr says he’s making the simple plays, making the extra pass & attacking the basket. Wiggins had 24pts, 5reb, 1ast, 3stl, 2blk and 0 turnovers in last night’s win over the Kings. (95.7 The Game, Kylen Mills)

• On Iguodala, Kerr checks with PR to confirm that Andre will be on the podium today, but he was not able to make it. (me)

👍👍💛💙