NBA ALL-STAR SKILLS CHALLENGE

February 18, 2023

Jaden Ivey

Press Conference

Q. What did you think? Was it a little tougher than you thought it was going to be?

JADEN IVEY: I felt the shooting challenge was a little confusing. I felt like last year's format, the one person going into each spot and shooting and then having two rebounders and letting the one person be able to kind of dictate what spots they go to on the floor, I felt that was better.

Obviously, it just got a little complicated with having multiple guys being able to shoot at a spot. It just got complicated. Overall, I had fun to be with Paolo and Jabari, and we had a blast.

Q. You guys have developed a closeness going through the draft process together and now getting to do this together. It's like a real brotherhood, right, with the same draft class, that kind of thing?

JADEN IVEY: Even though we're on separate teams, like you said, a brotherhood. It's a brotherhood. A lot of guys are in the same draft class, and they kind of see everyone grow up in the NBA. It was fun being with them.

I know for a fact that it won't be a brotherhood soon when I play in Orlando. We're going to be going at it. Yeah, it was fun.

Q. What are some of the main things you're going to take away from the entire experience this weekend?

JADEN IVEY: I think the biggest takeaway is that never take an opportunity like this for granted. Coming from where I come from and what it took to get here, just never taking this moment for granted, and thanking God for all my blessings.

Q. And what are you looking forward to over the final two months of the season? Anything that you are looking to work on in particular or just continuing to grow, put the work in? Seems like the game is starting to come even easier for you as you move along in the season.

JADEN IVEY: I think you said it perfectly. Just trying to get better every single day and work my hardest every single time I step out there on the court, both ends of the floor, and picking up the mental piece in the game of basketball and just being a student of the game.

That's what I need to really focus on in my game the second half of the season, putting us in better positions to win games and really just focusing every single day on getting better and doing the same thing I've been doing since the beginning of the season, doing my routine, put work in every single day, not skipping days.

Q. Were you surprised how much your speed translated so quickly? Everyone knew how fast you were, but when you are in college, you don't know how quickly that's going to come to fruition in the NBA. Was it like, wow, I really am faster than most of the guys in this league?

JADEN IVEY: I really started to find that in college, just my speed. Now it's just like in the NBA I feel like I can -- there's so much space on the floor, I feel like I can utilize it a lot.

I talked to D-Wade the other day. I asked him about -- because DWade is speedy as well, and he was in the league, and change of pace and choose when I use my speed. I don't have to use my speed all the time. Picking and choosing when to use my speed.

Like I said, progressively getting better at that and learning that aspect.