Hornets
Joel Berry II: 'This is the healthiest I've been in a while'
Full interview with Joel Berry II, former player for the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and current player for the Charlotte Hornets.
Hey, Joel. So, you know, we talked earlier this year several times on you said your goal was kind of for this fall to be finally with the Hornets and training camp this year and, you know, looking past your tibia and tor meniscus three end of your rookie year, kind of How How's things now that you're actually in a real MBA setting for an extended period of time? Yeah, it was great for me, man. It was, you know, it was kind of hard to stay patient. I didn't hear about me coming to this until, like, maybe a week and a half before it all started on dso It was kind of just really just me being patient and waiting for him and to see how things would pan out. And, um, for me to be ableto to be here and be around this setting and be with the Hornets on it was a great opportunity. And I felt like I put my best foot forward and I was just happy to be here and blessed to be here, especially from where I came from. And, um, you know, the things that I battled with throughout the season down in Greensboro. So I'm just happy to be here. And I think I mean, you ended your urine Greensboro Probably on the highest that you had a whole year. 40 point games. 30 point games. Um, S o you obviously, like, show your potential talks with James Borrego. Kind of. What is he kind of poured into you throughout your time this week. He said yesterday that he's he's enjoyed your playmaking and obviously your best Like you. So how would those talking with J. B? Yeah, I just I like him as a coach. You could tell these and, you know, he's always in tune with the players. And, um, he just wanted to see the best. And he's like one of those coaches that, um he knows your potential and what you can do. And he's just always giving you advice from a positive standpoint. Um, you know, I didn't get a chance to talk to him much one on one, because we were busy, you know, doing a lot of stuff, but just by, you know, walking past him and you know him Just giving me advice. Thio keep going to keep, continue to be aggressive. Um, I mean, that's really all you need from a coach. You don't need too much. Uh, so it's just happy out. Like I said, I was just happy to be here and to be, um, in front of a head coach, you know, in front of the head coach and be ableto be around the guys. But he's a great head coach. All right, we'll go to neck next. Hey, Joel, where you at? Health wise, we know you've battled a lot of stuff along the way. Has this layoff maybe helped with that a little bit just to get some more rest and recovery and kind of second part? The shot seemed to fall a lot more last year. Seems like all your numbers across the board, on average, is improved. So kind of what led to that? The biggest thing for me is just having that confidence. That's the one thing. It's hard, you know, getting back when you when you're coming back from an injury. Um, you know, just trusting your body again. And it took a little minute for me, but right now I'm 100%. Um, this is the healthiest. I've been in a while, even in even from in college, on my battle ankle injuries. And I still was never, you know, at 100%. But now everything's good. My body is moving well, and it shows like you said, it shows in the numbers and just from here on out, you know, I just take my mobility and all the stuff that I do off the court. Seriously, because I know how much, um, and how hard it is to come back from an injury. So, um, that's that's a key part for me. But like I said, I'm 100% and I have I'm just ready. Thio finally have my opportunity to be able to show what I could do. Chris, go ahead. They drove Chrisley from WRL on. Riley, thank you for your time today. I wanted toe ask you. I know you were battling injuries and everything, but what did you get a chance to learn from your time in Greensboro. What have you pulled from, uh, somebody like, uh, Davante Graham, who kind of used his time in the D League thio, You know, explode later on. How do you think you're better and How do you think your time in Greensboro will propel you towards your MBA career? Yeah, I think, from just from a professional standpoint, um, you know, at the beginning of the season, I wasn't playing as much. Um, you know, I had a lot of d m. P s and, um, you know, you could get frustrated by that, but, you know, like you said, seeing those guys like Devante Graham and for me, you know, I pay attention, Thio all the guys you know, Quinn Cook. Um you know Fred Van Fleet from from Toronto. You know, those guys have been through it. And so those air guys, that's more of my shaping more of my built and in the same position. So being able to see those guys growing throughout the G league and get that finally get their opportunity. You know, that gives me a little bit of hope. Um, and, uh, but yeah, I just, um you know, I just continue to work through my game, and, you know, when my when my time finally came and my opportunity came where I could showcase what I could do, I was just ready to meet the opportunity, and I think that's the biggest thing. You know, Um, with being in this business, you have to always be prepared for your time. You never know what will happen, faras injuries or, you know, guys getting a call up. So the biggest thing is just being professional and just being able to step up when your number is called and be ableto, you know, go out there and perform. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you. Go to Jason Brown. Next. Thanks, Maggie. Hey, Joel. Jason Brown with Spectrum News one in Charlotte. Um, you know, you talked about opportunity, and I know that the Hornets and other MBA teams talk a lot about position, less basketball. But when you just look at the Hornets roster from a guard standpoint, what you bring to the table, you feel you have a better opportunity with a club like this, where the roster is constituted, as opposed to maybe some other teams in the league. Yeah, I just think with me, you know, you have your guys that's gonna have a ball in your hand in their hands. Um and you know, me being a point guard, bringing up the ball. You know, that's a possibility. But, um, you know what I think I bring is just some outside shooting. Um, you know, just being ableto Thio help those guys. I know the guys that are on the team now we're gonna have their ball have the ball in their hands. So for me, it's about just being able to knock down shots. Um, that's the most important thing. And to be able to play defense, especially at my size, being able to like you said its position A list. So you'll be garden. You might switch onto a guy that's a five, and you know, you might have to stand your ground for a little bit until we can make that switch. But eso just knocking down shots and playing defense. That's what I think I could bring in just my I Q s. So hopefully you know, I get my opportunity and and if I do and if I do, I'm looking forward to it. And, um, you know, everything's unknown right now, but but I know what I could bring to the team that we can go back to you. So obviously the D League has done a really good job with emulating the style and the pace of modern MBA. So I mean, since you've been here for almost two weeks now in the bubble of the Hornets with these live runs, what's been the biggest adjustment for you? Um, taking this transition along with what's one thing that you kind of found your rolling last couple weeks? Yeah, I will say, The biggest thing is I mean, from the time that our season got cut off, until now, this was really like, um, I was training and doing everything, you know, the training and stuff, but it doesn't compare to getting out there, actually playing five on five eso, you know, just getting back into the group of that. But, um, you know, like you said, the game of basketball in the, uh in the G League and here on the NBA level, Um, you know, it's really about getting to the basket or shooting threes, you know, and sometimes I get caught up in, you know, wanting to shoot a mid range. But that's not what modern day basketball is now. And so sometimes just getting out of the the mindset of wanting toe stay right there in the mid range instead of, you know, getting back to the three. It's sometimes hard for me, but being here, I've made that adjustment. And sometimes, you know that's what you have to do. You have to make those little adjustments to your game to be able to, you know, stay relevant to what's going on now. I mean, you see that each and every day guys, you know, changing their games to stay relevant, to be able to stay in this league. So that's what it's all about. And that's what I did here and just trying to play the way that they play. You know, these last two weeks, and I know you and Nick Freeman have worked during the six month hiatus. Working out doing is he's one of those kettlebell specialist kind of guys doing the workouts. Um, can you talk about you and Nick's relationship and kind of what work you all put in during this raid? Yeah, you know, it's crazy about you know how people come into your life and and, you know, along with Freeman, um, it was another guy named Tyler who really took us in and helped us with, you know, the kettle bell stuff. And, um yeah. So me and me and Freeman, we've been out there pretty much every day. And, you know, we just talked basketball, and I picked his brain because he's a very high I Q guy. He's a coach, you know? They watched him all the time, and so do I. So being around him and just being able to pick his brain and be able to work out with him, Aziz Well, um, you know, that's something that you would want and not too many people can have, you know? Ah, close relationship to a guy that hasn't, you know, is in the organization like this and be able to pick their brain each and every day. So, um, it's great having Friedman around. Awesome. Does anyone else have any other questions? Yeah, sure. I have another. If I If you don't mind. Yeah. Go Packers. I wanted Thio. Also asked during this time off I don't know if you've kind of been back in Florida. If you've been in North Carolina, but during the time off, have you had a chance to go to Chapel Hill? Maybe go back and help out some of the young players that air there may be also spread a little wisdom about how to be successful in the college game and how the transition, uh, to the NBA. From what you know him from what you've gone through so far since you've been a pro, Yeah, as you all know, it zits hard Thio be, um and to get back and to be in places right now with what's going on with, you know, covert and everything. So I haven't been able to get back. I wish I could, because this is a prime time that you know, the pros and we usually go back. Well, it's probably a little bit earlier, but usually the pros go back and, you know, we're able to talk to those guys and groom them. I know from my time when I was there, that's kind of what help me, um, in my game was because I always look forward to playing the pros rather than, you know, playing the college guys, because that's when I really felt like I was getting the wisdom and knowledge that I needed to be able to get through the you know, in this game and through this business. So I wish I could, because I love giving back. And you guys know how much I love Carolina s? Oh, I wish I could get back, but I actually haven't gotten a chance to, but hopefully here soon will be ableto throw all this stuff to aside and get back to normal.