Giannis Antetokounmpo
Power Forward
Milwaukee Bucks
“I try to live something bigger than basketball, be a good person, how do I make people feel and not just be known as good basketball player.
“It’s a long journey, there’s a lot of ups and downs in basketball but you’ve just got to stay focused. Don’t look right, don’t look left, stay on the path.”
On mental health:
“Invest in yourself. It’s OK not to be yourself and it’s going to acknowledge that. The biggest investment you can make is to invest in yourself. Daily or every ither day I talk to a sports psychologist.
On Stefanos Tsitsipas:
“We talk about his approach to his sport because tennis is so different to basketball. He loves relying on himself and it’s a good way to think, to look. He is one of the best tennis players and he’s just going to get better.
On the game:
“Fans can expect a good game, a lot of excitement, lot of dunks, lot of three throws and hopefully the Bucks win.”
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Small Forward
Milwaukee Bucks
“Enjoy the game. Amazing so happy we are international players. It’s great to see the kids excited to play basketball. I would love to see more international players like me playing in the NBA.
“Basketball teaches you about discipline, about teamwork, it brings everyone together, it teaches you patience, consistency, focus. It’s high energy and a long journey to the finish line. You have to be consistent.
“Nothing is impossible. You need discipline, belief, sacrifice. You have to stay the course. If you really want it you will do it.
Mike Budenholzer
Milwaukee Bucks Coach
On kids camp: “I wanted the players to see those kids and remember how they were when they were kids. Just to see how excited those kids were and how hard they were working, diving on the floor, wanting to learn. So for the players to give back and share and remember what they were like as kids.
On good habits:
“I want us to be competitiveness of us as a team, collectively, the competitiveness of us an individuals, the unselfishness as a team, are we unselfish as individuals, are we getting better each day.
Then when we get on the court, are we rotating and covering for each other, sharing the ball.:
On getting back to champions:
“Working hard and looking are we getting back each day? Are the things working, building on those habits then we’ll be best
On coming to Abu Dhabi:
“We are really excited, we feel this is a very special sport, something that is incredibly exciting with amazing players doing amazing things. As coaches I’m not sure how much we will be smiling during the games but hopefully we can turn round and see the fans smiling and enjoying it and appreciating what these athletes can do. It’s fun to share it with the world.”
On the Game:
“Hopefully fans will see a team that plays with a lot of passion, a team that plays hard, that plays unselfishly. There’s probably nobody that plays with more passion that Giannis and I think that’s infectious.
Overseas Trips:
“This is invaluable. We get to spend so much time together. If you just do camps in your market you are just doing normal things, going home at the end of the day whereas here we’re doing meals together, different trips etc. It’s just all that time together.”
Bobby Portis
Power Forward
Milwaukee Bucks
“It’s great to come here, just for the fans let them experience NBA basketball, it’s the first time it’s going to be played over here and we’re excited to be a part of it.
“Sport brings everyone together, allows the next generation to experience the NBA and hopefully one day they will be in our shoes giving joy to the next generation after that.”
“I just try to be myself, bring energy to the game and to my teammates. When on the sideline I just tried to stay locked in on how we are playing and you can get a different look at the game, so when the coach calls you can be ready.
Atlanta Hawks
Coach Nate McMillan
“We’re in training camp, this will be our first game and we are excited to get started. We’ve been in training and it’s time for a different opponent.
“Abu Dhabi is a beautiful city. Our ownership wanted us to come over and experience the country, the culture and the people. Coming here and introducing the game to this community, really excited to be part of it.
“The people here seem really passionate about our game, they want to learn, we want to teach it. Abu Dhabi wants it to be part of the community. We wanted to come over and teach the game to the kids. All of that is really important. It’s an opportunity that sometimes you will only get once in a lifetime so we wanted to make sure our guys get exposed to that and understand it, and give the experience of the NBA game, hope the country enjoys and invites us back.
“Dejounte Murray really adds to our team on both ends of the floor, offence and defence. He’s one of the top defenders in the league, he will help us establish our defence. Offensively, with Trae Young, they will both play off each other. We are excited to see it for the first time on Thursday.
“We want to be better today then we were yesterday. The game will be a good test for us and we will learn from that, but we take one day at time.
“The kids coaching clinics have been great. They knew us, they knew our names, they were passionate to learn and have a little fun. That passion is what brought us here. We want to expose the country to our game, our athletes and hope we are invited back.
“It’s a good test for us. We haven’t had a game since last season. Milwaukee is a good team and will test us. It’s an opportunity we are looking forward to.
John Collins
Power Forward
Atlanta Hawks
“It’s always surprising to come to a new country and see the passion for basketball. It’s great to see the intensity of the kids.
“My advice for kids dreaming of NBA is to start with the small things. If you’re not willing to change your diet, go to bed earlier, stretch, work out and not willing to adjust your life around the game, then don’t consider it. You have to be willing to give your life to it.
“If yes, then continue to have those dreams and the sky is the limit.”
Dejounte Murray
Point guard
Atlanta Hawks
“It’s great to be here. It’s different for me, and we’re just having fun. It’s a blessing. We are thankful and grateful to be here. We’re going to be part of history.
“We’re going to come out and play hard. These games are really important for us. We want to get on the right track early.
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