GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 17, 2024

Usman Garuba

Media Conference

Q. What are some of the things you're going to work on over the summer in your game?

USMAN GARUBA: I think I'm going to work a lot on my finishing, my shooting, be able to read the game and being as versatile as I can be on the floor and, yeah, pretty much that, yeah.

Q. What are some of the things -- you didn't play a lot, but what are some of the things you learned this season about yourself, but also about the way the game should be played and from the veteran guys like Chris and Draymond and those guys?

USMAN GARUBA: I think the first thing every play matters. I think it's something that I've learned here. You know, don't take anything for granted. I think there's something important in reading the game. You know, maybe you have a better option of passing the ball instead of playing one-on-one. You got to read the game, maybe see what's an advantage. Play, watch everything, read the game. I think I learned that a lot from CP. When we were both injured and we were working out together, he gave me a lot of advice. From Draymond, you know, incredible player. He can do pretty much everything on the floor, guard everyone. He reads the game. That's what makes him special. He always makes the best option for everyone. So, you know, both of them are nice players and I learned a lot from them.

Q. How often did you and Chris work out together while he was rehabbing and how valuable was that experience?

USMAN GARUBA: I was working out, I would say, two weeks, three weeks. It was amazing. He was giving me a lot of advice. He didn't have to, you know, but he was always talking to me and he always said that, if I don't talk to you, you know you got a problem (laughing). And that's what I learned. I learned a lot from CP, controlling the game, reading the game. Basketball is a simple game if you read it well. He's one of the best of doing that and also that time was amazing for me.

Q. This was your first year with the Warriors organization. What struck you about the front office, the coaching staff, the organization, that might be different than other organizations you've been in?

USMAN GARUBA: I think people don't realize how this organization takes care of the players. I think that, you know, it's an amazing place to be. Hopefully I can spend more time here the following years. I want to be here. It's an amazing place. They take care of all the players from 1 to 18, not only the main guys, you know, they take care of everyone. I think it's something important and valuable as organization.

Q. You were coached by Steve Kerr here and his son Nicholas in Santa Cruz. What's the biggest similarities and maybe differences between Steve's coaching and Nicholas's coaching?

USMAN GARUBA: They look very alike (laughing). They look very alike, yeah. I love Nick. Yeah, nice coach. I think it would be great -- he'll be a great coach in the future in the League. I didn't know it was his first year being a coach. I was really surprised. I thought he had more years. I didn't know that he -- he did a pretty good job, especially individually with me, watching film. He taught me a lot of things. He make me work on my game, and being able to try to play like, you know, as similar as Golden State Warriors play there in Santa Cruz. And it was a fun year down in Santa Cruz. Every guy I played with that year, we had fun, and that's something important at the end of the day.