Reporter: Bobby Jones was at the pre-draft camp, having played against him and practiced for four years
hes really made an impression defensively. What kind of player was he like to play and practice against?
Brandon Roy: For me that was a pleasure for me to have.
Bobby Jones is 6-7, he can guard point guards and small forwards. Just his ability to make me change shots, and cut me off
it helped make me a better player. So when I go up against other players now in games and workouts, guys who are trying to shut me down, I went up against one of the best players in the country so I know that it cant get much harder than that. Playing against him definitely helped prepare me because we played together all summer, he pushed me and I pushed him, so I think that helped me a lot. Everybody says that Bobby is doing great from what I hear. He seems to be playing his best basketball at the best time of his life, so I am definitely happy for him.
Reporter: What is your routine working out?
Brandon Roy: We work out at 9 AM, 9-11. We have lunch, take a nap, then come back from 6-8. We do lots of shooting, some skill stuff, not too much competition. In the morning its a little bit more physical, little more playing. Basically just getting ready for the draft, a lot of on ball stuff, pick and roll things, a lot of the things well see in camps so that way when you go into a workout you wont be like ah, I never worked on that.
Reporter: Everyone talks about your well rounded game
how would you describe it?
Brandon Roy: I would describe it as trying to do whatever it takes to help the team win. Thats what Ive always done. At times Ive had to do things posting up, I dont mind playing with my back to the basket, and sometimes coach would ask me to handle the ball. I think that over the course of my career, I always wanted to do those things at a high level, so I kept working on my ball-handling, posting up, guarding different players, trying to be all-around and complete
especially in this draft.
Reporter: Some people are saying that you may be a point, and that might be your best position. How do you see yourself?
Brandon Roy: I dont want to say that I am going to be just a point guard, because I think I can go off the ball and score too. The best label for me would be a combo guard, I think that if you point guard next to me I can still make plays from the wing, and if you put a big-time scorer next to me I can get him the ball, get the bigs the ball. So I think thats the best part of my game, I am not just a point or just a shooting guard, I can do both.
Jonathan Givony: What happened in the Charlotte workout a week ago with
Rudy Gay?
Brandon Roy: The Charlotte workout
everything got messed up. My flight got delayed from Seattle. I got into the airport in Charlotte at 10:30
I got to the hotel at around 12 and I didnt get any room service that night. Waking up in the morning around 7, it was 4 Seattle time
I was really just jet-lagged. I felt like I was in the middle of the night. I went through the testing and all that
at the end of it I was fatigued, so I talked to Bernie and he understood
we even talked about pushing the workout a little bit with me coming in from the west coast with our time being three hours behind. He understood and I think he wants me to come back later this month
I think he understood and hopefully next time well be better prepared. It was no big deal on their side I think.
Jonathan Givony: So you did the entire workout?
Brandon Roy: No, I just did the agility stuff and things like that.
Jonathan Givony: 15 minutes?
Brandon Roy: No, Charlottes is pretty long. About 40 minutes or so it lasted.
Jonathan Givony: Did you do any competitive stuff with
Rudy Gay?
Brandon Roy: No, we didnt get anything competitive in. I think hell be in Portland this Thursday with Adam [Morrison]
so that should be a pretty good workout.
Jonathan Givony: Was it disappointing not to be able to do a competitive workout with Rudy in Charlotte considering that they have the #3 pick?
Brandon Roy: More than anything I was more upset that I wasnt able to do the workout. Talking with Bernie, I think their biggest thing is they dont care who you work out with, thats not a big deal to them
they just want to see you get in and do the work done. Its really weird because the workouts Ive seen the competitive stuff only lasts 20 minutes, so its really hard to judge how guys compete in that amount of time. I was disappointed that I wasnt able to do the workout
not that Rudy was there or Adam was going to be there. It was just the fact that I wasnt able to complete it because I was so drained. It was more of that than knowing that Rudy was there.
Jonathan Givony: How did the physicals go today
did everything check out OK as far as the knee is concerned?
Brandon Roy: Yeah, everything is great. I didnt get back any numbers or anything, but no one said anything so I think everything is pretty good so far.
Reporter: How concerned are you with your knee?
Brandon Roy: Oh, Im not concerned at all. I think the knee was an issue last year because I tried to come back so early because I wanted to come back and help my team out. Once the season ended my knee was 100%, I didnt miss any games or practices so I didnt worry about it at all.
Reporter: A lot of guys have chosen to work out individually, with no competition
why have you chosen to work out competitively?
Brandon Roy: Well thats my game. I dont even really like 2 on 2, I wish we could play in 5 on 5 settings. I think people would get more out of me if they saw me make plays off the dribble, create for others, come off the ball and things like that. To go up in an individual workout I think Ill be fine, but I think I can do better against competition to show people how I can defend and things like that.
Jonathan Givony: How many workouts have you had so far?
Brandon Roy: Actually I only worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers. That was the only one I had. I worked out for them since I was in LA at the time. My agent knew I was going up to Charlotte so he wanted to get a prep workout in. It was a good workout
just to see how they were ran.
Jonathan Givony: What happened with Houston?
Brandon Roy: Houston I had an emergency. And Ive been saying
at the same time my agent wasnt too sure he wanted me to go into Houston. We kind of talked about it, and with Houston we thought about rescheduling for a later date. From everything were hearing with my agent, we are between 1 through 6. So maybe Houston will try to move up, who knows, but he wanted to see at a later date to see if I go back and workout for them.
Jonathan Givony: How many teams are you going to end up working out for?
Brandon Roy: In the end I think I will do 5. Chicago, Portland, Minnesota, Charlotte again, and maybe Houston. Houston at the end of the month, 24th I think.
Jonathan Givony: No Toronto?
Brandon Roy: No, no Toronto.
Reporter: Do you feel like this is an important week for you, just because you are starting to work out for teams?
Brandon Roy: Its exciting, Portland is right there, and they are saying that they are very interested, so I want to go in there and play well. Then you have Chicago following, and people are saying that Chicago is considering drafting a wing player. So its going to be a big week. Minnesota is coming up, but at the same time I am excited, but I have to stay ready, stay ready for anything. Just have fun, its basketball, just go out there and have fun, compete against these guys.
Reporter: When do you do Chicago?
Brandon Roy: 17th. Saturday, I think
Portlands Thursday.
Jonathan Givony: Is this something you imagined last year, you werent sure whether to enter the draft or not. It seems like your stock was in MAYBE first round, IF you did good in workouts. Is this something you imagined last year, being in this room, with all these lottery guys
is this surprising to you?
Brandon Roy: I think its something that I always imagined. Thats why I always tried to stay patient, last year and the year before, it wouldnt have been like this. After coming back this season, I wouldnt have been able to be in the same company with all these lottery guys. Thats something Ive always wanted, and now Im here. Im excited.
Reporter: Who do you think is the best player in the draft?
Brandon Roy: You mean besides myself? [laughs] I always think that I am the best player. Not to be cocky or anything like that. I think all these guys are great players, but I believe in myself more than anybody.
Reporter: So you said you heard Portland is interested in you?
Brandon Roy: Yeah [laughs]
They are pretty interested. [laughs]
Jonathan Givony: What about Coach Romar
what has his role been in getting you to where you are right now?
Brandon Roy: Its been huge. I think over my four years, hes helped develop me not only as a player, but as a leader on the floor. So I think his role has been tremendous, especially this last season. Hes put me in so many positions on the floor to do well
I think its definitely helped me a lot. You know him being a players coach, and him understanding what players go through
and him knowing how to put me in situations to be able to score, and be able to make plays for your teammates.
Jonathan Givony: How do you think UW is going to be next year?
Brandon Roy: I think they are going to be pretty good. I think they are going to be young. I think theyll do well, I think theyll have their bumps in the road, and how they handle them is going to determine how good they do. A lot of freshman stepped up for us big time this year and now they have that experience. And hopefully they continue to be successful.
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