Q: Whose shot would you want to block in today’s game that you haven’t blocked yet?
A: [Steph] Curry. … He’s shooting that thing from anywhere. If I can get a piece of that, I’d be happy for the rest of the day (chuckle).
Q: If I wanted to become a shot blocker, what advice would you give me?
A: Your timing’s gotta be on. When you see the guy leave his feet and let the ball get out of his hand, then you can go get it.
Q: Do you think shotblocking is a form of intimidation?
A: Yeah … yeah I feel like it is ’cause you block shots, [then] people, they want to change their game plan, start trying to go a little bit more outside than in. We can live with [opponents shooting 3s ’cause you’re not gonna make all [the] 3s.
Q: What’s more fun: a blocked shot or a dunk that drives the fans crazy?
A: (Pause) To me, I’ll say a blocked shot. It ain’t too many [players] blocking shots in the NBA.
Q: You’re such a mild-mannered guy. You don’t seem like an intimidating guy to me. If I played basketball, I would think you’re intimidating though, right?
A: When I’m on the court, yeah.
Q: How does your mentality change when you’re on the court?
A: When I’m not on the court, I’m chill and like just relaxed. But when I’m on the court, I bring energy, and bring good defense. I’m gonna do anything in any way to help my teammates get this win.
Q: Do you hate to lose?
A: Yeah. A lot. It don’t feel great at all.
Q: What drives you?
A: What drives me is not letting the guy that I’m guarding even get, like, 10 points, ’cause I don’t want people to really score on me like that.
Q: It’s easy to get 10 points.
A: Yeah, I don’t like people scoring on me though.
Q: You take that personally?
A: Yeah. I feel like if he can get that, I’m not doing my job right.
Q: How good do you think you can become?
A: I think I can possibly be Defensive Player of the Year.
Q: What’s the most number of blocks you think you can get in one game one day?
A: I think I can get like 10.
Q: You already had nine, right?
A: Yeah. … After nine, they might change their game plan, it really depends on the other team. If they keep coming in the paint, then yeah, I can get more, but if they don’t …
Q: Is there one part of your game you think you need to work at?
A: Talking, that’s really it because everything else comes.
Q: What about 3-point shooting or outside shooting?
A: I mean, I can do that, I just don’t really shoot.
Q: Why don’t you really shoot?
A: Because I want to work on other things, like hook shots and being able to go inside and out.
Q: How is your hook shot coming along?
A: Oh it’s good. Me and [assistant coach Pat Sullivan are] working on it every day, so it’s coming along great.
Q: With both hands?
A: Mmmhmm.
Q: If you could go one-on-one with any big man in NBA history to test your skills, who would you want to play against?
A: I’ll probably say … probably Bill Russell. … He’s one of the greatest that played this game.
Q: What do you think of Zion Williamson?
A: He’s explosive. When I see little highlights on, and Instagram here and there, I mean, the kid could jump out the gym. Think about when he tones up, it’ll be scary.
Q: Describe your confidence now compared to when you first got here as a Knick.
A: It went up a lot. I mean, now I’m starting to make free throws more, and staying on the court longer, so my confidence shot through the roof a little bit.
Q: So on a scale of 1-10, where is your confidence at now?
A: I’ll say like an 8, 7 around.
Q: Do you think it can get to 10 by the end of the year maybe?
A: Yeah. Most definitely.
Q: Describe coach David Fizdale.
A: He’s a positive motivator. The energy he brings gets our minds right.
Q: He has you doing pushups.
A: He wants me to stay out of foul trouble, and people really don’t like doing pushups.
Q: Five pushups in practice for each foul.
A: When we watch film, they’ll determine if it’s like a good foul or if it was like a reaching-in foul. If it’s a reaching-in foul, then yeah, I do pushups.
Q: Describe point guard Dennis Smith.
A: The kid’s great. I mean, he can play. He can jump out of the gun, he can get to the hole, get to the paint. He gets everybody involved, he’s not a selfish player. He’s just all-around amazing.
Q: How has Deandre Jordan helped you?
A: He had me talk more on defense.
Q: What is it like playing at the Garden?
A: For me it’s great. The World’s Most Famous Arena. Being able to get out there and show what you can do. Play hard for the city.
Q: What do you think of Clyde Frazier’s outfits?
A: It’s decent on him. I don’t think it’d be decent on me.
Q: What has been your favorite play?
A: My dime to Kevin [Knox] against San Antonio [Feb. 24] because it was no-look and then he dunked on somebody. It was like 10 assists in one.
Q: What is it like working out with Pelicans star Anthony Davis?
A: The information he gave me kind of helped me stay focused and work hard.
Q: What advice did he give you?
A: He said you can do all kinds of stuff at practice, this is the place to be. And he also was like most big men don’t like to run. You get out and run, and you really get the game won.
Q: Does he remind you of you as a player?
A: A little bit, in some areas.
Q: For instance?
A: He’s 7-foot and I’m 7-foot, and we both block shots and we both finish at the rim.
Q: You once tweeted: “Catch me at the rim. How Bout Dat.”
A: That was in high school. Then you got the little highlight thing right under it.
Q: It still applies now — “Catch me at the rim” — for you?
A: (Laugh) Yeah it does.
Q: “How Bout Dat,” isn’t that a New Orleans thing?
A: That’s a different story. This girl [Danielle Bregoli], she used to be like “Catch me outside. How bout dat,” she’s known for saying that, and it went viral.
Q: She’s somebody famous?
A: Yeah. You look her [rapper/Internet personality] up, it’ll pop up. Go on Youtube, put in that, and you’ll see.
Q: Why has your grandmother Marilyn meant so much to you?
A: Well she raised me when I was younger. Just having her around keeps me motivated on and off the court.
Q: She lives in Pensacola, Fla.?
A: She got a house out there still, but she’s up here with me.
Q: Does she cook?
A: Yeah she cooks all the time.
Q: What does she make that’s so good?
A: I like her chicken, and her mac and cheese.
Q: Describe your grandmother.
A: She’s sweet. She makes friends with anybody she talks to. She’s a good lady.
Q: Does your mother come up to watch you play?
A: Oh no, she’s got my little sister [8 years old] back in New Orleans, she gotta help her get on the bus and get off the bus so she really can’t go nowhere like that.
Q: Your grandmother comes to all the home games.
A: We ride back together.
Q: She drives or you drive?
A: I drive.
Q: What kind of car?
A: I got a Charger.
Q: What’s so great about it?
A: It’s fast.
Q: Does your grandmother critique your game on the ride back?
A: We really don’t speak much in the car, ’cause I mean it’s a lot of traffic and you gotta focus out here.
Q: Does she like the area?
A: Yeah, she loves it here.
Q: How about you?
A: I like it. The environment’s great, the fans are great.
Q: Why are the fans great?
A: The energy they bring to the games. We feed off that and play harder and play better.
Q: Best piece of advice she ever gave you?
A: She just said keep working hard and do what you love.
Q: What do you think about the traffic around here?
A: Crazy. It’s too much traffic.
Q: Describe Chalmette, La.
A: One street. It’s like three ways in and out that you can really go.
Q: How do you feel about getting recognized around White Plains?
A: It’s great. People know who you are, and they’ll let you know you’re doing something good.
Q: You grew up poor.
A: I didn’t have nothing. It was just tough. You really couldn’t do much, we couldn’t really have fun much, ’cause we couldn’t afford much, so, I mean, it was tough.
Q: How did that impact you?
A: It made me want to work, ’cause I wanted to change my family’s life. So I got in the gym and started getting to work.
Q: Why did you wear 23 in high school?
A: It really represented my friend [Jacquez], one of my best friends that I grew up with. He passed away. He [wore No.] 2, and then my other friend [Demarcus] that also passed away ’cause he got shot, he was 3. I just put their numbers together.
Q: They both got shot?
A: Jacquez, he got in a car accident. It was Senior Skip Day I believe it was.
Q: Which one affected you more?
A: Jacquez.
Q: Because?
A: We played on the same team. We just hung out a lot, and stuff like that.
Q: So you still miss him to this day.
A: Yup.
Q: What is the best game you played in the high school?
A: Probably that game that was on my Twitter. It was at Terrebonne High School. That was in Houma [La.].
Q: What was so good about it?
A: It was a playoff game.
Q: Why was that your best game?
A: I had 39 that game.
Q: How many blocks?
A: I think seven. [It was actually 10].
Q: People were harassing you on campus when you left Western Kentucky then came back.
A: It is what it is, I really don’t care.
Q: It bothered you back then.
A: Yeah … forget it, I mean, it’s over with.
Q: Who are athletes in other sports you like?
A: I really don’t watch other sports like that. I watch the Saints when they play a little bit.
Q: What did you think of the NFC Championship game?
A: That last play [no-call on a pass interference by the Rams’ Nikell Robey-Coleman] was crazy.
Q: Who was your favorite NBA player when you started playing in high school?
A: Paul George.
Q: Hobbies?
A: I fish a lot.
Q: Are you good?
A: A little bit. Here and there.
Q: What do you like to catch?
A: Well, in Louisiana we got a lot of alligator gar and stuff like that.
Q: Did you ever eat alligator?
A: Yeah I had it before.
Q: What does it taste like?
A: It tastes like chicken.
Q: Do you like crawfish?
A: I really don’t eat seafood. I might eat shrimp here and there but I really won’t prefer it.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Ariana Grande, Kevin Gates, NBA YoungBoy.
Q: Favorite movies?
A: “Guardians of the Galaxy” … “Frozen” … “The Incredibles” 1 and 2, “National Treasure.”
Q: Favorite rappers?
A: Lil Baby, Kevin Gates and NBA Youngboy.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Steak.
Q: Personal goals?
A: Get better … only personal goal I want to do is you know, block as many shots as I can, get as many defensive rebounds I can, offensive rebounds, and shoot more free throws, actually. I’ve been getting to the line a little bit pretty good. I want to get there a little bit more.
Q: Career goals?
A: A nice little long one. If I could, I probably will want to retire around like 36, 37.
Q: Everyone dreams of the Hall of Fame.
A: Yeah, one of my goals. Be known in the league. When people think of Mitchell, good basketball player, you know?
Q: What do you think it would be like winning a championship in New York City?
A: If we can pull that off, the city’ll show us more love and change the attitude against us.
