Oakland Workout InterviewsBy: Paolo Zamorano

Oakland Workout Interviews

After the Oakland workout last week, we were able to catch up with Terrence Williams, Chase Budinger, Austin Daye and Dionte Christmas for a quick Q&A on their workouts.

Terrence Williams

How did you feel about the workouts?

I liked the workout because we got to do a lot of playing, a little 1 on 1, 2 on 2, and 3 on 3. We all just got to go out there and play, so that was fun.

How would you describe your game to someone who has never seen you play?

A hard worker who’s all about his teammates, refuses to lose, gives his all to win the game, a person that connects the dots. If a guy is a great shooter, I’m going to drive the ball and get him an open look, and then when he shoots it I’m going to box the guy out and get the rebound. I would say I’m the guy that does all the little things. I’m willing to play whatever the team needs, I see myself as a point forward.

Did you always guard the other teams best player in college?

Yeah I always guarded the best player, if he was a shooter, or he was just a great player I was always on him.

Have you been working on your shooting?

Yeah, I work out in Vegas with Gary Payton and we are always working on stuff for me to improve on, and we do a lot of shooting when I’m tired.

Any preference on where you want to go?

Playing in the NBA is a dream I don’t care if I go first or last I just want to play in the League. I would love to go to whatever team.

How would you like to go to the Warriors?

I wouldn’t mind going to the Warriors because of the system they play, and Jamal Crawford is like a brother to me. So it would be a good fit.

How did you learn to be such a team player?

When I was younger I always played with great players, and when your young every kid just wants to go home and tell his mom that he scored 12 points in the game, or he did this or did that. There was no room for me to be selfish with scoring on my teams, so I just learned to be good at all the little things. Do you see yourself with any particular team? I see myself as a definite NBA player, that’s all.

Do all these workouts make you nervous at all?

Taking a test is nerve wracking, this is out here is just fun. You reporters love to write, and you guys get paid for it. Me? I love to play basketball it’s fun to me, this isn’t nerve wracking at all.

Chase Budinger

What do you try to do in these workouts where it’s like 3 on 3, 2 on 2, 1 on 1?

Show my game and just play solid, hard, and compete, and show them what you have.

How did the workout go for you?

I thought the workout went okay, I felt like I could have been a bit more aggressive, but for the most part I think I did good.

How do you feel about where people have been projecting you?

I really don’t try and focus on where my stock is, I just focus on my workouts and everything else will take care of itself.

Any guy out there impress you really, better than you thought??

Nobody in particular, I’ve been playing against most of these guys for a few years now, so I know their games pretty well now, so nothing too surprising.

How would you feel about being drafted by the Warriors? The atmosphere here is great, the fans are so loyal, I would love to play here, great place, great city, great fans, and great team.

Do you like the format of playing more as opposed to the combine?

Ya for sure, I like competing and going against other players, at the combine it was more drills and we didn’t really to do much playing, this is a lot better, every player wants to get out there and play.

Austin Daye

How did the workout go?

I thought I did well, I didn’t play well at Minnesota but today I did really well, I knocked shots down so it went well.

Any other guys standout to you? Dionte Christmas really shot the ball well, he did it at temple and he showed how good of a shooter he was here .

What do you think you need to show the scouts and decision makers of the NBA?

That I’m tough and can play hard at my position. At Gonzaga I played a bit out of position so I wasn’t able to show that as much, but I think I’m doing a good job of showing that I’m tough in these workouts.

What position do you see yourself playing?

Small forward or power forward, just so I can exploit mismatches.

Are you committed to staying in the draft?

Yea I’m pretty committed to right now, things are going good for me right now, so I think I’m going to stay in.

What have you heard about where you are going to go?

I have heard 9-17, if I’m going to fall into the twenties I’ll probably go back to school, another year of school could help me, but an extra year of experience in the League could help me also.

How do you know when to trust a guarantee?

When the team shows interest, they’ve been showing interest, and talking to you and talking to your adviser. I think I have a good adviser in my father so we’ll see.

Some guys that have fallen into the twenties and have ended up with a better situation, do you put weight in that at all?

Well from 15 down they have really good teams, but in the twenties it could be good, but sometimes you could be so far buried on the bench that it won’t help you at all, so we’ll see. At least I have the luxury of still going back to school.

Dionte Christmas

How did the workout go for you today?

I had a really good workout, this was one of my better workouts so far, I came in here labeled as a shooter and I showed them that I could be a shooter on someone’s team.

Do you think you showed them anything else?

I think I did a really good job on Terrence Williams today, he’s a hot guy on the market right now, and I think I did a really good job going out there and competing against him.

Can you go through what they had you do today in the workout?

We started out just with some individual work, like jumpers, then they just let us play. A lot of full-court 3 on 3

For a player like you that is trying to improve your stock, does it stink that you don’t have a 5 on 5 setting?

No, not at all, I pride myself on being a player that can adapt to any situation, so I don’t think it hurts me at all. Most of the GMs know what I can do, and I think any team can use a shooter, so I think I’ll be all right. I think I can shoot the ball with the best of them.

Is it a big difference between the college and the NBA 3-point line?

For sure, I am used to shooting deep threes but not on a consistent basis, I shot really well today, so I just have to keep on working on my shot.

What would you think if you ended up here with the Warriors?

They are a great organization, a great team and have a great coach. I would have no problem coming here, they are a few pieces from being a playoff contender. Hopefully they see that I can be a great attribute to their team.

How do you feel about handling the ball?

I feel ok with it, I wouldn’t say I am the best ball-handler but If I was asked to bring the ball up, I think I could bring it up and find the open man, and get the offense going, I can do that for a team.