GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 29, 2023

Kendric Davis

Media Conference

Q. What is the one skill you're really trying to have shine and show to the Warriors that fits their system and fits their culture?

KENDRIC DAVIS: I play with pace. In this system you've got to be able to play fast, but you've got to be able to think, too. Just showing them I can play fast, be able to get Steph, Klay open shots, and also be able to get my own shot, too, and be able to defend at a high level. Really just showing the pace that I can play at.

Q. Since you went to Memphis, was there overlap with Lester, and do you know him? What's your relationship?

KENDRIC DAVIS: Yeah, he got me to come to Memphis. He was on my visit, and I got a chance to compete against him a couple years when I was at SMU. I just knew I wanted to be there, but me and Les know each other real well.

The day of the draft when I didn't get drafted, he called me to come over here, like you're going to love it. I'm just glad to be reunited with him.

Q. What's it like to have him? He's already gone through this whole process, knows what to expect, but somebody like you coming into it as a rookie, what's it like having that security or someone that you can lean on when you have questions?

KENDRIC DAVIS: Yeah, he's just been real helpful since I got here. We look out for each other. Coach Penny, that's what we know for looking out for each other. On the court, off the court, he checks on me, makes sure I'm good. We're just brothers, so that's what we do.

Q. I've covered you a little bit; adversity is nothing new to you. This journey to this point has been tough, but you're here, so how does it feel to get done with your first practice for Summer League but then to be here, undrafted but still able to play around someone like Lester?

KENDRIC DAVIS: Yeah, it feels good, man, just getting over that mental hurdle. I had like three or four teams said they were going to draft me and it didn't happen, and now I'm here. It takes a little minute to get over that. Once you get over that, I got texts from Ja, Des, and they're like my biggest supporters. They were just like, go prove to the world what we know. Now it's just a chip.

Q. When you say Lester called you after and said you should come out here for Summer League, you would like it, what did he say about the organization, about why you would like it and be successful out here?

KENDRIC DAVIS: When I worked out for them, he called me and just told me how much the organization liked me, liked what I bring. I killed the workout and they tried to bring me back in for another one, but my schedule couldn't align. Once I didn't get drafted, he called me and was like, man, I'm telling you, it's a first-class organization. What you do is what they do: Push pace, tempo, shoot the hell out of the ball. You compete at a high level and you're a winner, and everybody knows with the Warriors, they're known for winning. It's just a match made in heaven. Hopefully I make a mark in the league but get to learn behind Steph and Chris Paul. Can't too many people say that.

Q. Having a relationship with a guy like Lester is one thing, but to have someone who's been able to climb up and make a name for himself in this league like Ja Morant, what is that like to have that level of a support system and those people having your back and encouraging you?

KENDRIC DAVIS: Yeah, I was so close to signing with Memphis, and when I didn't sign, I was nervous to text Ja and Des and tell them I didn't, but when they got the news I was here, first thing they did was text me, I love you. I just know you're going to be in this league a long time.

It just meant a lot to me because at first I was nervous because I didn't know what they were going to say because they wanted me there so bad. It's huge having a guy like Ja and Des and just like they're on me, I'm on them. Me and Des been best friends for about 10 years. Me and Ja, we got best friends throughout the Memphis season. When he had his little mental lapse, I was on him hard. I told him, you've got to grow. You've got to become a man. Same thing with me. He told me this is what's going to make you a man. I'm just blessed for him.

Q. Do you have any extra motivation as far as looking at some players that have been undrafted or really made a name for themselves? Recently we had the NBA Finals with Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, so forth, to give you guys some extra motivation who are undrafted?

KENDRIC DAVIS: Yeah, Gary Payton. There's a lot of them, Fred VanVleet, Gabe Vincent. I mean, the league is just starting to become either you can play or you can't. You seen that throughout the Playoffs. You've just got to be able to play basketball. Even here. Klay was drafted but didn't nobody think Klay would be able to have this career. Steph was little and not very athletic. I just look at all the guys that's not athletic, Kyle Lowry, José Alvarado, Dennis Schroder, a bunch of them. I just know I believe in my work, and I think I'll be here for a long time.

Q. You said your relationship with Desmond Bane goes back 10 years, and Ja has been -- obviously Memphis is a connection, but where did those relationships begin and how did that friendship blossom with both of them?

KENDRIC DAVIS: I met Des my sophomore year in high school. When I committed to TCU he was there. Then I got a chance to play with him my freshman year. That was my roommate on the road, and we got a lot of memories through that.

We just love playing with each other. We was in the gym playing one-on-one all the time, like 2:00, 3:00 in the morning we was playing one-on-one, and in college, when I transferred, he was hurt, and then when I had the crew I had, we ended up reunited, but we stayed in touch all day every day.

And Ja, just with the season I was having, he would call me over to his house, we would play ones, and we just got real close, too, and he just liked what I was about. I'm all about grinding and the right things. We've been buds since then.

Q. Kendric, what went through your mind when you got the call that you were going to play for the Warriors Summer League team?

KENDRIC DAVIS: I was ecstatic. Me and my agent was happy about it, first-class organization, and they don't just go after anybody. For them to call me, I was happy. You see the trade rumor where Chris Paul come here and you possibly get a chance to learn under Steph Curry and Chris Paul, it's like, why not. Anybody would take that as a rookie. I was blessed.

Q. How were you able to make that impression on a coaching staff during your pre-draft workouts?

KENDRIC DAVIS: Just being me. Obviously I got enough to know what I can do but just winning every drill I played, being a competitor, and just doing what they do, pace, competing at a high level and winning, so I guess that stood out to them.

Q. On draft said you said you were going to be at the gym with your son. What was that night like for you, and then the hours while you're waiting to get drafted or while you're waiting to get that call? What were those hours like for you?

KENDRIC DAVIS: Honestly, I didn't have my phone. I was in the gym working out in Indiana saying if they was going to take me at 56, so I thought it was done, but I didn't know. I was in the gym, and they didn't take me, and had about six, seven teams reach out, but to me, I wanted -- it was out of Memphis and Golden State, and I just prayed on it, me and my mom and my agent, and we decided learning from Steph Curry and Chris Paul would be the best fit, and just hopefully it ends that way.

Q. As much as you have loved your time in Memphis, how tough was it ultimately to turn down the Grizzlies and head over to the Bay?

KENDRIC DAVIS: Yeah, it was real tough just because you see on Twitter, I think it was trending I was going there. Everybody knew I was just going there. It was tough. When you get here, though, you've got to make a business decision for me and my son. I just knew business-wise and for my family-wise, this probably was the best fit.