By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Photos: Dorothy J. Gentry, Dallas Mavericks
Media Day News and Notes
Boston, MA – The famous TD Garden in downtown Boston was bustling with noise and activity Wednesday as hundreds of reporters from all over the world descended on the famous arena to begin their coverage of the NBA Finals featuring the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks.
The annual Media Day featured players and coaches from both teams meeting with the media and answering questions about everything from their opponent and keys to winning, to their individual mindsets and game-time preparation. Below are select comments from players on Media Day.
Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic on teammate Kyrie Irving’s leadership skills:
“I mean, his leadership is amazing. The way he connects us. I think me and Kyrie are the leaders of this team, but he’s the one that’s been in the Finals. He’s the one that won in the Finals. He’s the one that is really leading it. He’s keeping us all together and motivated.”
Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown on his journey from coming off the bench, fighting for playing time and how he frames the legacy of the current Celtics team in terms of winning a championship.
“I think this is a special group. I really do. The core group of it has been here for a few years now. We’ve been able to go through the experiences of having success but not having success at the same time. I think to solidify the ultimate goal is to get over the hump and win. I think that will add a lot to our legacy. But as of right now, that story is kind of still untold.
Dallas Mavericks’ PJ Washington on his now infamous “Standing on business” arms folded pose, how the team embraced it and what it means to them.
“I think for me, it’s just showing people we’re not going anywhere. We been a tight-knit family since I got here, since before that. Everybody has each other’s back. We just use that mentality each and every day. We’re just trying to come in here and handle business, just try to get four wins.”
Boston Celtics’ Jrue Holiday on his potential one-on-one matchup with Kyrie Irving and how he will stop him.
“Pray. (smiling) No, I think it’s just familiarity. Just I think knowing each other’s game, doing your best to stay in front of him, trying to take away the things that will probably hurt you the most. Probably most of all having help. Him being able to see multiple guys on the court, making it look like it’s crowded, making shots as tough as possible, even though he’s a tough shot-maker, so…
Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving on returning to Boston – where he previously played but did not find success with the team and left after a year – playing with some of his former brothers and turning out the likely hostile stile crowd.
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve experienced Boston twofold: my first few years being in the NBA playing for the Cavs, then coming here to Boston, then being right down the street in Brooklyn, now being here in the Finals playing against them in a potential four-to-seven-game series.
You just got to breathe through it. To all my youngins out there that are dealing with some of the crowd reactions, what they’re saying to you, you have to breathe, realize that is not as hostile as you think it is. Don’t overthink it.
Been able to work through that and understand that some of that is anxiety, some of that is nervousness. It could all be turned into a strength. There’s no fear out here, man. It’s basketball. The fans are going to say what they’re going to say. I appreciate them and their relationship they have to the game. But it’s about the players at the end of the day.”
Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Boston. Game 2 is Sunday before the series switches for two games to American Airlines Center in Dallas for Games 3 and 4.
Dorothy Gentry is an award-winning journalist, PR pro and educator. A University of North Texas alum, she is the Sports Editor for Texas Metro News, Garland Journal and I Messenger.
