Mike Conley: It took us a while to wake up.
Donovan Mitchell: You need to wake up faster, Mike! Come on!
Conley: Some of us are 30 years old or above and got two kids. Some of us can’t just go home and go to sleep.
Donovan: Touché.
Donovan Mitchell: “I don’t see why a guy like Gary Trent should come in and think he can just punk us. ... We’re not a team that you can come in and just talk trash to. We’re not just gonna back down. ... That’s what we kinda lacked the past few games — just toughness.”
Rudy grew increasingly emotional speaking with the media about his All-Star snub. Said his mom called him crying. Said he wrote and deleted several messages on social media. Finally, he grew too emotional to speak, and walked off, wiping away tears.
Donovan Mitchell: "I'm never ever one to blame the refereeing, but this is getting out of hand. … We continually get screwed. We won this game in my opinion. … It's getting fucking ridiculous. I'm sick of it. … It eats at me. It's really getting out of hand."
Rudy Gobert, on if he’d ever experienced that before: “No, first time. Life is full of surprises. … I hope he was ok. I actually made eye contact with him. He was smiling. He was smiling and throwing up at the same time.”
As part of the Jazz’s COVID-19 response, shootaround availability was done in the ZBBC media room today rather than on the court. As Rudy Gobert got finished discussing the situation, he stood up, leaned over and made it a point to touch every mic and recorder in front of him. 😂
Quin Snyder adds that the Jazz really struggled in transition against the Lakers. Also had nothing late for LeBron James, "the greatest player of all time. Some people might dispute that, but that's what I'm calling him."
Rudy Gobert says in IG live that he had spoken with Donovan Mitchell, and shoots down the idea that they are at odds, calling it a media creation. “We’re ready to play basketball together and win a championship together.”
Jordan Clarkson, asked what he’d miss most about Mike Conley: “Him being accepting of everything and everybody. Him having an understanding. The guy was like Yoda, honestly.”
Donovan Mitchell, on what turned the game around: "Somebody said something to Joe, and Joe gave an answer I haven’t heard in awhile. And when Joe gets angry, I get angry."
Joe Ingles: "The whole narrative of Paul George vs. Joe Ingles is a little bit old in my mind. It's Jazz vs. Clippers now. … I personally don't read into the 1-on-1 stuff. That was 3 years ago. My twins could barely speak then and now they annoy the hell out of me."
Rudy Gobert, on the TNT crew saying Donovan Mitchell is not a superstar and can only score: "Whatever they want to call us, if we keep winning games, they’re gonna have to keep watching us. … Maybe all the way until July."
Donovan Mitchell, on the Jazz in the All-Star Draft: "I don’t wanna be rude, but I don’t care. At the end of the day, I made it, Rudy made it, Mike made it, coach made it. Whether I got picked last or first, I’m here."
Donovan Mitchell, on the TNT commentary: "We’ve won seven in a row. I hate to take a win like this and make it about me. … I’m here to play basketball and to win and to be the best teammate I can be. If they don’t like it, they don’t like it."
Utah Jazz PG Mike Conley will wear "I Am A Man" on the back of his jersey. Said he consulted with his family, and thought it would be appropriate, given that it references the Memphis sanitation workers' strike.
Mike Conley, on facing Ja in Memphis: "It's surreal — him wearing the jersey I'm so used to wearing, getting the cheers I'm used to hearing. You live long enough, you become the villain — and I've become that for the Memphis Grizzlies."
Rudy Gobert, on being called an MVP candidate by Bogey and an All-Star by Donovan: “For me, winning the No. 1 thing. How can I help my team win? I mean, DPOY is great — it’s an award, it’s hardware, it’s great for your legacy; MVP, too. ... Winning a championship beats all that.”
Jordan Clarkson, when asked if he wanted to stay in Utah: "Yeah, I love Utah. But all that's out of my control."
He then told the media, "I appreciate you" and came around the room and gave each person a handshake.
Mike Conley, on Shaq's comments about Donovan Mitchell: "I’ve been a big fan of Don’s and seeing the way he’s grown, even before he was here. I don’t know how you can make a statement like that regarding his progress at such a young age. He's gotten better every year."
Jordan Clarkson, on Utah's mentality: "It's just a different vibe. … It's almost like we get more happy when we get our teammates a shot than we get from scoring the ball, to be honest with you. It's just a crazy feeling and a crazy vibe — we appreciate the ball doesn't stick."
Jordan Clarkson, on if the Clippers were targeting a matchup with the Jazz: "If they were losing games trying to come play us, that's the fate they chose. We're gonna come out there and lace ’em up."
Donovan Mitchell, on one of his Cavs backcourt counterparts: "Darius Garland should be in the All-Star Game. Even not shooting the ball well [tonight], you saw the impact he had. What he's doing is next-level."
Hassan Whiteside mentioned he was looking forward to the return of "the big guy" Rudy Gobert, so that "H&R Block will be reunited."
First time I've heard that duo nickname 😂
Joe Ingles, on if he feels other people are finally taking the Jazz seriously as title contenders: "You probably don't want my honest opinion, because I really, really don't care what other people think about our team."
What I admire most about Mitchell is the very mentality that led to his explosion. You could see him basically decide in the third quarter "If I'm going down, I'm going to empty the clip"....The Jazz could win a chip with this dude
Donovan Mitchell will be participating in the 3-Point Shootout. "I just found out today. … I've been begging Joe to do it, but he won't. He'll probably be in his rocking chair or something."
Dwyane Wade went on the court during halftime to put up some corner 3s, intent on not walking away til he made one. … He was there for a bit longer than he planned, an airball, and a shot off the side of the backboard to his credit.
Jordan Clarkson on the coming road trip: “Hopefully Joe (Ingles) has some good restaurants for us. He’s paying. And Don … he’s paying too! Detroit, Bogey — he owes me. So he’s paying as well.”
Rudy: "I think it’s disrespectful. … All the coaches preach about defense, every day they talk about defense, about what an honor it is to get stops, to win basketball games; and when it’s time to vote, they they’re not able to reward the best defensive player in the game."
Jazz fans, I had a death in the family yesterday, so I’m going to be taking a little time away from the beat, and you’re not going to be hearing much from me for the next little while. Thank you for understanding.
Rudy was asked if he had something to prove: “I don’t think you can prove something in an All-Star Game. You prove something by winning championships. ... But I hope I made people proud and I inspired kids to one day tell themselves, ‘I can be whoever I want to be.’”
Rudy Gobert, on the infamous plane ride: "It doesn't help to panic, so I was trying to keep calm. I kept telling myself it wasn't my time, that I have more to accomplish, more kids to help. But it was scary."
Even before being asked a question, Jordan Clarkson came in just laughing. “We’ve all had nights like that. … Hope he’s good. Drink a little pedialyte, get his electrolytes straight. We’ve all been there.”
Rudy Gobert said that while he's proud of his third DPOY, he's got more hardware in mind: "I want to win a championship. When I got drafted by the Jazz eight years ago, I told myself I wanted to do anything I could to help this franchise win its first championship."
Quin Snyder, on what determines if Mike Conley plays both halves of a B2B: "Rudy's got a crystal that we consult, and we rub it for awhile and try to come up with a result that Mike likes."
Donovan Mitchell opens his post-shootaround media session with a nearly 4-minute monologue expressing his dismay about Izzy Tichenor, and that her pleas for help at school were ignored: “As a human, how do you let it get to that point?” He’s planning to meet with Izzy’s mom soon.
Weird to see it turn like this. I’ve seen these guys literally borrow everything from one another — lotion, cologne, whatever. They are in close contact all the time. They use the same equipment. I get there is fear, but this seems so unnecessary.
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has tested positive for the coronavirus, league sources tell ESPN. Jazz players privately say that Rudy Gobert had been careless in the locker room touching other players and their belongings. Now a Jazz teammate has tested positive.
Hassan Whiteside, on his practice battles with Rudy Gobert: “We beat the hell out of each other during the day, and then we play Call of Duty together at night.”
Donovan Mitchell, when asked what Joe Ingles’ biggest impact on the team: “For a guy that’s been in the league 25, 30 years, it’s easy to say ‘His knowledge of the game,’ or whatever.”
Rudy Gobert addresses his diagnosis: “I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered. At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse. I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously.”
Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder, on Mike Conley leaving at some point for the birth of his child: "I hope we’re without him for as long as heeds to prioritize what is a gift. … Not to diminish the playoffs or the games in any way, but there’s things in our life that trump games."
Derrick Favors asked me this question in the lockerroom after the game:
"Can I get some love for a possible spot for honorable mention all-defense?"
Favors was the primary defender for Karl-Anthony Towns tonight
And what last no-call by Billy Kennedy is exactly why this game has gotten out of control. Westbrook body slammed Rubio right in front of him.....This is a shameful officiating performance. One of the worst I've seen
Don said the Jazz tried to run a few early plays for Mike Conley, but that he kept trying to set up Mitchell. "I finally told him, 'Bro, stop. Shoot it.'" Said he told Conley he could go for 30 tonight, but that Conley said he wanted to do his usual thing and play a team game.
JC said there was a Spurs fan saying malicious things all night, and he had to remind himself to be restrained: "I can't go into the crowd. That guy won't lose anything. I'll lose money. That could go to my daughter. She could buy a Bugatti or something."
Mike Conley said he heard from myriad Jazz teammates encouraging him to come back: "Joe Ingles was hitting me up from Tokyo. He was almost threatening me. I was kind of fearful for my life there."
Donovan Mitchell, on Mike Conley: “You all can continue to hate and say what y’all want. ... That’s Mike Conley, he’s a Hall of Famer, he’s one of the best players to play the game at his position. And you see it.”
Rudy Gobert, on the T-wolves' criticisms: "It’s not the first time people have taken shots at me for no reason. … It’s more funny than anything. … I tell Quin I’m cool with guarding anyone. I trust the gameplan. When you win by 30 points, the gameplan is pretty good."
Donovan Mitchell, on the team's 100% vaccination status: "It's a personal choice, but I encourage people — not just the team — to get vaccinated so we can get past this."
Rudy Gobert, on the Russell Westbrook dunk: "It was a nice dunk. I felt like I couldn't jump because his arm was on my shoulder, but they're not going to call that. … I don't think he said anything to me. He's a guy who likes to talk to himself."
Donovan Mitchell: "It hasn't fully sunk in for me yet. I'm still in shock. … I don't know what I'm going to be doing next week. Probably watching the games, mad as hell. This hurts more than last year. This is gonna eat at me for a long time."
Rudy, on why he didn't wait until next summer and join a super-team: "That wouldn't have fit my story. … The last seven yers here, the blood and the sweat — it wouldn't have meant the same to win it somewhere else. … For me, it will just be something that holds more weight."
Derrick Favors, on being in the Jazz's top-10 scorers: "When somebody told me, I took that moment and I took it in, like, ‘Damn! I’m top-10 scoring for an organization.’"
Derrick Favors, on his dirty-work mentality: "I can do a lot of things — I can rebound, I can score, defend. … I do a lot of stuff guys don’t want to do. That’s my role. … Some people call it garbage work — you can call it whatever you want to call it; I take pride in it."
Joe Ingles, deadpan, on what he thought of Donovan Mitchell's second-half surge: "It’s really hard when he plays that selfishly. He doesn’t pass the ball."
Donovan Mitchell, on whether he’d rather play for Team LeBron or Team Giannis: “I’d rather just play with Rudy. I don’t mean to sound corny when I say it, but seriously, I think it’d be cool for us to enjoy that moment together.”
Mike Conley: “I’m in a great place, my teammates have been behind me this whole time. It’s been a frustrating road for all of us, because they know how good I am, and I know how good I am. ... Finally, things are starting to turn the corner.”
Rudy Gobert, on Bojan Bogdanovic's defense: "He set the tone. He set the tone for us. Everyone looks at Bogey and says, 'If Bogey is doing it, why can't I?' It's contagious."
When the details of your new deal with your new team have already been leaked days ahead of free agency, so you need to do *something* to not get it rejected by the league on the easiest tampering charge ever.
Free agent guard Jalen Brunson is granting meetings to Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and dark horse Miami Heat on first day of free agency, league sources tell
@YahooSports
:
Hardy: "I'm going to steal a couple of your questions. Yes, that first play was designed for Walker, yes, he bullied me into it at All-Star weekend as a result of making one in the Skills Challenge. … I may have created a monster.”
Donovan Mitchell, on a follow-up about his physical condition: "I got hit … and it hurt. But I'm fine now. I walked in here. I can sprint if you want me to. … Shit happens."
NBA's L2MR reveals two incorrect calls in regulation that hurt the Jazz against the Lakers: Ersan Ilyasova's blocking foul vs. KCP with 1:53 left that led to FTs should have been a charging foul; Schroder should have been whistled for an offensive foul vs. Ilyasova w/1:16 left.
Donovan Mitchell, talking about the Joe Ingles trade, notes that he’s never played without Joe, and talks about how much he’s learned from him. Praised Joe for telling the team he was happy that getting traded gave the team a way to get better.
Donovan Mitchell, on Mike Conley's ASG debut: "We were trying [to get him a bucket], drawing stuff up in the huddle. … He's 65 years old, so it took him awhile to get going."
Nets played the Celtics on March 3 — three days *before* the Jazz did. Subsequent games were against Grizzlies, Spurs, Bulls, Lakers — no common opponents with the Jazz.
Mike Conley, on the difficulty of having his routine changed: “It takes me 8 minutes to get to the arena when it used to take me 40. I used to listen to the same music for 35 minutes and now I don’t have that. ... I might have to go down to Lehi or something.”
Donovan Mitchell: “Grew up here as a player, as a person, as a man. And then to be back here as a starter … to come back here for All-Star, it makes sense.”
Rudy Gobert, on Donovan Mitchell’s claim that refs keep missing critical late-game calls that should go in his favor: “Maybe after three of those foul calls on the last possession that are not called, you should get a free win. Or free Chick-fil-A or something.”
Interesting day for Donovan Mitchell: BFF Eric Paschall not given a QO, protege Trent Forrest also not given a QO, and now friend Royce O’Neale traded away.
Mike Conley: "They obviously know it was a tough day for me, as well as something to celebrate for them. … Tonight, I honestly was just playing the way I’ve been playing, but with a little more motivation. It’s disappointing, but that’s how my career has been."
Joe Ingles, on the success of Georges Niang and Royce O’Neale: “I mean, they just followed. I’m a mentor for them — they’ve followed every step of my career, and I’m proud I’ve got two young fellas following me.”