Julian Wright: Q&A

At the end of another grueling day of training camp, Hornets.com’s Nick O’Hayre caught up with rookie Julian Wright to ask him a few questions about camp and the upcoming season:




Hornets.com: What are your thoughts on your first NBA training camp so far?
Wright: It’s been good. I’m just trying to focus on details. I think that is really what it comes down to, you know, who can Coach trust out there to run the plays right.

I think guys are going real hard and there is a lot of competing going on. I think it is an offensive struggle right now. It’s hard to score on offense because the defense is really pushing each other, which will make us better.

Hornets.com: Any drills or aspects that you are really enjoying or that you find particularly difficult?
Wright: I enjoy a lot of the stuff. One thing I don’t enjoy, which is obviously good because I shouldn’t enjoy it all [laughs] are the one-minute defensive slides. You have to guard a man sliding back and forth from the baseline to halfcourt, and then sprint back to guard another guy, and you keep going until your time is up. And if you don’t go hard enough, you have to do it again. But if you go as hard as you should from beginning to end, you shouldn’t be able to walk for a little. [laughs]

Hornets.com: How has Coach Scott’s camp compared to camp and practices at Kansas University with Coach Bill Self?
Wright: I believe in good coaching, and I feel like I’ve been lucky to have good coaching so far in my career. (With good coaching) nothing changes too much. Of course plays and gameplans are different, but when is comes to drills and workouts and things that we do, a lot of it is familiar.

Hornets.com: How are you feeling now that the first game of your NBA career is fast approaching? Are you nervous, excited, etc.?
Wright: I try not to think about. I’ve got to get my nerves out at training camp first. The guys are pretty encouraging and helping me. We all help each other, but especially the rookies. They aren’t out to get you, they want you to watch and listen and I’m just trying to soak up all the knowledge that I can.