Q. Isaiah, first off, what was it like bringing the trophy back home, especially sharing that moment also with J-Will?
ISAIAH JOE: It was a dope experience, us being able to celebrate that moment together and also with our families and loved ones that we grew up with, friends that we may not have seen in a while. The fact that our community can come together and do something such as that, it means a lot, especially being home.
Q. You also had it at your camp as well, right?
ISAIAH JOE: Uh-huh.
Q. I guess has it really sunk in the domino effect of it can have on the kids back where you're from to something like that is possible?
ISAIAH JOE: Yeah just talking to so many people around the community, you won't believe the impact you can have on the younger kids growing up. You can change somebody's life just with a small interaction. And knowing that you have the ability to do that, being the person that you are, just being able to lay your hands on kids and try to change their future, I mean, it means the world to me, because everybody doesn't have the opportunity to get to meet who they consider their idol or one of their favorite players, even somebody that's successful that's been through your town.
And so I take great pride in having the opportunity to work with kids whenever I get the opportunity to because you just never know whose life you can change.
Q. You obviously had, in a sense, career year last year, even during the regular season. How do you kind of build off that and then into this year and obviously now defending the title? What has been your approach heading into training camp?
ISAIAH JOE: Oh, yeah. Always continuously working on my shot, trying to create more space out there on the floor. I think my game complements our main guys quite well that like to get downhill and like to play through space. Always working on my defense, my size, my IQ, things like that.
Keeping it simple, doing what I've been doing but just trying to turn it up a notch. And any winning play that I can make I try to make it.
This organization, the team that we have, they make it easy. So all we have to do is focus on ourselves and go out there and do whatever we can to win games.
Q. You've got a good NBA career going. But you're on a loaded roster. Do you feel like every year you gotta fight for playing time just within your own group?
ISAIAH JOE: I mean, for me, it's just about doing what I need to do. Those aren't the decisions I gotta make whenever I go out there. I think it's very fortunate that we have a lot of guys that can really compete. It only makes us better.
Every training camp we have a lot of competition. And we get better and grow, and especially throughout the season we do the same thing. So my job is to focus on basketball, continue to grow personally and continue to find ways to help the team win.
And those decisions are left up to Coach. And all I can do is my best. So each and every year, just continue to get better.
Q. (Indiscernible) can you tell us about the event and what did you think of the fans' excitement there?
ISAIAH JOE: Talking about the Philippines? The Philippines was nice. Obviously I wasn't there long enough. I think I spent a total of maybe three days there.
But the support and love they have for the game of basketball, I mean you won't believe in it until you see it. The amount of people who knew who I was out there, as soon as I touched down for my flight, it surprised me. And I had a great time -- great food, great people. Definitely looking forward to going back.
Q. Was it the first time going to a foreign country (indiscernible) --
ISAIAH JOE: It was my first time in Asia. Definitely want to make more trips out there and try to venture out and see different cultures because you never know what you're missing out on until you can see it and check it out. It was definitely an experience, one that I'll cherish for the rest of my life, and looking forward to doing more.
Q. (Inaudible)?
ISAIAH JOE: Hopefully. If they'll have me. Hopefully.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports