Q. What have the last couple months been post-Summer League for you? I know you guys have been working out plenty here and doing team workouts? What have those been like for you?
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: It's been really good. Just being in the area, being able to get on a routine, being with some of the guys, some of the Summer League guys, Brandon, and just getting work in honestly, coming in every day Monday through Friday, getting lifts, conditioning and stuff like that, trying to prepare for the season.
We've got the rest of the guys, the vets came in the last three weeks, so getting to play with them, as well, has been really, really good. We've had a few mini camps, so just trying to bond with the guys and get ready for the season.
Q. Trayce, there are a ton of veteran centers it's been noted on this team. I know it's early and you haven't even had an official practice, but do you have a sense you can get some playing time? Do you feel like you can step on the court Game 1 and play a little in this league?
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: Absolutely. You have to have high confidence in yourself. We've got a lot of good players on our team. We've got two really, really good bigs in Dario and Kevon, so just getting to learn from them, them teaching me what I need to do, and doing whatever I have to do to help the team win, that's what I'm going to do, and that's what I'm going to prepare for.
Q. Coming into the league, there's kind of an emphasis on guys really knowing their role and specialization. Do you have an idea of what your role is going to be for this team?
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: Yeah, I'm going to screen for some of the best shooters in the world and I'm going to get rebounds. I'm going to try to be a lob threat and I'm going to try to bring energy. Those are things that are very valuable on the basketball court, and I'm going to try to do that role to the best of my position.
When I was at Indiana, I kind of did similar things. Obviously I had a little bit more of a burden on myself being the best player, but now I get to take a step back and try a different role.
I've always been a very big team guy, and that's what I'm going to continue to do.
Q. Sounds like you've scrimmaged plenty with some of the veterans. What are your early impressions playing against them but also I assume mixed into their team?
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: It's different. Definitely a faster pace, just the way that they can get to their shots, shoot the ball, how fast it is up and down.
But being able to be here for two months, three months and learn that, learn that speed, learn that pace and getting in and out of your screens, things of that nature, I think it's been huge. It's been very valuable and key to some of my -- not really success but some of my training and helping me. So I think it's been a huge piece playing against them.
Q. How important was it having that final season at Indiana, especially under a former NBA coach like Mike Woodson?
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: It was great. Coach Woodson, especially my senior year, me and him had a lot of talks about the pros and cons of me going after my junior year and staying my senior year. The biggest thing he told me is there's not a lot of difference between going at 22 and 23, and getting that last year under my belt, tuning up some things in my game, passing, reading double-teams and stuff of that nature, reading and getting a feel for the game, and then on the defensive end of the floor, being able to switch out, blocking shots and doing stuff of that nature, I thought it really elevated my game, and not only my game but my confidence.
I think it really helped, and then getting drafted to a team like this and being in this position and playing with these guys I think is going to really help, as well.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports