Spurs 131, Wizards 121
Q. Tristan, you came in, had like 14 points in your first 10 minutes. What do you attribute that hot start to?
TRISTAN VUKCEVIC: I just think being ready and hard work. I think just staying ready and hard work. I've been out of the rotation, so all the extra work with the coaches and the stay-ready games helped me be prepared for these past couple games that I've been given an opportunity, and I think that's the main thing. Just staying ready.
Q. When you stay "stay-ready games," is that what you refer to as the Go-Go games?
TRISTAN VUKCEVIC: No. We play 3-on-3, 5-on-5, maybe against the coaches, stuff like that, people with less minutes, and that really helps, like being in rhythm, being in shape, running up and down.
And also obviously the Go-Go. Played four or five games there and a lot of help from Cody, telling me things, film. We did a lot of film. That really helped me. So yeah.
Q. I was just talking to Richaun about staying ready and how he's learned to do it over the course of his career. How have you learned that and what have you learned about it?
TRISTAN VUKCEVIC: It's not the first time I've been in a situation like this. I've been in a situation like this in Europe a couple years, so I think I've dealt with it pretty good. I'm dealing with everything pretty good. If you see me in the past, I didn't when I was much younger. I learned my lesson.
Now it's just like you have to be a professional all year long. You never know when your opportunity is going to come, what's going to happen, and just being ready and staying ready is the most important part.
Q. As much as you want to make an impact, how have you been able to stay patient given that you had injuries that you couldn't --
TRISTAN VUKCEVIC: Yeah, to be honest, I don't even know how to answer that. I think maybe my family helped me a lot. Like when I was injured my dad came, my mom came. Just being calm about it and a lot of hard work, a lot of recovery, a lot of talk with the coaches, what to improve. A lot of time in the weight room. I think that has helped me with everything, and now it's like, I'm not scared to get injured again or anything.
Q. Whenever we ask whether it's Cody or Coach Keefe about you, they mention defense and you focusing on that end of the floor. How would you describe your progress as a defender?
TRISTAN VUKCEVIC: I think it's been going great. I think I'm making a lot of improvement in that. Like I said before, I mentioned a lot of other players at my position, stuff like that, just like some vets, just to show me how they do it. Yeah, I think I've been doing a good job there. So yeah.
Q. There was a play in the second half where you drove, you lowered a shoulder into somebody's chest and ended up scoring. What did that play show in terms of your development, if anything?
TRISTAN VUKCEVIC: I mean, it just shows the work that we've been doing the past couple months. I stayed here all summer, so everybody sees a big difference in the way I move. All the different tests that they be doing, they just show that I'm moving better, I'm stronger, and that definitely helps.
Q. What's it like to play with guys like Champagnie and Jaylen Nowell in the G-League and to see them come up here? Obviously Nowell didn't play today but Champagnie had a great game as well. What's it like to see that come up for you guys at the same time?
TRISTAN VUKCEVIC: It's great. It really brings -- I think it brings a lot of joy to everyone, just seeing us play and stuff like that. It just shows that you always have to stay ready, like I said before.
Q. What's it like to just face off against Wemby one-on-one for a lot of the game like that?
TRISTAN VUKCEVIC: Yeah, it was great. He's an unbelievable player, of course. He had pretty good stats, 31, 15 and 4. Played against him in Europe when he was at ASVEL. It was great just seeing each other playing in the NBA.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports