NBA Draft

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Brooklyn, New York, USA

Taylor Hendricks


Q. Talk about what you'll bring to the Jazz.

TAYLOR HENDRICKS: I feel like I'll bring a lot more length to the Jazz, and my shooting ability and my defensive versatility is something I can bring to the Jazz.

Q. You grew up in Fort Lauderdale, went to University of Central Florida. Are you prepared for the winters in Utah?

TAYLOR HENDRICKS: Yes, I am definitely prepared. I'm not really around snow too much, so it's going to be different. I'm going to have a lot of snow fights.

Q. What was it like hearing your name called? Also, what's your first memory of the draft? If you watched it growing up as a kid, who was the first one you remember seeing get drafted?

TAYLOR HENDRICKS: Hearing my name was, like, insane. Like, it still doesn't even feel real.

I think the first person I could remember off the top of my head was watching Bam Adebayo go to the Miami Heat. I was watching his highlights from high school probably a couple hours before. I didn't even know the draft was going to come on, and then I turned on the TV, wait a few minutes and he gets drafted. I was like, what? I was just watching his highlights. That was probably the person I could think off the top of my head.

Q. What did you know in terms of Utah's interest in you in the last few weeks? And what do you know about Will Hardy as a coach and the way they play?

TAYLOR HENDRICKS: I know the Utah Jazz, they like to play big. They like big lineups. They like moving Lauri to the 3. I feel like I could fit in that team really well because they have a lot of length, so I'm going to be right with them. My shooting ability could really help them out, as well.

Q. At No. 6, did you think the Orlando Magic, since you were obviously a star in Orlando, did it go through your mind, hey, wait a minute? Did they speak to you during the process or did you have a feeling they would go in a different direction?

TAYLOR HENDRICKS: You never really know on draft night, but on my visit I had a great time with all the people I met with and the dinner. I mean, I love Orlando. I love the city. Love Utah, too. They want me, so I want them.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
134225-2-1015 2023-06-23 01:53:00 GMT

ASAP sports

tech 129