Q. Obviously there's been a run of French players in the NBA coming in recently and drafted high in the first round. For you, what made you realize that the NBA was possible, and also being a first-round pick was something that was achievable for you?
NOLAN TRAORÉ: When do I know?
Q. How or when did you know? What made you believe that it was something you could do?
NOLAN TRAORÉ: You know, I always knew it. I always wanted to make it and to be, of course, in the first round. Right now, I'm here. Being able to be part of this journey, to be part of the NBA Draft, is crazy to me. I'm really thankful.
Q. Coming out of the French developmental system, what made you elect to play in the French league as the next step to get you here, and how do you think that prepared you?
NOLAN TRAORÉ: Being able to play overseas is really tough. That's really uncomfortable. That's a tough league to play in, really physical. You play grown men. You play men that want to feed their families. They're there for a reason. Being able to play against those guys, even in the European championship, really prepared me the best way for the NBA.
Q. I just wanted to know your general impressions of the Brooklyn Nets as an organization and Brooklyn, New York City, as a place to live?
NOLAN TRAORÉ: Brooklyn, New York City, is maybe the best city in the world, so that's like really great. And the Brooklyn Nets is, as I said, a really famous organization. We have a great coach, great front office. So I think it's a really great place to grow, a really great place to build something really impressive.
Q. Just interested in your meeting with the Nets and getting to know Jordi Fernandez. How cool it will be to have a European head coach as you come into the league?
NOLAN TRAORÉ: Yeah, that's good. He is a really great person. We had fun meeting each other. I think it's going to be really great. As you said, he's Spanish. I think it's going to help because both of us, we are European. It's going to feel a little connection already, so that's great.
Q. When you envision your role in the NBA and what you want to bring to Brooklyn offensively, what are some the top things you envision being your calling card as an NBA player?
NOLAN TRAORÉ: I bring a lot of pace to the game, a lot of IQ. Being able to make the right play and play the right way for the team, make everyone better around me.
Q. Did you get to know your new teammate Egor Demin throughout the draft process? What were your impressions of him?
NOLAN TRAORÉ: I did not work out with him. But I know him as a player, and I know he's a really good player. He has a lot of potential. He's big. He's skilled. So that's great.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports