DARIO SARIC: I think it's a base to build a team who's going to win one day and to learn that every day to be around a positive environment with front office, coaches, players. You know, they really act like a team who has matured to win the games in the future, how to act on the court. It's not like usually young teams kind of try to fight for themselves. I think they play really team basketball and in the future can result in winning.
Q. We saw that connectedness on the floor with the ball movement and the style of play, but off the court what did you witness about how close this team is?
DARIO SARIC: I think it's a really close team. I think guys are -- most of the guys are similar age. Of course they have similar interests and that kind of stuff.
But high-quality group of people. You know, good group of people, good rest what I see, and competitive. They want to come on the court even if it's off day. They want to work out, they want to be the best version of themselves, high-intensity group, they want to compete. Some days they kind of go over through that. But this team is really focusing to be as best they can.
Q. What was it like going through those two postseason games with this group?
DARIO SARIC: It was good. I think it was good for a young team that feel that kind of playoff environment, but I think this is a little bit different, play-in games. It's not like a playoff because a playoff game you always have another game to play, to stand, to prepare. Here it's a little bit hard, especially for us we've got two games away. I think what I feel we play, kind of like really get great game last night, but it was a great experience. It was a great experience.
I would like we have like another game so team kind of go over their strategy and that kind of thing, how to prepare for the next second game, that would be nice, but play-in is kind of like really hard; one game and you're done.
Q. What did you learn about Mark Daigneault? What did you learn about him in your short stint here?
DARIO SARIC: I think he really thinks ahead, really thinks ahead. He can see -- he see the game a little bit different. He is ready to kind of like -- I can say like gamble on kind of some things. You know, we do some strategy, kind of like what is different. Some coaches have like where they stick to it. He's kind of like open mind to kind of like try things on the court, and great coach. I think he's a great coach. I think he's on the court, off the court a great person, and he's the right coach for these young people here. That's what I can say.
Q. What did you learn playing with Shai specifically as a leader on the court and kind of an emerging star?
DARIO SARIC: He's great, obviously, an All-Star. I think he had amazing stats this year. I think on the court he's a guy that if anything is shut down, he's going to find something, he's going to be free throw, he's going to be bucket. Just amazing player. I've played with amazing players, but he's one of those who you can really rely on him, kind of put him in a situation he's going to bring you great things every night.
Q. What about his demeanor and leadership, because this is such a young group? What did you learn about the way Shai is able to read?
DARIO SARIC: I think he's doing a good job. I think obviously with some experience,ing with the playoff experience he's going to be even better. I think we grow up every day, all of us like a person, I think he's going to grow up like a player, like a leader more so. I think it's just a great future in front of him. He's around great NBA players. He's going to really learn how to present, how to handle I think step by step.
Q. What's your future? You're a free agent. What's your desire for the future?
DARIO SARIC: I mean, I have like a month and a half, two months here. I really like enjoy it. I really like it to be part of this group. I really like it. It's about situation, how it's going to be in July, draft picks, other players. It's really hard. It's nothing in my control. But what I witness here is like I really like it. I would like to be back.
But it's like of course some other circumstances, which is always kind of in basketball, in our business, in our job.
Q. How strange is it to be not just the oldest player but far and away the oldest player?
DARIO SARIC: Sometimes you feel you're one of the youngest in the group, and certainly in a couple years you become one of the oldest ones. It's not really like to feel happy about, but I need to carry on.
Q. You said you like it here. What are some of the things about this organization that would interest you in re-signing if it's a possibility?
DARIO SARIC: I think it's a high-level organization. I think it's kind of well-known around the league. Even before I come here, everybody have like nice words, and then when you come here you feel how is everything taking control, especially when you have a group of guys who are like really quality people who really try to play basketball the right way, try to win at the end of the day.
You know, sometimes you can feel it. Same like laptops. Some laptops are better than other ones. You know what I mean? Sometimes they have the same controls and same things, but some of them are better, and that's what I would say. It's really great to be part of this.
Q. What did you think you brought to this team in your six, eight weeks here? What did you think you brought to the Thunder?
DARIO SARIC: That's a good question. I don't know, I think I bring my toughness, my professionalism every day, try to be best as I can, try to kind of like show it even if I don't play and try to be who I am, healthy part of organization, even if we have like high-intensity group, even if I'm older than everybody, even if I can take kind of like easy day. I want to compete. I want to play against guys.
On the court-wise, I think I helped a little bit already. I kind of showed toughness, kind of like -- it's really hard question for me to answer. I don't know. At the end of the day I think it's more for the coaches and that kind of stuff. I try to be as best as I can, try to compete 100 percent. That's always my mindset. I don't really think about like those kind of stuff. Try to be, help the team to win.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports