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Summer League Q & A with Sindarius Thornwell

Last year at this time, Sindarius Thornwell was going through his first NBA Summer League and making an immediate impact.

The former 48th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Thornwell helped the Clippers to a 3-2 record while averaging 14.3 points over 26.8 minutes of action. His strong Summer League showing helped propel Thornwell to appear in 73 games (3.9 ppg) for the Clippers during the 2017-18 campaign.

Making his second appearance at the NBA Summer League, Sindarius Thornwell has emerged as a team leader. While in Las Vegas, he has averaged 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1 block per game, helping the Clippers to a 2-2 record. Following yesterday’s win against the Washington Wizards, Thornwell answered questions about his Summer League experience, what aspects of his game he is working on and his summer plans.

Q:How does this Summer League experience compare to when you came in last year?

ST:What makes this year different from last year is that I came in with goals and expectations. I think my mindset is different with having a year in. I am out here going through it a little differently mentally than I was last year. I just feel great. It’s just a little bit easier.

Q:What are some specific aspects of your game that you are working on this summer?

ST:Shooting threes, being able to make threes consistently, finishing at the basket, attacking the basket, my body and also my defense. I feel like I can always get better as a defender.

Q:Do you approach Summer League differently, since it is your second year?

ST:When I first came out here as a rookie I had so much to prove to myself, to prove that I could play. [I was] just so caught up in myself. Whereas now, it is more so the team. Trying to help the team and doing whatever I can to try and help the team.

Q:What do you do in the summer to unwind?

ST:I play a little Fortnite and I get to spend more time with my family and more time with my friends. With them being in South Carolina and me being in L.A. [during the season], I spent a lot of time by myself thinking about the game and I didn’t have any people to talk to because I was by myself to clear my mind. Now I am around my friends and family more so I don’t really think about basketball.

Q:What are your plans after Summer League?

ST:I think I am going to take a vacation somewhere and then after that get right back to it… I was actually looking at Tulum, but I am still looking.