Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld
On Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas being named to the All-Star team:
“Antawn and Gilbert are very deserving of this honor, and it really comes with team success. I am happy for them and I’m happy that they’ve played such a big role in our success. They have really played well. Antawn is the glue that holds this team together, and Gilbert has had a terrific year. I’m proud of both of them.”

On Arenas and Jamison:
“They are both team players, and they have both said that they are more concerned with wins and losses than they are with individual accomplishments. They are the kind of players that you want to be around.”

On Larry Hughes:
“There is no question about it that Larry Hughes could have been our third All-Star if he was not injured. He is having a tremendous year for us. He has played such a vital role in everything that we are trying to do, and we miss him out there. We can’t wait to get him back. In our hearts, Larry is an All-Star for us.”

On the signing of Arenas in 2003 and the trade for Jamison in 2004:
“We are trying to put a team together, and when we signed Gilbert, we knew we needed a point guard and he was the best one out there. We made a hard run at him and we were fortunate that it worked out. Last year was a frustrating year for Gilbert because of the injuries, and this year he is really showing what kind of a player he is. This is just the tip of the iceberg. He’s only 23 years old, and he’s still going to get better and better. He has all of the physical tools, and I love his competitive nature.”

“In this off-season, we targeted a consistent frontcourt scorer. Antawn became available, and we were fortunate to be able to pull that one off. Antawn is a scorer and a finisher. He’s a true professional, and his influence has definitely benefited Gilbert and Larry as well as it has the whole team.”

On assembling the current roster:
“This is a team. Everybody has their roles, and we feel good about what these players have done, and how everything has come together. But everyone deserves credit, mainly the players and the coaching staff. They are the ones that are out here everyday fighting and working extremely hard. They deserve all of the credit, and today we’ll all share in that, but tomorrow we have to get back to work.”

On achieving other goals:
“We have other goals as well. This is a nice individual goal for them to achieve, but this was also a team goal we achieved. Everybody can share in this because everybody had a part in it, but our team goals remain bigger. We want to get to the playoffs, and we’ll see what happens when we get there.”

Wizards Head Coach Eddie Jordan
On Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison making the All-Star team:
“It is a great recognition for them. I am sure they will represent our team, organization and city well. It is going to be a great weekend. I am going to Denver, and I will enjoy watching them play.”

On Larry Hughes:
“He deserved to be selected. Larry’s contributions have been as big as Gilbert’s and Antawn’s. Unfortunately he was injured and it didn’t happen for him, but he can be proud that he is a big part of this. Three of them could have made it.”

On the motivation of being an All-Star:
“They love it. They love the challenge of stepping up and being leaders and they have shown it in the right and professional way. They are doing it well and it equals success, to the team and themselves.”

On Antawn Jamison’s contribution to the team:
“Professionalism and leadership as well as what he does on the floor. You can be a leader and you can be a professional but it does not really have a great impact unless you are performing on the floor.”

On the impact the All-Star selections have on his career:
“Good players make good coaches. It makes me look good. I learn a lot from them and that’s what coaches should do. I know I am a better coach because of them. They are great guys and that is what makes it all the more satisfying.”

On the team’s reaction:
“We have young guys and they know how to handle themselves. It’s exciting. It’s new and they like being a part of it. The guys that are not All-Star’s are excited just to be playing with them.”

On the team’s future:
“It means a lot. It means recognition. It means that we’re headed in the right direction. We are just beginning and that is the best part. We have a bright future.”

Wizards Guard Gilbert Arenas
On making the All-Star team for the first time:
“It feels exciting. You grow up and you always dream about it but only you believe in yourself. For me, it’s an honor for all the coaches that picked me for the All-Star game.”

On Wizards Chairman Abe Pollin:
“I know he is very excited about his team. This is one of the things he does love in life and we are glad to be a part of it. I know he is happy about what we have accomplished this year for the first half. We still have to focus and keep our mind on the right track and not get over ourselves because we still have the second half of the season to go.”

On whether or not he would make the All-Star team:
“I think that is the reason I performed well [in the last game versus Indiana], is because I did not think about it. I was thinking that if it happened, it happened. If it didn’t, it didn’t. I just put myself in a great situation for it to happen.”

On the playoffs:
“We had one goal at the beginning of the season and that was not to make the All-Star team. It was to get this team to the playoffs and from there, anything could happen. This team has done a great job and they are terrific guys. We always play hard and practice hard.”

On making the All-Star team:
“It is exciting. You grow up dreaming about the Olympics and the All-Star game and I finally made it. But you cannot get ahead of yourself. We still have 40 games left to play to get to the goal that you started with at the beginning of the season [of making the playoffs].”

“It has not even sunk in yet. All your friends are going to say ‘you’re an All-Star.’ But I think to our teammates and to our city, we are all All-Stars. We have All-Stars on this team and that All-Star is all of us. We need each other, and Antawn and I could not have done it without them.”

On the team’s chemistry:
“It’s about the guys you’re around. If you get along with them, it makes it enjoyable for everybody. When the organization is behind you, and everyone believes in you, the players are going to be special.”

On what Antawn Jamison has brought to the team:
“Confidence and leadership. He’s a pro’s pro. He brings little things a young team lacks. He makes my job easier. If the other team double-teams me on a pick-and-roll, I’ll just go pick-and-roll with him. If they double-team me, he’s wide open. If they don’t, I go all the way to the basket. It is an easier job.”

Wizards Forward Antawn Jamison
On making the All-Star team:
“It’s a good feeling. I have been through a lot and we were lucky for this opportunity to happen to us. It would not be possible if it wasn’t for Mr. (Abe) Pollin, Ernie (Grunfeld), my teammates and the coaching staff. I definitely tip my hat off to these guys in appreciation.”

“I am just going to soak it all in. It’s been seven years in the making. I’m going to take full advantage and enjoy myself that weekend. After that weekend, it is time to come back here and go to work.”

On the team’s accomplishments this season:
“It’s time. This organization has been through a lot and I am just happy to be a part of these things that are going in the right direction. It is probably one of the biggest accomplishments throughout my NBA career. An opportunity like this does not happen everyday and it does not happen to everybody.”

On Gilbert Arenas:
“I’m happy for Gilbert. I wish Larry (Hughes) could have been a part of this also. But Gilbert has grown up a lot. He is a big piece of this puzzle and this team’s success. We play well together.”

On the team’s success:
“You always have a vision of success. When the trade happened, I thought this would be a great opportunity. I just wanted to prove a lot of people wrong, knowing that myself, Gilbert (Arenas) and Larry (Hughes) can all be a part of something special. For it to happen this quickly is surprising. Good things always happen when you are patient and have a positive attitude. Of course the team’s success comes first but knowing that Gilbert and I made the All-Star team, you never envision it happening.”

On owner Abe Pollin meeting with the players after practice:
“It just shows how much he cares. This is my third owner and this guy really cares about his players and about this organization. I would not want to play for any other owner.”

On playing in the Eastern Conference:
“A lot of guys say that when you are in the East, it’s a whole different story. That’s not true. It’s just the West was really loaded with (Tim) Duncan, (Kevin) Garnett and (Chris) Webber. I just felt like I had a better opportunity if I had come to the East and that opportunity came up.”