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bobcats.com
September 16, 2008
Charlotte for workouts.
Offseason Workout Video | Other Workouts | Augustin Signs | Augustin Selected Ninth in Draft
With Charlotte’s 2008 Training Camp on the horizon, the players can’t wait to get things going as the franchise enters its fifth season, and first under new Head Coach Larry Brown. Over the course of the summer, the Bobcats commitment to improving has been evident at Time Warner Cable Arena, with all 14 players under contract having been seen in the weight room and out on the practice court getting a workout in. Through it all, bobcats.com has been there catching up with the players as they prepare to head to Wilmington, NC, on September 29 for training camp.
Here is what D.J. Augustin had to say about taking the court with his new team for the first time and what he's expecting in his rookie season.
bobcats.com: D.J., you just came in two days ago. Do you feel kind of like you are a step behind these guys who have been here working out?
Augustin: As far as learning everything, yes, but I’ve been working out at home. I’m just happy to be here. I’m excited and I’m ready to get working.
bobcats.com: Obviously you had the rookie transition program. Tell us how that went out there.
Augustin: It was a long week. We had a lot of meetings, but it was very helpful and interesting. It helped us out for our transition into the NBA.
bobcats.com:How excited were you then to get out here and start working with the rest of the guys?
Augustin: I was very excited. I’m excited right now. We played pick-up yesterday and I’ve just been having fun working out with the guys and just learning everybody.
bobcats.com: How have things been going out there with the pick-up games? Do you kind of feel like you are in step with everybody else?
Augustin: Yes, everybody looks like they are doing pretty well. It was competitive and they were very heated games. I had fun playing.
bobcats.com:: Some of the guys were out there in summer league with you, but now you’re out there with the whole crew. Was your nervousness elevated maybe a little bit yesterday?
Not really. I was just ready to get out there and just play and play with my teammates. It’s fun playing basketball and that’s what we do.
bobcats.com: What having you been working on the hardest this offseason?
Augustin: Just getting stronger and faster. That’s the kind of stuff I’m going to need in the NBA at the next level. (I’m working on) just getting better all-around.
bobcats.com: We see you in the weight room. Obviously you are pushing yourself pretty hard. How are these NBA workouts compared to college workouts?
Augustin: They are pretty much the same. You just have to take care of your body off the court. That’s the biggest thing is to get your rest and drink a lot of fluids.
bobcats.com: Everybody here when we’ve talked to seems to be pretty excited about the upcoming season and expectations are pretty high. You, coming in as a rookie, what kind of expectations do you have personally and for this team?
Augustin: I just want to do my best and do whatever it takes to help the team win. Whatever coach needs me to do or whatever my teammates need me to do, I’m going to do it. (I’m just going to do) whatever it takes to win.
bobcats.com: Now that you’ve had a chance to look at some of these guys on the squad and see them in action, do your expectations kind of match theirs for what the team expectations are for this season?
Augustin: We look real good out there. Like I said, everybody is playing hard and competing. If we do that every night, in these NBA games, we are going to be pretty good.
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