Q. Can you just talk a little bit about what you saw out of Shai last year? Obviously a small sample size with him missing the games because of the injury, but just his evolution; what did you see out of him? What maybe stood out or what improved most with him? And what are you expecting from him this season?
KENRICH WILLIAMS: Oh, man, Shai -- I mean, ever since the day one in training camp last year, Shai, he was locked in. That's still to this day, too. I personally didn't know he was that good as a player, kind of playing against him, but watching him every day, he puts the work in, he's very confident in himself. So his evolution just -- I feel like he's one of the best young players in the NBA, and he has a bright future.
Q. Is there anything specific about his game that you said, ooh, that was even better than I thought?
KENRICH WILLIAMS: Man, really just his overall offensive game. He's able to get to the basket whenever he wants. He's able to make plays for others, as well. I just didn't know he was very good like that.
Q. Everybody knows you're a rebuilding team, but you're a young player; do you approach it like I'm also -- this is an opportunity to build my name, build my game? Does that help you get through a rebuilding process where maybe the wins don't come as much as you'd like but also you're building towards something for the future?
KENRICH WILLIAMS: Not necessarily. I wouldn't say just -- I don't think of me first. It's more of like I'm definitely -- I definitely feel like there's still room for improvement as a player, but the first, the main goal as far as team, if we can get everybody to improve, then I feel like as a team we did something right.
Individually it's going to come throughout the season. You're going to -- it's going to be good times and bad where you're able to work through it and stuff like that, but as far as just progression, I definitely feel like there's still room for improvement.
Q. What did you work on this summer, because you got a lot of run last season. What did you work on this summer that you think you can expand on your game this season?
KENRICH WILLIAMS: Just pretty much everything, the whole game. Just tried to pretty much tighten everything up. I feel like I've figured out how to play in the league, so it's just more about tightening stuff up, working on your handle, tightening the shot up, just working on your mental and everything like that. But yeah.
Q. Derrick Favors is coming back here to Oklahoma City. What's it like to play with him again?
KENRICH WILLIAMS: It's good. It's good to see Fave and be with Fave. Great guy. Real stand-up guy. He was great for us when I played in New Orleans. He was a great leader. Definitely led by example. I think for this team and for the younger guys on the team, he's a good person for kind of players to look up to. Not look up to in the way of playing, but as far as being a professional, he's one of the best at it.
Q. Kenrich, how has Mark been able to connect with you guys, especially last season as a first-year head coach?
KENRICH WILLIAMS: Mark, I mean, he's been able to connect with us just from day one, I think by him being himself. He's a very smart, intelligent coach, and he also understands players. If you're a coach and you can understand like all your players and you can get to know them, I think that's very important. The guys, they buy into that. They notice that, that oh, okay, so Coach, he knows about me, he knows a lot about me, this and that.
That definitely helps Coach a lot.
Q. I know you're from Waco, Texas. I don't know how similar Oklahoma City is to Waco, but what is your favorite thing about OKC and why?
KENRICH WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah, Waco is kind of similar, it's just a little bigger, that's all. Oklahoma City is just a little bigger than Waco. I mean, what I like, I like being outside. I love the parks here. I stay right by the lake, Lake Hefner -- y'all don't need to know that, but I stay right by the lake, so I'm able to go out and enjoy the weather. For me it's just the simple things in life.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports