JR Giddens Q & A...

[Al-Haqq]

NBA.com: How’s your summer been going, man?
J.R. Giddens: It’s been going great, really. I’m working out every day, trying to get bigger and stronger and get myself prepared to step in and help these guys win some ballgames.

NBA.com: They did a good job of that last season, ha.
J.R. Giddens: Yeah, I think they did very well last season. [Laughs] World champs, best record in the league and a great defensive team. So that’s my mindset – just get bigger, stronger, faster so I can come out and help these guys on the defensive end.

NBA.com: That’s got to be exciting joining the champs. What are you looking forward to about being a part of that squad?
J.R. Giddens: Just learning from all those guys. They’re world champions, and obviously, the organization’s top of the line, with them accomplishing what they did. Just trying to be a sponge, soak up everything. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are great guards, and I play guard, so I’m trying to learn from those guys, KG, Doc and just make myself the best basketball player. That’s what the dream is.

NBA.com: Have you gotten to speak with any of those guys?
J.R. Giddens: No, I haven’t got the chance to speak with anybody yet, but I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to it because those guys are my heroes. I was just watching them (wide-eyed) a couple of months ago like, “KG! Ray Allen! Paul Pierce!” Now I’m going to be in the same locker room, playing with them. It’s gonna be amazing, man.

NBA.com: Have you been in contact with any other teammates?
J.R. Giddens: I haven’t been in contact with them. I’m pretty sure they’re celebrating or getting their things together. I haven’t even signed yet, so I’m just a rookie coming in, trying to find his way.

NBA.com: What do you think will be the biggest adjustment for you?
J.R. Giddens: Just the speed of the game and the level of play. It’s going to be a high level of play – it’s the NBA. The guys are very skilled, athletic and have a high basketball IQs, so I’m pretty sure everything’s going to be faster, more physical. Though I don’t know if it’s going to be more physical than college just because you’ve got all those bruising practices and in the games they let you touch a lot more. It’s just going to be a big learning experience.

NBA.com: You said you were working to get bigger, faster, stronger – is there anything you’ve been focusing on in your game?
J.R. Giddens: Just shooting a lot of free throws and a lot of jumpers. In the summertime, this is when you add a little bit to your game, like Jordan and Kobe coming back with the new patent move. And if my jump shot’s not there, just make sure my jump shot’s clicking. Working on everything, man.

NBA.com: So what’s the new move coming out for this year?
J.R. Giddens: The new one coming out, it’s gonna be called [Here he looks side-to-side, then leans in conspiratorially] “the defensive slide.” That’s how I’m going to earn minutes, playing defense, so I’ll just be defensive sliding. That’s my new move.

NBA.com: Did you get the chance to play in Summer League?
J.R. Giddens: I didn’t get the chance to play in Summer League. I kind of wanted to. I was very anxious to get out there, seeing everyone play on TV. I just had to be patient and wait my turn. I’ll get to play soon. Right now, I’m just making sure everything’s up to speed by game day, so I’m working every day.

NBA.com: What are you planning on doing for the rest of the summer?
J.R. Giddens: Probably just hang out in Oklahoma and California. My family’s from Oklahoma, I went to school in New Mexico and I train out there in California. So just train all those places, handle my business and like I said, work on my game, try to get bigger every day. Because right now with our schedules, we’re training so much that you’ve got to get in the gym and lift wherever you’re at. This is what you do now. You don’t have go to school, you don’t have to do all this, you just have to play basketball.

NBA.com: With all the travel, what’s a place that’s made an impression on you?
J.R. Giddens: I went to the Celtics practice facility and was out there in Waltham, where they trained at and lifted and did all the hard work that was put into (their championship). That’s probably the most exciting place that I’ve seen besides being on first-class airplanes and seeing cities. They had the new banner up there and you can feel all the tradition from the banners and the organization. That was the best for me.

NBA.com: You mentioned the first-class flights – does it feel like life has changed?
J.R. Giddens: It really does feel like life has changed. In New Mexico, I was 23, I had a LoboCard. I didn’t even have a credit or debit card, I’m eating in our student union building. Now I can eat a couple more places, do a couple more things. It’s lovely, man. A dream come true.

NBA.com: Are any family or friends coming with you to Boston?
J.R. Giddens: I’m gonna have one of my female cousins move out there with me. She was my best friend growing up; we’re really close. She wants to get away from Oklahoma. It’s something new, she’s a year younger than me. She’ll come out there and cook for me. It’ll be good to have family near me.

NBA.com: What are you looking forward to most about starting your first NBA season?
J.R. Giddens: I don’t know what to look forward to. I’m a kid in a candy store, and I have a BAD sweet tooth. So I don’t know where to run, I don’t know what to do. I just know wherever the path chooses for me to go, I’m gonna try to stay on it.

[Spin Move]

"NBA.com: Are any family or friends coming with you to Boston?
J.R. Giddens: I’m gonna have one of my female cousins move out there with me. She was my best friend growing up; we’re really close. She wants to get away from Oklahoma. It’s something new, she’s a year younger than me. She’ll come out there and cook for me. It’ll be good to have family near me."


Cousin from oklahoma moving in...a year younger, interesting, must be a very close family.

[DJToLarry]

I have to say I have been more impressed with Bill Walker's approach to the summer. Reports have him working out all the time up here. My bet is Walker has more impact on the team this year.

[mrautobahn]

Yeah... GG talked a good game too... but I like BW approach much better... he seems to be more serious about "making it" in the NBA...

And besides... I was really impressed that BW made the time and effort to sign his own contract without an agent...

Yeah... If I was a betting guy... I think BW will end up wealthier than J.R. Giddens..

[Rocky5000]

This is an interview from much earlier in the summer before JR was signed. Since he's been in Waltham, Bill Walker, himself, has said that he has been impressed with JR's work ethic.

[DJToLarry]

This is an interview from much earlier in the summer before JR was signed. Since he's been in Waltham, Bill Walker, himself, has said that he has been impressed with JR's work ethic.

Thanks for clearing that up! Hopefully they can really push each other this summer. Maybe even mix it up like Baby and Powe did!