NBA ALL-STAR RISING STARS

February 18, 2022

Jaden McDaniels

Team Payton

Press Conference

Team Barry 50, Team Payton 48

Q. You said when we asked you about coming here that you were coming here to show out a little bit.

JADEN McDANIELS: Yeah.

Q. You had a good game. How did you feel out there?

JADEN McDANIELS: I felt like myself. Just getting to my spots, doing what I like to do. Just shoot threes, get to the rack.

Q. Did you have it in your mindset to be aggressive?

JADEN McDANIELS: Not really. I was just kind of going out -- just go hoop like it was a pick-up game. I felt like if we would have played defense, we would have really blown out this team.

Q. You said last week you weren't coming to play defense.

JADEN McDANIELS: I lived up to it. That's what happens when you don't.

Q. I was sitting next to your parents when you were up on the stage.

JADEN McDANIELS: I heard them screaming going crazy. Yeah.

Q. Your facial expression never changes. Do you feel it inside of you and you just didn't show it?

JADEN McDANIELS: I feel it. I try not to look at them and start smiling. I try to be locked in. It's a blessing just to have them here with me.

Q. As this game got closer the last couple of weeks, you really have kind of come out and played really well, especially offensively. Do you feel like momentum is building and that you can kind of use this to kind of go into the second half of the season?

JADEN McDANIELS: I feel like just playing here and be able to get live reps, just doing anything really, just creating my own shot or even getting in the rhythm of the game, I feel like it's going to help for everything.

Q. Confidence pretty high right now that you can really make a move last 23 games of the season?

JADEN McDANIELS: This is the strongest push we need right now, so we just got to stay confident.

Q. Are you going to stick around here for a little bit, or are you going home tomorrow?

JADEN McDANIELS: I'm going home tomorrow, man. Quick trip and go home.

Q. Was it kind of cool just to be around a bunch of the players and stars and stuff?

JADEN McDANIELS: It was super cool just being in the All-Star Weekend. It's like a dream.

Q. Is it a goal to come back here and play on Sunday someday?

JADEN McDANIELS: Yeah, that's my next goal. I'll be back soon for sure. Yes, sir.

Q. Can you talk about Karl-Anthony Towns wearing your jersey?

JADEN McDANIELS: He represented. Had the fresh jersey on. Had 3 on his back.

Q. Anthony Edwards was sitting there for a little bit.

JADEN McDANIELS: I pointed to both of them when I got a bucket. Just wanted me to go get buckets today, so that's what I did.

Q. How do you describe the chemistry that this whole team has? It seems like you all root for each other.

JADEN McDANIELS: I feel like it's super big. We all hang out with each other. We all like each other on and off the court, so I feel like that helps, and then just all of us want to see each other succeed. I feel like that's the best part.

Q. One question in general looking back at the season. It's an adjustment for a lot of guys to come from high school and college and wherever else they've played. You kind of won a lot. You were this player, and you get to the NBA. Frankly, no matter what team you're on, you lose more than you've won.

JADEN McDANIELS: Yeah.

Q. How do you adjust to that, or are you?

JADEN McDANIELS: We lost a lot last year, but I don't see myself as a loser. So just having the mentality, a winner mentality, even if it's going bad or good. Just kind of keeping that so it keeps your confidence.

Q. Was that fun?

JADEN McDANIELS: Yeah, it was fun. I didn't even sweat. It's cool. Chilling.