General Manager & Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff:
The two young men here we think will play an important role. We will create an opportunity for them to do the things they think they can do and that’s play in the NBA. We feel real comfortable that they can contribute to the Charlotte Bobcats.

What I liked about it is that after they got in town, we were in the Draft Center and we got a call that the guys wanted to workout. So our coaches immediately left the Draft Center and headed down to South Carolina to the Bobcats Basketball Center. We did have one problem, we had to find some shoes for one of these young men. We’re still having trouble with them – I won’t mention the size, but we will find you some.

In Jason Kapono, I’d like to introduce to you a young man who can really shoot the basketball. That’s why we want to find us some guys who would be willing to set screens and sacrifice their bodies so that he can get open and all he has to do is the easy part – put it in the basket. We’re very happy to have him as a part of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Jamal Sampson has a tremendous amount of talent and you can see the size and the length. We are creating a great opportunity for Jamal to come in and excel on the basketball court.

Our goal is that we want to be the best expansion team that’s ever been.

Jason Kapono:
I’m ecstatic to be here. I was just so happy that Coach Bickerstaff had the faith and confidence to select me and that they have invested part of their future in me. From a selfish standpoint, I am just real proud that they selected me and that they thought I would bring something to this team that they would need. I’m going to give it my all. I’m excited, I’m definitely blessed to be here and I’m very thankful.

Jamal Sampson:
I just want to say that I’m proud to be here. To be a part of starting something at the ground level is something that would be exciting for anyone. Basically, I just want to come in and work hard and prove that the coaches made the right selection by choosing me. They took a big chance on all of us by picking us in the expansion draft.

(On the opportunity to play a lot of minutes and be key contributors) Kapono: This league is definitely built upon playing time. There is only so much that you can learn and so much you can gain from practice. Last year, that is kind of what I struggled with (in Cleveland) because throughout my career, from when I started playing in the third grade, I was always playing. I was the starter, I was the guy that always shot all the time, I was the one that was out there playing. So, from that point to being relegated to the bench and having to struggle through that and feeling as if you had earned more time. I just kept a positive mind state and just wanted to stay focused. I never really let that get to me. I knew that I had the talent and the skills to play in this league and someone was smart enough to take me and give me that chance. So, I’m definitely blessed.

Sampson: The opportunity of playing time is very important. It excites every professional athlete to have a chance to play. It’s what you strive for – to be on the floor, on the field, whatever your sport is. That’s an exciting part, just being here and having the opportunity to play.

JAMAL SAMPSON ONE-ON-ONE

(on being a member of the Bobcats)
It feels great. It’s a new start for everyone – the city, the organization, the players here – and we’re all going to work together as one to get where we need to be.

(on what the team will do to get the fans back)
We’re going to do everything we can going out in the community to meet the people and just make the best of this situation now and not harp on what happened in the past. This is a whole different organization. They are going to have a different approach towards the community and everything to do with the community.

(on the benefits of being part of an expansion franchise in Charlotte)
There are a lot of pluses. This city is a big basketball city and the fans support basketball. It hasn’t been here for a few years, so I’m sure that’s going to be exciting and the fans are excited about that. For me, I’ve never lived on the East Coast and that’s going to be a different thing for me. There’s just a lot of stuff to look forward to.

(on being given a chance for playing time)
I’m definitely blessed. A lot of us were on teams where we didn’t get the opportunity for whatever reason and now there’s a chance for us to get the same opportunity that other players had to wait for like we did. This is probably the best opportunity that we are going to have to make a career for ourselves.

(on having time to develop)
When you are on the court, you are going to develop by getting minutes and playing against top-notch competition every night. There’s no one at any position in the NBA that can’t play, so you are going to be challenged every night. Now, you’ve got to meet the challenge. That alone is going to make you a better player.

JASON KAPONO ONE-ON-ONE

(on the opportunity in Charlotte)
I’m just thrilled to go to a franchise that wanted me and thinks that I’m a piece of the puzzle. Even though I had a great time in Cleveland, I never expected to leave there, but it’s a great chance here. I’m just thrilled to be one of the 19 players selected as the first-ever members of the Charlotte team. It will be fun. I just can’t wait to get the season started. Unfortunately, it’s going to take another three and a half months to get on the floor.

(on the Bobcats organization)
I think the strategy that they employed here was definitely smart. They definitely want to build from the ground up. They definitely want to bring in young, talented kids, who aren’t necessarily very good players, they just haven’t been given the chance. Also, they have put together the number two pick, who is obviously going to be a franchise player, and allowed us cap room to sign veterans, that will give us the right mix to build a real solid team.

(on getting a quality big man in the draft)
When you look at all the championship teams over the years, they usually have a point guard, a perimeter threat and a post threat. If you have those three pieces, along with all the other players that come along with it, that’s definitely a foundation to build upon. I’m not saying that I’m the third piece, that I’m the shooter, but I think that I can definitely fill that void and give them that threat.

(on speaking with Baron Davis about Charlotte)
I actually talked to Baron on Saturday. He said it is going to be a great town to play in, a great city. He thoroughly enjoyed himself here. Hopefully he kept a house here so that I don’t have to pay rent or anything. I can just stay at his house.

(on having to earn his minutes with this new opportunity)
In the NBA, nothing is going to come easy. Your playing time is not going to be handed to you – you definitely have to earn it. There are going to be 15 very starving guys coming in here that want to get out on the floor where they haven’t in years one, two or three had that chance. It’s going to be competitive, but it’s going to be because we will be getting better in practice. It will be a challenge and hopefully that will bleed over onto the court and turn into victories for us.