Pre-Summer League Media Availability: Cody Toppert, Alex Sarr, and Tristan Vukcevic | 07/10/24

Pre-Summer League Media Availability: Cody Toppert, Alex Sarr, and Tristan Vukcevic | 07/10/24

Rost there’s a lot of players that you coached last year on the go go um how could that help with chemistry and continuity in the summer league yeah definitely a lot of familiar faces guys that have been working hard and I’ve gotten a chance to build relationships with them so I think that definitely gives you a little bit of an edge there’s a level of comfort that I have with those guys and that those guys have with me uh so hopefully that shows on the floor uh we’ll see shortly usually in the summer league it’s a lot of guys who haven’t played together so what kind of contrast could that present well I think you know so far in practice just what we’ve seen is guys looking and hunting for the extra pass uh a really cohesive unit despite the lack of reps together or lack of games together I think everybody out here has got a pure heart and an interest in playing team basketball and I think that’s the type of product that we’re looking forward to putting it on the on the floor what well what have you what do you like about this roster and what do you hope to accomplish for these uh Summer League games yeah I mean I think the big thing is it’s really twofold number one these guys are getting a a a comfort level with how we do things here the foundation that coach Keith that will and Michael have uh in instituted in what we’re doing from a developmental standpoint and from a concept standpoint on both sides of the ball I think the other thing that we’re looking to do is experiment with some different things that uh may or may not work that we can determine hey this is going to work for us during the season this is something we need to look at making a part of what we do um some of those ideas you know might be sheld afterwards so I think there’s a lot of uh a lot of balls in the air right now but for the new guys right now what they do a really good job of is coming in bringing a positive attitude they communicate well with their teammates overall the general feel in the building is is really really positive what will Bub’s role be offensively will he be running the offense yeah I think the beauty of what we’re really experimenting with uh we’ll start with the versatility from Alex right Alex is such unique character I mean he’s a guy who can bring the ball up the court he can play all positions so off of Misses you’re going to see a truly position push um off of makes we will find the point guard and look to hunt triggers in random spots and I think within a subset of that is a lot of bub on the ball getting reps making decisions but I think that’s also going to be spread throughout the roster coach how do you balance the the minutes between guys with experience in the rookies yeah that’s a great question right there I think I asked somebody else how to divvy these up um you know we’ve got a an approach that we’re going into there will be guys available for some games that aren’t available for other games and uh you know the front office has done a really good job of meticulously putting together the plan that we’ll put in place and those minutes will be distributed essentially before the game’s played nothing will be random about what we do uh but that’s definitely the tricky part sir how’s Tristan looking going into year two you know Tristan’s who’s got such a high basketball IQ uh and I think that it showed towards the end of the season uh during the seven or eight weeks of the offseason he spent a couple of weeks home but he was in here working and during that time he took another step I think from an IQ standpoint we know where he’s at and now we’re trying to get uh physicality standpoint to step up there particularly on the defensive side that’s something that we’re going to look for he’s shown a lot of growth there but the games will be a good determining Factor yeah I think that they’re huge they’re massive I think that it gives you a little bit of a head start on you know them kind of feeling like this is home and I think that that’s probably the number one thing that I would say um outside of that we get to put them in an environment a pressure packed environment right where you know they are fans and things of that nature so it can make them a little bit uncomfortable and seeing how they react to that and learning from those situations is going to help them grow uh prior to training camp pre-season then obviously the regular season as well what do you hope the rookies really take out of these NBA of these Summer League games you just said that that some of them might not play every single game or however it goes but what do you really hope that they take away from it I think how we’re going to operate as an organization how we’re going to function um from an everyday standpoint uh the type of mentality we’re going to bring to any activity that we do the intensity that we’re going to bring um and I think that that will that’s not just about the games that’s about the practice it’s about your developmental sessions it’s about how you recover it’s about getting with the athlete care team um and all those things that really truly Encompass being a 24-hour professional and I think that’s what we’re looking to help them establish the beginning of those habits mention Alex has the green light to take the ball up the floor what else can you tell us about his offensive role and what are you guys going to what type of situ sitations you’ll put him in you know you’re going to see him in situations as a Handler you see him in situations as a screener a roller a popper um he’s going to be a guy that’s asked to hunt and create action particularly on Miss shots and uh I think the beauty of it is you’re going to see him in just about everything you can right we will run him off stagger screens for shots uh we will run him with the ball in his hands as a Handler in the pick and roll um you know he’ll create action through dribble handoffs and more traditional actions so you know we’re going to try to put him in as many of these different situations as we can um and so far he’s really reacted well to those situations Alex how these last few days yeah it’s been pretty good you know like it’s a new team so we’re all just getting together learning new plays so he’s been pretty good what’s it been like just kind of being around this roster and with a bunch of guys with NBA experience man it’s been nice you know like uh some vet came in uh AG was here uh so you know they just nice uh they always give you tips cuz they play in the NBA I didn’t so uh always nice having these guys around do you feel like you’re kind of slowly getting acclimated to the area to what it takes to be a pro yet yeah I mean you know like the first few weeks but for sure you know like that’s what we’re going to be practicing for the most of the year and I’m definitely you know getting used to it you think about all the situations they plan to put you in coach topper was telling us that there’s a lot of different things they going to have you do offensively yeah I mean you know like that that’s his plan uh I know that they’re for sure going to be playing mean a lot of different spots and uh you know I’m I’m really glad I’m going to get to to play in different spots what do you help to show folks during these summer uh games what do you want to showcase uh during this time yeah I mean you know just settling myself as a wizard you know like getting used to to play with this jersey uh getting a lot of reps and uh and I hope to get better at Summer League it’s just summer league but I mean you’re wearing a practice right now that says Wizards on it have you thought about the moment where you put on a jersey that says Washington or Washington Wizards yeah I mean for sure you know we already did that for photo shoot so I don’t know how it feels like but uh it’s exciting you know I’m part of the NBA team and uh we’re going to get to play some games soon as a couple days from now what do you hope to take out of these games what do you hope to really learn um in Vegas yeah I mean you know just learning uh a lot about our our way of playing uh you know just getting to know the guys that I’m playing with and uh you know just improving Tristan said he’s known you for a really long time back to your days in Madrid um what’s it been like um what was it like getting to know him then and then reuniting with him yeah I mean you know since uh when we was 14 I played in Real Madrid and he was there uh so you know he’s just funny now being on the same team uh you know sometimes we talk about the Real Madrid days and uh you know it’s just nice seeing how far we came how you doing how you liking this environment so far and what are you hoping to gain from these summer yeah it’s great you know everyone here has been great we’ve been working very very hard especially the guys have been here since uh since like last season since April we’re really working hard and you know the new people that came in for summer league they they brought great energy so I think we got a we built a great team and great environment how would you compare this a year ago when you preparing the first me or team wise me I feel uh in shape way better shape than the last year and for sure more comfortable you know coming from Europe straight here it was a big a bigger change and now that I’ve played a couple of actual NBA games and you know playing now playing last year’s summer league and playing this year you know it’s it’s a lot I feel a lot more comfortable for sure you to inas myself my game you know um the energy the IQ the shot making the extra passes helping my teammates be better so that’s that’s what I’m most looking forward to us Ries that were drafted in this year’s class playing with them practicing with them how are they kind of getting out yeah they’ve been great and you know they’re great people too I know Alex from when I was in Madrid we were there for like two years together so it it’s nice having you know somebody that we kind of let’s say grow up playing basketball together in a way uh that’s been great and uh Bob and kishan they’re great people uh they really you can see they love the game they’re very happy to be here so that’s been great hey trist um two-way contract how’s it feel to kind of take your time develop and learn behind a couple of vets at the center position yeah I’m not worried you know uh I’m just here to play basketball so uh I’m you know we got a lot of bigs this year I’m you know ready to learn from them you know Jonah’s coming in he’s he’s a great you know European big so I can’t wait to you know him to like guide me in a way so yeah can you tell us more about no and Alex years back yeah so I think he came my second year in Madrid and uh you know he was always you know big uh tall uh you know athletic big I didn’t really get to play with him I think I think we practiced a couple times together because of like the age difference so you know he’s always been great you know a bit quiet but I’ll I’ll make sure he he opens up a bit what do you think about the roster that you guys have going to Vegas it’s great like I said you know everybody uh everybody’s really been working hard everybody has had a good body language it’s it’s happy sorry and is uh they’re all happy to be here you can see everybody we’re working as a team not nobody’s like very individual nobody’s like looking at themselves every to look at a team and that’s that’s a big thing

Summer League head coach Cody Toppert, Alex Sarr, and Tristan Vukcevic spoke to the media ahead of Summer League.

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