Q. What did you make of a playoff run that again you kind of got to see so much of and experience the game plans and the intensity of the preparation?
NIKOLA TOPIC: Yeah, I mean, it was really fun, honestly. I'm really grateful that I got to experience this and that I'm a part of this team and this organization. Honestly, I'm very sad and very disappointed how we ended our season, but I'm still really proud of this team and everybody here and everybody who works here. I know that they work really hard for this and it just didn't go our way.
So I'm really proud of everybody and obviously I'm very sad and disappointed, but we should all hold our heads up high.
Q. How much fire do you kind of have in you heading into the summer knowing that you have an opportunity to impact winning next year?
NIKOLA TOPIC: What do you mean? Like this summer?
Q. Yeah, heading into this summer, having had these experiences, competitive fire, what do you feel right now heading into summer knowing you can work your way towards impacting winning next year?
NIKOLA TOPIC: It means a lot. I just want to have a good summer, good off-season. Summer is coming up and it's going to be big for me. Obviously after that, I'll try and work very hard to go into the season healthy. I hope that will be the case.
Q. You overcame a lot of adversity. What have you learned going through that?
NIKOLA TOPIC: Well, I learned a lot about myself. I didn't know how tough I was, honestly. It wasn't the best, but I'm grateful that I went through those experiences. I grew from those experiences as well and it made me a better person today, and I wouldn't be here if those things didn't happen. I'm looking forward to getting ready to play.
Q. How are you feeling physically right now? How close to 100 percent do you feel?
NIKOLA TOPIC: I don't know how close I am. I feel okay. My conditioning hasn't been the greatest, but we've been working on it. It should be coming back in the next few weeks, months. That's all I know.
Q. Seeing how tight-knit this group is and how connected you are, how beneficial is that for you having gone through so much this season to be a part of a team that's this close?
NIKOLA TOPIC: We're not teammates, we're brothers, and we are a family and it really helps. It helps with everything. It makes things easier. And the highs it makes better and the lows it makes better. So it's truly amazing what we have right here, the group of guys that we have.
And I'm really grateful to be in that locker room and to share everything with those guys. And they have been nothing but supportive of me over the last two years. And everybody in this organization, but especially them.
Q. You have a different play style than other players on this team. Where do you see yourself fitting in watching these playoff games?
NIKOLA TOPIC: I see myself as another ball handler. I think that's what we need in some situations. Kind of take some heat off Shai's back and everybody else's, and make our team offensively easier and harder for the opposing offense.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports