NBA ALL-STAR RISING STARS POSTGAME

February 16, 2024

Jaden Ivey

Team Tamika

Press Conference

Team Jalen 40, Team Tamika 35

Q. Kind of a short sample size. What did you think of it out there?

JADEN IVEY: It was fun, competitive. That's my nature. I don't just play the game. It's my job. I just don't play it to play cool.

Yeah, it was fun, I'd say.

Q. You had a little hop in your step early on there. You feel good energy coming out there?

JADEN IVEY: Yeah, of course. I always like playing in Indiana. It was great to go out there and compete.

Obviously my second year here, so it was great. Short, but it was great.

Q. What's the toughest part of kind of trying to find a rhythm with some guys who are just not used to this? You've got to show up and try and figure it out in an hour?

JADEN IVEY: Really just go out there and play hard. We didn't really go over anything too much. Just show up and go hard.

I'm thankful to be out here. I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the honor to be out here and show the gifts that He gave me, that God gave me. I'm just thankful.

Q. What are you going to take in the rest of the weekend now?

JADEN IVEY: Go back home, see my wife. I'm about to have my second baby. She's about to be in labor any minute. So I'm going to head home and get out of here and see my family.

Q. This is a little bit of pressure but you've got that coming up right now. A little chance for an All-Star break to mean a little more to you.

JADEN IVEY: Sure.

Q. What was it like playing for Tamika?

JADEN IVEY: It was great. It was great seeing her face. I haven't seen her in a long time. Obviously, what she's done for this city, just what she's done as an athlete, for the women's game. She's just a legend that will be remembered forever, for what she brought to the city.

She brought their first championship. It's just great to be around her and see her again.

Q. It feels like the game is really slowing down for you. You're a really quick, fast guy, but it seems like you're really starting to pick your spots, and your game is really coming together. What's been the biggest key of the season for that to happen? Just going through the ropes, going through it a bunch of times now?

JADEN IVEY: I think for me just learning and growing along the way. Obviously losing 28 straight in a row, like you've got to have motivation to go in, go in and work every day.

I've been doing this my whole life. Whether we lose 50 in a row, we can lose 100 in a row. I'm still going to show up for work every single day and thank my Lord and Savior for allowing me to play this game and to glorify Him with my gifts. I'm just thankful to do that.

Over the course of the period of the season, I've shown growth because I stay consistent with my work. Just going to continue to grow. I've just got to keep sawing it and God gets the glory.

Q. Jaden, were you surprised by that competitiveness from Mathurin?

JADEN IVEY: No, not at all.

Q. That's who he is. Did you have much of a relationship or battles with him previously?

JADEN IVEY: Always. I love playing against him. He's so competitive, and I really like that. Like I said, every time I step out there, I want to compete. He was competing as well.

Like I said, he's a great player. He's very talented. I look forward to playing him again.