Q. How do you assess your season in the areas where you improved, the areas you were looking to improve?
ALEX SARR: I feel like I improved on the stuff I was focused on. I also learned more about my game this season, stuff I want to work on, feel like could allow me to take another step in my game. That was my main goal this season. I did that.
Q. With you alongside Anthony Davis, have you anticipated whether you'll play the five, the four, and how the two of you will mesh?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I feel like we're both versatile. I feel like depending on whatever the coach will choose for us to do, whatever BK puts out there, I feel like we're both able to do. It's really going to be up to them to see what type of style of play we're going to play.
But I think one thing's for sure, that we can play off of each other. Defensively I feel like we'll be there for each other, allowing all our teammates to be more aggressive on the ball while protecting the rim is going to be big for us.
Q. In the early part of the season we saw the significant jump from you offensively. A big reason why was because of your physicality, more aggressive towards getting to the rim than you were in the rookie season. Why did this help you defensively?
ALEX SARR: I feel like me getting stronger. I feel like my rookie season, I quite didn't really have the physical tools to get all the way to the rim sometimes. But like with my off-season work, being diligent in working on that, I feel like I was just more ready just to be in those type of positions and be more aggressive than I was.
Q. How much better do you think you can be in year three?
ALEX SARR: I think just the same jump I took from year one to year two. Just me keep getting stronger physically, sharpening my skills defensively and offensively, too.
Q. A.D. said you guys have been working together a lot more in recent days. He showed you some moves. Can you add some detail to that?
ALEX SARR: It's been nice just working out together. There's a lot of stuff I can get from him. I'm definitely just trying to pick his brain. He's a tall dude, knows how to move, knows how to play with the ball. There's a lot I can just learn from watching, getting to be in the same workouts, playing one on ones. It's just exciting.
Q. Your improvement was paralleled by a change in your approach on the offensive end. You did a lot more around the basket. Was it difficult to do or difficult to change your mindset, or did it come easy to you?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I feel like it just happened naturally, just me finding success near the rim, just try to shoot more of them. It was simple to me, what brings me points, what makes me more efficient, just trying to dig in and get more of it.
Q. A lot of that mindset you talked about you flagged to us before the season started, but you told Josh that you did learn things as the season went on about your game. What exactly did you learn about yourself?
ALEX SARR: I would say in general the type of player I can and I want to be, what I have to work on in order for me to become that player.
Q. About the player you want to be, how much do new guys like Anthony Davis and Trae Young form that idea?
ALEX SARR: I feel like, yeah, I learn even more when we're getting on the court together next year. Yeah, I feel like just playing with those, like, level of players is definitely going to only enhance my play. I feel like I'll be even more impactful.
Q. How does a team that's lost a lot of games flip the switch into a team that wins much more than it loses?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I think it's about the mindset, like how we're going to approach the season. I think it's a big summer for all of us. When we get together in August or whenever, from that point on we really know we got to attack the season.
It's going to take a lot of work. I think it's obviously tough to completely turn around. I think we have the right guys and the right mindsets that we're able to do it.
Q. What positives has Brian Keefe brought to everything?
ALEX SARR: What do you mean?
Q. The fans don't know much about him. How do you describe him as a coach, what he's brought to the table?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I would just say someone that holds you accountable, like doesn't tell you what you want to hear but tells you the truth about where you at as a player, where you can be. He's, like, very optimistic for all of us. Really has a vision that he wants us to reach. Just wants what's best for all the players.
Q. You obviously came into the league with Kyshawn and Bub. Now that you spent two years with them, what are a couple things you've seen them grow in the most?
ALEX SARR: I feel like they both got, like, more comfortable. Obviously it's normal comparing your rookie year to your second year. You get more comfortable on the court. That's what I've seen from Kyshawn.
For Bub, having more pace, I feel like he has improved a lot in his reads, the pick and roll, really slowing the game down for us, being able to dish out the right pass at the right time, really organizing our offense. Same for Kyshawn that was on the ball a lot, kind of like being the guy that's penetrating and finding the open man. I feel like they both grew a lot in that aspect.
Q. Trae Young mentioned in his media availability that there's a lot of potential defensively with this team, possibly one of the best defensive teams he'll be playing with. Do you see a huge jump defensively as a whole as a team? When you hear guys saying that, I'd like to hear your thoughts.
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I mean, I feel like we kind of all know that obviously, like, there's great defenders in A.D., Bilal, myself, Kyshawn, a lot of tall wings, a lot of tall guys that can move and protect the rim and be disruptive. Now it's all about just us working together as a team and getting on the same page defensively to figure it out.
Q. With the World Cup coming this summer, do you plan, even with building that more team chemistry, to see your fellow countrymen play, as well?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, hopefully. Trying to get tickets to any type of game I can, especially the France-Senegal one. That's going to be exciting to watch, for sure.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports