Q. What do you hope this event will bring to people?
TYUS JONES: Yeah, hopefully a smile, a smile to their face. Giving back, that's what it's about, passing out some food, some drinks, blankets, clothes, some essential items. Just trying to make some people's day in any way possible and just trying to spread positivity, honestly.
Q. What do you think doing that this time of year can mean to the community?
TYUS JONES: Yeah, it can mean a lot. Like I said, you can change someone's day, change someone's week, month. That's all we're trying to do. Just try to have even if it's a small impact, a positive impact on the community, and that's what this time of year is about. Bringing good vibes, positivity, and giving back.
Q. For you personally, does doing things like this in the community help you settle into a new team?
TYUS JONES: Yeah, for me it does. It does. I enjoy it, and I was excited just because it's kind of my first time getting to really interact with the community and getting out and giving back. I'm enjoying it. I'm looking forward to it. Yeah, it does help me kind of settle in a bit, and I've got my wife here with me today, as well, so we're enjoying it.
Q. How does your upbringing compare to some of these families that are less fortunate?
TYUS JONES: Yeah, yeah, coming up I grew up in a divorced household. My mom raised me and my brothers. But she always put food on our table. She always kept a roof over our head. She worked tirelessly. I'm very fortunate for me. Never had to worry and things of that nature.
But I know the amount of work and stress that she had on her plate, so that's why anytime you're able to give back, and again, no matter how big, small that impact is, there's parents out here who are working and who are doing everything they can to provide for their kids, for themselves, as well, and when you can make an impact and help them in any way, you should do so. I enjoy being able to help out and being in the position that I am to give back, I never think twice about it.
Q. So far have you had a favorite or funny interaction with somebody that came by?
TYUS JONES: A mom FaceTimed one of her kids, so I got to have a conversation via FaceTime, and she said, now he is saying he met an NBA player, so that's awesome. Then just some of the interactions with some of the kids coming by. I have the drink station, so I've got apple juice, fruit punch, so that's always a difficult decision for the kids. So we're enjoying having some fun with that.
But yeah, all the interactions are great. Trying to, again, put smiles on these kids' faces, so it's been fun for me.
Q. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving meal or side dish?
TYUS JONES: Sweet potatoes/yams is my ultimate favorite. Yeah, we will definitely be having seconds and thirds of that this year.
Q. Do you know what the difference is between sweet potato and yam?
TYUS JONES: Not really. Not really. But I enjoy both of them the same. As long as there's plenty of butter, Brown sugar, you can throw marshmallows on top, cinnamon, everything, I'm with all of that.
Q. So you're team sweet potato over pumpkin pie?
TYUS JONES: I am. I am. But I grew up on pumpkin pie, though. I think it's probably more popular in Minnesota. But yeah, I'm a sweet potato lover, so I'm definitely team sweet potato.
Q. Having kids, does this mean more in a way to you and your wife knowing that there's kids that are in situations unlike yours that don't really have to work for anything knowing your status as an athlete. Does it mean more to give back?
TYUS JONES: It does. That's something -- like you said, we're very fortunate, I'm fortunate to be in the position that I am, for my kids' sake, as well, very fortunate that my kids are good, and I don't take that for granted at all, not one single day. But it does mean more and my wife to be able to give back because we're parents and because we're in that category now of looking after other lives that aren't yours and sacrificing and putting them first and things like that. So we know how important it is.
Yeah, we love just being able to help, again, even if it's a small thing, if it's a big thing, trying to help out because being a parent is no easy task, but we know what comes with it. Any chance we get, we try to live back.
Q. In the vein of Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for this year?
TYUS JONES: I'm thankful for my family, first and foremost, and their health. That's the biggest blessing, being healthy. I'm thankful to be in D.C. It's been a cool adventure, cool new journey for myself and my family that comes with the job. It's just a new experience. There's so many experiences that come with this job, so you try to keep it in perspective. There's a lot that goes into it with the move and finding new schools, new day cares, new friends, things like that. But it's all life experiences, and that's how you grow, and so I'm thankful for that. Yeah, those are kind of the main things.
Q. Have you felt welcomed?
TYUS JONES: I have. I felt welcomed from the day we got here, just from the community, from the city, obviously from the organization. But just being able to get settled, definitely felt welcomed, and it's definitely had a home feeling to it.
Q. Is it difficult to sometimes be away from family on a holiday like Thanksgiving when you have to go on a road trip?
TYUS JONES: Yeah, it is. I'm not going to be with my family on Thanksgiving this year, and that'll be tough. For me growing up, those are the times you remember is with your family, friends and loved ones is the holidays and building your traditions and things like that. For me, again, it comes with the job, and it's a part of it. But being away from my wife and kids on Thanksgiving, it's not easy. But at the same time, I understand what comes with this job, and we will logging plenty of FaceTime hours on Thanksgiving for sure. It's a part of it, but it doesn't ever make it any easier, and we'll just be celebrating Christmas that much harder.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports