GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 2, 2023

Usman Garuba

Media Conference

Q. Take me through your whole summer, getting traded a couple the times. How did it come together to land with the Warriors?

USMAN GARUBA: Yeah, I got traded, first I went to ATL, never went there and then I got traded to OKC, never been there and then I got waived after. It was really long summer for me honestly but I'm here and I'm very happy to be here.

Q. How much communication was there? Did you think you were going to be on the Hawks or then did you think you were going to be on the Thunder or did you know --

USMAN GARUBA: I knew I wasn't going to be on the Hawks but I thought I was going to be with OKC. But at the end of the day, this is a business, you've got to understand it, and yeah.

Q. Why did you decide on the Warriors?

USMAN GARUBA: I've been in a lot of communication with them through the whole summer and also they were really interested in me, not only now, especially during the 2021 draft, in Vegas, I made the staff, front office, I had dinner with them, I think. It was really cool. And you know, I think it was the best option for me, being part of this organization, and I'm very happy for that.

Q. It's been pointed out they might lack size, at least depth. Have they talked about what your role could be? Do they want a rolling four? What do you see your strengths with this roster?

USMAN GARUBA: I think I can help the team with putting energy, giving energy, effort. Trying to do my best every day. And I don't know, I just want to help the team win and I will do whatever it takes.

Q. In the draft you drew some comparisons to Draymond defensively in terms of what your potential could be. Have you had a chance to pick his brain at all, and how excited are you to be able to work with a guy like that on defense?

USMAN GARUBA: I'm excited to work with everyone pretty much here, a championship team, and a team that won the ring, basically last year, and yeah, of course, there are some similarities. But I want to learn from him a lot. Obviously watching him every day is going to be very good for me. I'm excited for that.

Q. I notice you've been shooting the three pretty well, not a lot of them but you've been shooting them. What do you think your three is right now? Is that something you're comfortable taking in the rhythm of an offense?

USMAN GARUBA: Yeah, I was shooting the ones -- I was taking the right shots. That was the key for me last year, taking the right shots. If I was very open and someone was really leaving me very open, I was taking it. I was just taking the right shots. Trying to make the best play possible.