Hornets 129, Wizards 112
Q. How would you describe the way this game went and how the third quarter got away from you guys?
JADEN HARDY: You know, just got to be more vocal out there, better communication. They went on a run where they made a bunch of threes. Just got to communicate. When you're out there you've got to switch up; when a guy gets hot, take away the three, make him do something else, and I feel like that's kind of where it got away from us, and they started to pull away.
Q. What have you been trying to show the Wizards since you've been here and being given the opportunity that you have?
JADEN HARDY: Super grateful for this opportunity and just trying to go out there and play my game, play within the system, make plays for my teammates, do whatever the coaches ask of me, and just trying to bring energy, show what I can do, how I can help this team win games.
Q. Coach Keefe mentioned some miscommunications going on on defense. What went wrong on that to lead to so many open threes?
JADEN HARDY: I would say just coming together like in the pick-and-roll, you've got to switch up. Guy wants to get to the corner, you've got to be attached. You can't leave too much space because those guys can shoot the ball. If a guy feels like he has enough space, he's going to let it go in this league. Just got to do a better job of that, staying connected, and be more intent on defense.
Q. Now that you've had a couple games after a few on the bench, getting acclimated to the system, what are your takeaways from how the team adds players mid-season and gets them all on the same page?
JADEN HARDY: Yeah, just being in the locker room, communicating, it's a bunch of young guys, and just trying to keep everybody together. Everybody comes out playing hard, playing with energy and picking each other up really. Just continuing to grow with each other, get to know each other.
Q. When I talked to you before the game in Cleveland, I asked mid-season how do you acclimate yourself and you said, basketball is basketball. Now that you're a couple games in, how much more comfortable are you feeling within this system and understanding the verbiages of what you guys are trying to do?
JADEN HARDY: I mean, ever since I got here, it's been a warm welcome. Coach Keefe and Coach Vanterpool have done a great job just getting the system -- trying to help me learn the system, helping me feel comfortable out there and trusting in my game so whenever I go out there, playing my game, playing off my teammates, their reads, and just trying to get in their lanes when they drive and being able to knock down open shots whenever they come out to me. Then just getting in the paint, trying to play make, find my teammates when I get in there or make a play.
Q. You guys are in an interesting situation with having your teammate from Dallas, Anthony Davis, on the bench. Obviously wasn't here tonight, but also, too, Trae. How much have you utilized their knowledge just to -- if they're noticing things that you might notice or vice versa in those conversations on the bench to help acclimate yourself more?
JADEN HARDY: Yeah, they're both -- AD and Trae, they've been very vocal with me, what they see out there on the floor, telling me, go out there, play hard, show guys what I can do. They've done a good job just building my confidence out there and just helping me play my game.
Q. How does this trade and this opportunity fit into what you want to do in your accomplish and what you want to accomplish long-term?
JADEN HARDY: Yeah, I feel like it's a great opportunity for me over here. Like I said, it's a young team, so I feel like I fit in, and with my skill set and my capabilities to knock down threes, get in the paint, create, and the energy that I bring, willing to compete on both sides of the ball, I feel like I fit in. Good teammate; I like to see my guys, all my teammates, I want to see them all succeed. I feel like with that, and I'm a big believer in God, so I feel like whatever God's plan has in store for me, then I'm ready.
Q. Did the trade itself catch you by surprise or did you have an inkling that something might happen?
JADEN HARDY: No, I was caught by surprise actually. I didn't know it was going to happen. But I'm glad I'm here.
Q. Having a front office and a coaching staff that allows you to play like yourself within the system that they want to see, what does that do for a player's confidence and belief in themselves that I can play the way I want and I way I know I can within this system and they can trust me to do that?
JADEN HARDY: It's big because there's a bunch of players out there that ain't got the opportunity but have game. If you get the opportunity, just trying to take full advantage of it, and that's what I try to do anytime I hear my name called, number, I try to go out there, give 110 percent effort, whether that's at the beginning of the game or if they throw me in at the end of the game, I still try to showcase what I've got to all the team.
Just going out there, competing, playing at a high level, being vocal, and just trying to compete.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports