NBA Draft

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Brooklyn, New York, USA

Noah Clowney


Q. If you'd start out with an opening statement about what you'll bring to the Nets.

NOAH CLOWNEY: Offensively I think I can bring a lot: spacing the floor, decision-making, a bunch of different things offensively.

Defensively is where I hang my hat. Guard multiple positions. We protect the rim. We do it all. From a mental standpoint, I do whatever I'm asked. I'm a good teammate, things like that.

Q. Talk about your year at Alabama and how Coach Oats has prepared you for the NBA.

NOAH CLOWNEY: I'd like to think we play a very modern style at Bama, probably the most translatable to the league. Then obviously he always told me, not everybody is going to be a star, some people are going to be role players. You've got to find your role and be the best at your role, and those are the players that play the longest.

I think finding my role on my new team and perfecting it will be key to my success early.

Q. This Nets team has a recent history of developing promising young men -- Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton. Is that something you've considered yet or not yet?

NOAH CLOWNEY: Truthfully I haven't considered much about most teams because I didn't know where I was going to go until tonight. It's probably something I'll look into more now that I know where I'm going. But again, development is the biggest piece to all this if you ask me.

Q. We're in Brooklyn right now at Barclays. Can you talk about what your experience here has been like the past few days?

NOAH CLOWNEY: Most of my time was spent in Times Square. I actually came here for a workout I want to say Tuesday. Had a workout, medical, all that good stuff. It was good experience. They had good energy in the workout. Everything went great. To be in the building when I get drafted to them, it was surreal.

Q. Were you surprised getting picked or did you kind of know it could come after the workout?

NOAH CLOWNEY: I had a few teams in my head that I knew might want me. I knew after my workout that I was pretty solidified that if I made it there to that pick, that they were going to get me.

Q. Obviously you and your teammate Brandon Miller both got drafted tonight. I was wondering what your conversations with him have been like over the course of this experience, if you've been talking about it together.

NOAH CLOWNEY: We talk more, truthfully, about workouts, things that we've been doing. To be honest, most of our conversations have been just conversations. It hasn't been about this. We knew it was coming. We knew possibilities, what could happen.

Yeah, I'm happy for him. It was good to see my brother succeeding with me. Yeah, proud of him.

Q. Do you have a player you model your game after?

NOAH CLOWNEY: Truthfully, no. Bits and pieces of players I like. I like how some players shoot the ball. I like how some players defend. I like Jaren Jackson; he guards multiple positions. Obviously a little bit bigger than me, so I wouldn't compare myself to him necessarily. But I like to pick bits and pieces from different players' games to try to build myself.

Q. Do you know anyone on the Nets team, and can you describe what kind of teammate you are?

NOAH CLOWNEY: So the players I know, that I've watched the most are Nic Claxton because he's from my area back home, very nearby, and then I like Mikal Bridges because of the role he played with the Suns and then to come here and step up. Kind of waited his turn.

As a teammate, I'm encouraging but I don't like to let people slide with less than what they're capable of. I hold people accountable, and I hope others hold me accountable.

Off the court, I'm fun. On the court, I'm like, we've got to win this. We've got to get better every day.

Q. How happy are you to be in the New York market, one of two teams in New York City?

NOAH CLOWNEY: I'm excited, man. The way I always explained it is whoever picked me, that's who really wanted me, and I always want to be somewhere I'm wanted. To be picked here in New York, and this is my first time ever being in New York, so it's exciting. It's very exciting.

Q. I know you've talked about what you bring to the Nets right now, but one thing I want to know is where do you see yourself as a player two to three years from now?

NOAH CLOWNEY: Two to three years from now, that's hard. I never really think about me individually. Obviously, I want to get better and perfect my game in every part possible. I want to be as versatile as I can be, as far as dribbling, shooting, everything. I want to be able to pass the ball well because when you're a good decision-maker, that makes the game a whole lot easier offensively.

And defensively, I want to be a force. I want to be in conversations for Defensive Player of the Year awards. That's something I always strive to do. But truthfully, I want playoff runs. I want to win.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
134236-2-1015 2023-06-23 03:13:00 GMT

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