NBA DRAFT

June 22, 2023

Leonard Miller

Q. If you'd start us off with what you'll bring to the Spurs.

LEONARD MILLER: Definitely going to bring my energy to the Spurs. Definitely going to bring my character. I have high character. I'm very likable because (of) my aura and my energy that I bring to surroundings. I'm going to just continue to improve my game, get better. That's the number one thing. My growth as a player has increased like no other from this past year, and then previously before this year, I've shown a lot of growth as a player. I'm going to continue to grow.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about how your G League experience prepared you for this upcoming rookie season?

LEONARD MILLER: The G League experience has prepared me so much because I really got that feel for the game. With the game that we play in the G League, it's the same thing as the NBA -- the pace, the competitiveness and everything that goes to it. Guys that are coming up and down from the league, guys trying to make their way into the league. I already have that feel. Going into it, I feel like my game right now is ready, and I'm better than ever.

Q. In your time with G League Ignite you showed the ability to not only be a play finisher as an off-ball cutter but someone with the ball in their hands creating your own shot. How do you feel like that will work to your advantage at the NBA level?

LEONARD MILLER: I feel like that will work to my advantage because with that in my bag and then all the other things I have to offer, it makes me tougher to guard. When you game-plan against me, there are so much things I could do out there. Having people on their toes and aware of me out there. It's good I can do those things, but I'm just continuing to get better and add more.

Q. I know Coach Hart was kind of hard on you, coached you up hard with the Ignite. What was that relationship like and what was the biggest thing you learned from him throughout the course of the season?

LEONARD MILLER: His coaching style made me like him so much because he likes dogs and I feel like I'm a dog out there on the court. I bring it every night. He holds me accountable, and he's just always on me. I need a coach that is always on me and pushing me to get better because that's what I need. I need to be the best version of myself I can be.

Coach Hart is a great person off the court, as well. He's very caring. He's a great dude. I'm glad that I was able to be coached by him.

Q. What did you know about the Spurs? What kind of contact did you have with them before the draft? What kind of interest did they show in you, and what kind of philosophy behind the organization?

LEONARD MILLER: I've had an interview with the Spurs, so I got a sense of who is in the office, the staff that the Spurs have as an organization. I'm familiar with Jeremy (Sochan) on the team. I talked to him. Also what they've done in the past with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, that era. They were really successful, and they have a history of winning.

Right now they're trying to get it back to what it was before. It can definitely be done because the organization is really good, and they have good people to get it back to what it needs to be.