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Justin Martinez

@Justintohoops • 5,864 subscribers

OKC Thunder beat writer for @TheOklahoman_. Ball isn’t life, but there are parallels.

Shorts

A group of superfans called the Spurs Jackals have arrived at Paycom Center, and some Thunder drummers are following them around to drown out their chants

A group of superfans called the Spurs Jackals have arrived at Paycom Center, and some Thunder drummers are following them around to drown out their chants

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Jared McCain on if he has played alongside a big man who can make screening a highlight play like Isaiah Hartenstein: “It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, Joel would do that with Tyrese and I was like ‘Dang, that’s really cool right there.’ So being able to be a part of it is really fun. Playing with Hart, J-Will and Chet, they’re all elite bigs. I’m excited to play with them.”

Jared McCain on if he has played alongside a big man who can make screening a highlight play like Isaiah Hartenstein: “It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, Joel would do that with Tyrese and I was like ‘Dang, that’s really cool right there.’ So being able to be a part of it is really fun. Playing with Hart, J-Will and Chet, they’re all elite bigs. I’m excited to play with them.”

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Jared McCain says he wants to get this photo framed. I asked him where he wants to put it: “Maybe like right next to my TV in the living room. Or maybe right above my bed, so right when I wake up I can just look at that and it reminds me that this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Jared McCain says he wants to get this photo framed. I asked him where he wants to put it: “Maybe like right next to my TV in the living room. Or maybe right above my bed, so right when I wake up I can just look at that and it reminds me that this is where I’m supposed to be.”

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OKC’s bench often gives a thumbs up/down after a teammate’s dunk. I asked Cason Wallace if Alex Caruso’s late dunk against San Antonio gets a thumbs up: “That was a thumbs up because that’s an old man right there getting up off the ground. He flexed it. I was proud of him.”

OKC’s bench often gives a thumbs up/down after a teammate’s dunk. I asked Cason Wallace if Alex Caruso’s late dunk against San Antonio gets a thumbs up: “That was a thumbs up because that’s an old man right there getting up off the ground. He flexed it. I was proud of him.”

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on how difficult it is to shoot over Victor Wembanyama and if he figured out some things he can take into Game 2: "The second part of your question, I probably wouldn't want to say in public because I don't want to give any answers away. But yeah, it's obviously challenging. He's very tall, very long and he deters a lot of things at the rim. You've got to be smart when you go in there. Be patient, but also be aggressive and don't be too timid in there. I think you get caught worrying about it too much and you lose aggression, and that's when they really get a stranglehold on the game. You've got to be able to be aggressive but also be smart."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on how difficult it is to shoot over Victor Wembanyama and if he figured out some things he can take into Game 2: "The second part of your question, I probably wouldn't want to say in public because I don't want to give any answers away. But yeah, it's obviously challenging. He's very tall, very long and he deters a lot of things at the rim. You've got to be smart when you go in there. Be patient, but also be aggressive and don't be too timid in there. I think you get caught worrying about it too much and you lose aggression, and that's when they really get a stranglehold on the game. You've got to be able to be aggressive but also be smart."

Justin Martinez

970,421 просмотров • 22 дней назад

Mark Daigneault opened his postgame press conference by praising the Lakers: "Obviously, they played excellent tonight. It's been an impressive run they've had with (Luka) Doncic out and with (Austin) Reaves out for part of that Houston series. They've been unbelievably resourceful, and I have high respect for JJ Redick and their staff. Every series seems to teach your team lessons. They threw a lot of pitches at us, and I think we're a better team at the end of the series than we were at the beginning. That's a credit to them. Just a tip of the hat to them. Deep respect."

Mark Daigneault opened his postgame press conference by praising the Lakers: "Obviously, they played excellent tonight. It's been an impressive run they've had with (Luka) Doncic out and with (Austin) Reaves out for part of that Houston series. They've been unbelievably resourceful, and I have high respect for JJ Redick and their staff. Every series seems to teach your team lessons. They threw a lot of pitches at us, and I think we're a better team at the end of the series than we were at the beginning. That's a credit to them. Just a tip of the hat to them. Deep respect."

Justin Martinez

479,105 просмотров • 29 дней назад

OKC's players talked before the series about enjoying being challenged. I asked Chet Holmgren just how much the team is being tested by San Antonio: "You can either love winning or love competing, and this series is all about competing. You can't go out there and be lackadaisical. There's no guaranteed win in this series. You have to go out there and grit out and grind for every single win. That's what we have an opportunity to do."

OKC's players talked before the series about enjoying being challenged. I asked Chet Holmgren just how much the team is being tested by San Antonio: "You can either love winning or love competing, and this series is all about competing. You can't go out there and be lackadaisical. There's no guaranteed win in this series. You have to go out there and grit out and grind for every single win. That's what we have an opportunity to do."

Justin Martinez

164,434 просмотров • 12 дней назад

Asked Cason Wallace what it was like to see his girlfriend, Kiki Rice, help the UCLA women’s basketball team win its first NCAA championship: “That was great. It was fun just seeing her live out her dreams. She was very excited and happy. She works every day. It’s a lot of work and she’s consistent with it, so for her to have those achievements and her hard work paying off is great.”

Asked Cason Wallace what it was like to see his girlfriend, Kiki Rice, help the UCLA women’s basketball team win its first NCAA championship: “That was great. It was fun just seeing her live out her dreams. She was very excited and happy. She works every day. It’s a lot of work and she’s consistent with it, so for her to have those achievements and her hard work paying off is great.”

Justin Martinez

758,682 просмотров • 2 месяцев назад

Here’s Chet Holmgren, who made the executive decision to stand up during his postgame interview because there wasn’t much leg room at the table.

Here’s Chet Holmgren, who made the executive decision to stand up during his postgame interview because there wasn’t much leg room at the table.

Justin Martinez

2,489,908 просмотров • 7 месяцев назад

Here’s Shai’s full response to the question I asked him about Chet, since this is getting clipped out of context. Sometimes it takes a second for a guy to give a good answer without giving up too much of the game plan, which is what happened here.

Here’s Shai’s full response to the question I asked him about Chet, since this is getting clipped out of context. Sometimes it takes a second for a guy to give a good answer without giving up too much of the game plan, which is what happened here.

Justin Martinez

125,097 просмотров • 15 дней назад

Asked Alex Caruso about his shoe block: "I've never been in that situation before. And, I don't know, it came to me. I just thought I was gonna block it, and I honestly don't know what I thought the call would be. I didn't know it was going to be a goaltending and a tech. If I would've known that, I probably wouldn't have done it because it's three points. It's an automatic bucket, and he didn't even put the ball above the rim. As soon as I had my shoe in my hand, it crept in my mind to use it. Not like in a malicious way, but like 'Let me try to make a play to stop the ball.' It's just one of those weird NBA plays that probably won't happen for like another 10 years."

Asked Alex Caruso about his shoe block: "I've never been in that situation before. And, I don't know, it came to me. I just thought I was gonna block it, and I honestly don't know what I thought the call would be. I didn't know it was going to be a goaltending and a tech. If I would've known that, I probably wouldn't have done it because it's three points. It's an automatic bucket, and he didn't even put the ball above the rim. As soon as I had my shoe in my hand, it crept in my mind to use it. Not like in a malicious way, but like 'Let me try to make a play to stop the ball.' It's just one of those weird NBA plays that probably won't happen for like another 10 years."

Justin Martinez

591,076 просмотров • 2 месяцев назад

Asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about the fans, who stayed and chanted "OKC" until the final buzzer tonight: "It's amazing to know that, no matter what, they have our backs. Oklahoma really feels like home for me and my family. There's no place in the country where I'd rather live and raise a child and build my family and things like that. The community is amazing. We'll them again next year and the year after that. Thank you to them for who they were all season long."

Asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about the fans, who stayed and chanted "OKC" until the final buzzer tonight: "It's amazing to know that, no matter what, they have our backs. Oklahoma really feels like home for me and my family. There's no place in the country where I'd rather live and raise a child and build my family and things like that. The community is amazing. We'll them again next year and the year after that. Thank you to them for who they were all season long."

Justin Martinez

51,619 просмотров • 10 дней назад

Sam Presti announced today that Nikola Topic is dealing with testicular cancer. His doctors are “extremely positive” about his long-term outlook. He has began chemotherapy, and there is no timetable for his return. Wishing all the best for Topic.

Sam Presti announced today that Nikola Topic is dealing with testicular cancer. His doctors are “extremely positive” about his long-term outlook. He has began chemotherapy, and there is no timetable for his return. Wishing all the best for Topic.

Justin Martinez

1,148,664 просмотров • 7 месяцев назад

Minnesota attempted 47 free throws compared to OKC’s 30. I asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander if the narrative that OKC has a special whistle bothers him, especially on a night when the stats don’t support that: “I don’t care, not one bit. I can’t control how the refs blow the whistle ever. I’ve never been able to. Never been a ref. All I can do is play basketball, and that’s all I focus on. Try to win games and win championships.”

Minnesota attempted 47 free throws compared to OKC’s 30. I asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander if the narrative that OKC has a special whistle bothers him, especially on a night when the stats don’t support that: “I don’t care, not one bit. I can’t control how the refs blow the whistle ever. I’ve never been able to. Never been a ref. All I can do is play basketball, and that’s all I focus on. Try to win games and win championships.”

Justin Martinez

677,765 просмотров • 5 месяцев назад

Jalen Williams gave a great answer on OKC’s mindset after a loss: “I think an average team would probably be like, ‘Oh, it’s the Cup. Whatever. We lost one. We’re 24-2.’ We can go home and just hang our hat on that, or we can look at it as a way to get better. … I think that’s why we’ve been so good this year, is holding ourselves to a different standard.”

Jalen Williams gave a great answer on OKC’s mindset after a loss: “I think an average team would probably be like, ‘Oh, it’s the Cup. Whatever. We lost one. We’re 24-2.’ We can go home and just hang our hat on that, or we can look at it as a way to get better. … I think that’s why we’ve been so good this year, is holding ourselves to a different standard.”

Justin Martinez

622,522 просмотров • 5 месяцев назад

Asked Mark Daigneault about Jared McCain, who’s thriving through three games with OKC: “What he’s doing is very difficult. It’s an unexpected situation for him. He’s joining a team that has had success together, and he looks like he has been here.”

Asked Mark Daigneault about Jared McCain, who’s thriving through three games with OKC: “What he’s doing is very difficult. It’s an unexpected situation for him. He’s joining a team that has had success together, and he looks like he has been here.”

Justin Martinez

212,756 просмотров • 3 месяцев назад

Asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about Dillon Brooks’ personality off the floor. The Team Canada teammates will face off Sunday when OKC visits Phoenix. “Dillon is one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. He’s just a really good guy. Super polite. Easy to talk to. Personable. No ego. As crazy as he is on the court, he’s the complete opposite.”

Asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about Dillon Brooks’ personality off the floor. The Team Canada teammates will face off Sunday when OKC visits Phoenix. “Dillon is one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. He’s just a really good guy. Super polite. Easy to talk to. Personable. No ego. As crazy as he is on the court, he’s the complete opposite.”

Justin Martinez

275,373 просмотров • 5 месяцев назад

Asked Chet Holmgren about facing former Gonzaga teammate Drew Timme and what he has learned from him: “I’m extremely happy for him. He’s a helluva player and a helluva worker. I’m happy to see him get some opportunity and make the most of it out there. We were both extremely focused on the game, but lots of jokes going back and forth up and down the floor. I kind of learned how to be a professional when it comes down to being on the court. Obviously, Drew is very known for being a goofy and not-take-life-too-serious kind of guy. But when it came to basketball, he was all business with how he prepared for it and how he played the game. It was great to be able to watch that and learn from him. I’ve just tried to apply that to my journey.”

Asked Chet Holmgren about facing former Gonzaga teammate Drew Timme and what he has learned from him: “I’m extremely happy for him. He’s a helluva player and a helluva worker. I’m happy to see him get some opportunity and make the most of it out there. We were both extremely focused on the game, but lots of jokes going back and forth up and down the floor. I kind of learned how to be a professional when it comes down to being on the court. Obviously, Drew is very known for being a goofy and not-take-life-too-serious kind of guy. But when it came to basketball, he was all business with how he prepared for it and how he played the game. It was great to be able to watch that and learn from him. I’ve just tried to apply that to my journey.”

Justin Martinez

112,473 просмотров • 2 месяцев назад

Jared McCain on OKC’s unselfishness: “Credit to Sam Presti. He knows how to get players here that just play for one another. I really love these guys, you know? Even this quickly, they’ve really helped me and gave me that confidence to go out there and be myself. When I see that in others, you want to help the other person out. … We play for one another. I think that’s being in this organization and that’s the Thunder way.”

Jared McCain on OKC’s unselfishness: “Credit to Sam Presti. He knows how to get players here that just play for one another. I really love these guys, you know? Even this quickly, they’ve really helped me and gave me that confidence to go out there and be myself. When I see that in others, you want to help the other person out. … We play for one another. I think that’s being in this organization and that’s the Thunder way.”

Justin Martinez

144,219 просмотров • 2 месяцев назад

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander covered his eyes for most of OT while sitting on the bench. I asked him what was going through his mind: "I hate watching pressure moments when I'm not in them. I hate it. It's not that I don't have faith in my teammates or anything like that. It's just that I can't stand the pressure when I'm not involved. When I'm involved, I love it. But when I'm not involved, I hate it. The moments I was watching, it was pretty impressive."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander covered his eyes for most of OT while sitting on the bench. I asked him what was going through his mind: "I hate watching pressure moments when I'm not in them. I hate it. It's not that I don't have faith in my teammates or anything like that. It's just that I can't stand the pressure when I'm not involved. When I'm involved, I love it. But when I'm not involved, I hate it. The moments I was watching, it was pretty impressive."

Justin Martinez

166,264 просмотров • 3 месяцев назад

Here’s Mark Daigneault on Ousmane Dieng, who was traded to Charlotte and then Chicago today: “We won a championship last year, and he was a part of that. He added when he could, but he certainly didn’t take anything away even though he might not have had the role that he wanted all the time. I certainly respect that about him and appreciate that. He knows that from us when I saw him today, and we wish him all the best. He’s a guy that we’ll be rooting for because of the way he handled himself with us.”

Here’s Mark Daigneault on Ousmane Dieng, who was traded to Charlotte and then Chicago today: “We won a championship last year, and he was a part of that. He added when he could, but he certainly didn’t take anything away even though he might not have had the role that he wanted all the time. I certainly respect that about him and appreciate that. He knows that from us when I saw him today, and we wish him all the best. He’s a guy that we’ll be rooting for because of the way he handled himself with us.”

Justin Martinez

194,892 просмотров • 4 месяцев назад

Asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about former Thunder teammate Chris Paul, who retired yesterday: “Chris was special for my career. Off the court, he was the first person that I was around to really take care of their body and show me the importance of the weight room. His life was really like a regimen, and it allowed him to be successful on the court. Chris was like the first point guard for me. He was the first point guard that I studied. I was in high school, and I was watching how he read the pick and roll. I was watching how he controlled the game. He was the standard for a point guard. And obviously, fast forward a couple of years, he’s one of my closest friends.”

Asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about former Thunder teammate Chris Paul, who retired yesterday: “Chris was special for my career. Off the court, he was the first person that I was around to really take care of their body and show me the importance of the weight room. His life was really like a regimen, and it allowed him to be successful on the court. Chris was like the first point guard for me. He was the first point guard that I studied. I was in high school, and I was watching how he read the pick and roll. I was watching how he controlled the game. He was the standard for a point guard. And obviously, fast forward a couple of years, he’s one of my closest friends.”

Justin Martinez

152,529 просмотров • 3 месяцев назад

Asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander what was going through his mind as he sat on the bench down the stretch of a loss for the first time this season: “I could feel it out there, how the game was going. Just on both ends of the floor, (we were) not getting done what we need to get done. By that time the game is over. You just learn the lesson and chalk it up.”

Asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander what was going through his mind as he sat on the bench down the stretch of a loss for the first time this season: “I could feel it out there, how the game was going. Just on both ends of the floor, (we were) not getting done what we need to get done. By that time the game is over. You just learn the lesson and chalk it up.”

Justin Martinez

185,952 просмотров • 5 месяцев назад

Chet Holmgren was pretty surprised when Michael Martin told him that he's 34 for 35 at the rim (97.1%) this postseason. I asked him what it means to hear something like that: "I think it's great. I pride myself on efficiency, and I don't think it gets much more efficient than 97%. But I also think I have so much room to grow in all of the areas on the floor. I think I can get even better at the rim, not necessarily efficiency-wise but diversity-wise. I've just got to continue to strive for that while also continuing to strive for what we're chasing as a team."

Chet Holmgren was pretty surprised when Michael Martin told him that he's 34 for 35 at the rim (97.1%) this postseason. I asked him what it means to hear something like that: "I think it's great. I pride myself on efficiency, and I don't think it gets much more efficient than 97%. But I also think I have so much room to grow in all of the areas on the floor. I think I can get even better at the rim, not necessarily efficiency-wise but diversity-wise. I've just got to continue to strive for that while also continuing to strive for what we're chasing as a team."

Justin Martinez

37,602 просмотров • 29 дней назад