NBA DRAFT

June 23, 2022

Dyson Daniels

Q. That suit, do you always dress that conservatively when you go to work?

DYSON DANIELS: No, I don't. But you know, this is a one-off opportunity, the NBA Draft, so I had to put something together, a little shine on it.

Q. Is there anyone were you having a little fun with backstage --

DYSON DANIELS: Not really. You know, it was good fun with the boys backstage. Some great suits tonight. So it was good to see some people and how they want to dress.

Q. I have a question about being from Australia. One more Australian, one more Boomer in the NBA. How do you feel about it? And you played already for the Asia Cup qualifiers a couple months ago for the Boomers. What's your perspective with the national team, knowing there's a World Cup next year and Olympics in two years?

DYSON DANIELS: I think Australian basketball has come a long way in the last few years. There's some great Australian players in the NBA. For me to represent the country of Australia means the world to me. Every opportunity I get to play for Australia, I want to take it. I love playing for it. I love the culture they've built there. And being able to hopefully play in the World Cup and the Olympics coming up, that would be a dream come true for me, just like tonight was getting drafted.

Q. New Orleans has a lot of young talent. How do you see yourself fitting in and where do you feel like you're going to contribute?

DYSON DANIELS: I think with me there's so many different roles that I can play on a team, that I contribute in so many different ways. Especially on the defensive end, that's where I like to bring it. I can defend multiple positions, guard the ball and even go down and guard the post sometimes. With the ball in my hands, I can play-make, play without the ball, be a cutter, rebound and stuff like that. I feel like my game is very versatile and I could fit into a lot of different lineups with the great players that we have on this team.

Q. Just wanted to know who are you looking most forward to playing, someone you've looked up to or just know?

DYSON DANIELS: It's the NBA now, so everyone, really. It would be cool to play against my boy Josh Giddey. It would be cool to play against LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, who I idolized growing up.

I'm just so happy to be a Pelican and I can't wait to get to work.

Q. How do you feel like your experience with the G League Ignite helped you?

DYSON DANIELS: The G League was huge for me. Playing against the NBA style of play, playing against NBA-type players, I had to learn how to play faster, more physical. Know when I could get mine. We had a great team and we had really good veterans and a really good coaching staff. I learned a lot throughout my year, and I think I improved as the year went on. The G League was definitely a really good step for me and helped me get here, for sure.

Q. So what's the first thing you're going to buy with your NBA paycheck, and who are you looking forward to playing against?

DYSON DANIELS: First thing I'm going to buy, I'm going to need a car. So I'm going to have to get a nice car. I'm a big car guy, so that would be one thing. But I'm sure Mom and Dad will get some as well.

Who am I looking forward to playing? I think Josh Giddey. He's definitely the main one. In Australia, head-to-head, we used to go one-on-one back when we played in the NBA Academy together. Definitely him. And LeBron and Westbrook, as well. That would be cool to play against them.

Q. It's not normal for a team picking in the top 10 to just come off a playoff fun. How excited are you to get in it and be in a situation where they are already geared toward winning?

DYSON DANIELS: Yeah, I think that's huge. They made a really big step last year in making the playoffs, and did well in the playoffs, too.

So I think being able to join this team, I think I can help them go further in the playoffs. And for me, I'm a winner. I love to win games. I hate losing. So I'm going to do whatever the team needs to help them win. I think I can definitely step into some roles and contribute straightaway.

Q. Did you have any expectations coming into today and to the draft, and if you did, did it go as you suspected?

DYSON DANIELS: I worked out with the teams from like 5 to 11, so I was thinking somewhere in that range.

But I'm just so happy I've landed in New Orleans. They have a great coaching staff, great players. I loved it when I went there for the workout.

I didn't really have an idea. My agent kept everything quiet, so it was a surprise to me. I'm so happy to be here.