NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 6, 2023

Kyle Lowry

Miami Heat

Practice Day

Q. Kyle, a lot of guys on this team went through the Finals experience in the bubble and then they went through the first two of this series in Denver, but they haven't actually had people in a building cheering for them until tomorrow night. As somebody who has been through that, what is the benefit of being at home, if any? I know it's more tickets and more distraction and all that stuff but is there a tangible benefit to a crowd at home in the Finals?

KYLE LOWRY: Yeah. I think being at home in general, sleeping in your bed, being able to do things at home that you're comfortable with, you know, getting home-cooked meals, all that, that benefits it.

But the benefit of the crowd is no matter what, they are going to be behind you. They are going to give you energy. You know, if the other team is on the run, they are going to give you a little boost, right. If you're on a run, there's going to be a crazy boost.

I think just the overall, you know, energy for your team and your group, it will give you a little bit of a lift, but it won't win you the game because you've still got to go out there and hoop.

But it will give you some type of, you know, good feeling.

Q. We never had a chance to ask you about this, but you brought it up on the TNT set in the Boston series about how you and Pat [Riley] spoke while you were out with the knee. What happened with that? Can you share? I'm sure you both emerged with good feelings about things.

KYLE LOWRY: I will not tell you exactly what happened, but it was a great conversation. It was just making sure that I was healthy for an opportunity, if we got on a run like we've been and I think that's the biggest thing about it, is the opportunity to be healthy, to help the group, right, no matter what it is. And you know, making it into the Finals, I'm as healthy as I've been in a while and I feel good.

It was a great conversation. It was a great time. Felt fantastic. Having a guy like Pat having your back is a good feeling. It's a good guy to have back there.

Q. Do you remember when you were a kid how old you were when you learned what a zone defense was? Do you remember what you were taught about it? Do you remember what team you were playing for?

KYLE LOWRY: No, I don't. I'm being honest with you, I don't. I mean, everybody knows the basic 2-3 and traps and all that stuff. I think you learn about the zone press first as a young kid, and then you learn about the zone defense.

But yes, if you're getting into the question of our zone, it's pretty cool.

Q. What makes it cool?

KYLE LOWRY: It works sometimes. It's shape shifting, and I think Gabe Vincent always will say, him and Andre Iguodala kind of figured it out how to play the top and give them credit. I think give them credit, and it's just been a work in progress.

It's a different type of zone and you have to be able to play it and want to play it to make it successful.

Q. City of Miami, is there anything you’ve fallen in love with about the city?

KYLE LOWRY: I love the "oohh," [Seven Nation Army] that chant, and the Swag Surf -- that one, yeah.

I think just we have a different vibe here, you know what I mean. The vibe down here is just awesome, and when it gets going here, it's really like a party. You have to enjoy it. You enjoy the music. They sing with you. They sing along. It's just a great place to be and the fan base is unbelievable, and I'm sure tomorrow is going to be nuts in here, and I'm looking forward to it.

Q. We've seen a lot of players play 16, 17, 20 years. What's been the difference for you in terms of longevity and when you look back over your first two, three seasons, getting hurt as a rookie, playing all 82 in the second year, getting traded in the third year, what did you learn in the first three years?

KYLE LOWRY: My first year, I didn't learn much. I was around the team but I got injured. And you know, I think the second year, just playing all 82 was huge for me, coming back from injury.

But I think the thing about longevity is figuring out how to adapt, take care of your body, understand what an NBA season is, understanding how to train in the offseason, understanding how to eat, understanding to get your rest and recovery. Being able to adjust to who you are and grow mature-wise, right, because at the end of the day, there's going to be times where you're going to be here, and then you're going to go up and then you're going to go up, and at this point in my career, there's a lot of people that just level off. You've got to be able to have the humility to be able to say, you've got to work at different things and be willing to accept different roles and different situations at different times.

Right now, at this time of the year, I'm just happy to be able to have a guy like Gabe be the starting point guard, and playing the way he's playing and being able to talk to him and help him as much as I can. That's big for me, just being able to help him, and also being a guy that can see the game from different aspects to start the game off the bench and then give him my takes and come in there and do what I can do to help the team.

Q. Who throws a better deep outlet pass --

KYLE LOWRY: Me.

Q. Fair enough.

KYLE LOWRY: Me.

Q. What are the components that go into making that pass work, and did you have any influences, because usually it's not a guard throwing that?

KYLE LOWRY: Yeah, I think last year -- I mean, I've always done it my career, and I learned it from Jason Kidd, is always try to catch the ball, look ahead. It was something I learned from Jason Kidd, watching him a long time ago.

As a guard, it's a lot easier to catch and throw right away. I think the components -- like for Kevin [Love], he has an unbelievable knack for throwing the ball right to the guy and he's bigger and you know, just right on time. He's been doing it his whole career.

I think it's just being able -- knowing that you have confidence in your guy to go get it. We are throwing the ball to Max and Jimmy. We know they are going to get it, you know what I mean, Bam. We know those guys are going to go get it and finish it, and having the ability to have athletes like that, it makes our job a lot easier on those outlet passes. For me, it's like, sometimes you throw it -- sometimes you throw it just to throw it. It might be a turnover but you get the guys, keep running, let's try to get some relief points.

Q. Do you have a certain routine or superstition before each game that you want to share with us?

KYLE LOWRY: No, I knock on wood before I go out there and other than that -- every game is different. Got to go out there and just figure it out, different music, different clothes, different shoes. Just go out there and figure it out.

Q. As the best golfer in the NBA --

KYLE LOWRY: No, that's a lie. Steph Curry is.

Q. As the best golfer in the Finals.

KYLE LOWRY: All right. I'll take that one.

Q. What did you think when you heard that the PGA Tour and LIV merged?

KYLE LOWRY: Unbelievable, right. They got like a 19-handicap tour? [He’s not a 19-handicap]

No, honestly, it's the way it should be, and I think that just shows how groups can get along. You kind of bring groups together that can be completely opposite and come together.

We have a team -- on our team we have guys who are complete opposite but we come together for one common goal and that's just the betterment of the game.

That was a great answer. Thanks a lot, you guys.