See Q&A below from HawksFanTV and your Atlanta Hawks.
Landry Fields opening statement:
“Where I want to start is, just kind of in reflection of the last few years. This is starting my fourth season with the organization and some ups, some downs and whatnot. And now sitting in this seat and having
the privilege to be here in this role. Really it started with the question, started with the question of what
does it mean to be a Hawk? And what are some elements and things we can look at in order for us to
continuously move forward in a way that’s sustainable and a way that there’s an identity tied to who we
are. And for us it was really about taking a few moments and asking more and more questions and
ultimately we landed with a shared vision. And that vision has informed a lot of our decision making and
some of those key elements of answering the question of what it means to be a Hawk. Has everything to
do with alignment in communication with key stakeholders. We brought in Quin Snyder, who’s been
unbelievable for us and implemented a new system. Sharing the same vision, adding some things
culturally that we want to do, having a strong emphasis on development and that’s not just on the
court, it’s really off the court as well and who these guys are. To bring a unifying effort, to really stress
the factors of team, of commitment to one another and sacrifice where we need sacrifice in order for us
to really harp the fact the whole really is greater than the sum. Everyone has an individual part to play
and everyone needs to do what they need to do but we need to do that in a unifying effort towards our
ultimate vision being championship caliber. And so far we’ve done a lot, a lot of really good work,
leading back to, basically, last year with the half year that Quin had. Some new staff, some new players,
a lot of the same players as well and really bringing that alignment. Not just to the coaches but to the
front office and our performance staff and how that’s shaping up and everything developed we need to
do there. Guys taking care of their bodies but then but then also progressing them towards being the
best version of themselves. And that’s a common theme and a common phrase that we say a lot. So,
there’s a lot of excitement for this season, for everything that’s new and partnering with people that
love their craft at the end of the day is really what we’re about.”
HFTV: There was a lot of smoke and rumors around a particular player that we were going after in
Pascal Siakam. What is your response to those rumors?
Landry Fields: Sort of similar to the last question. We’re always going to be looking for at
opportunities to improve the roster. And whenever there’s guys that have their names in the mix, ya
know sometimes it just is what it is and you don’t really have to address anything because that’s the
nature of the NBA. But then there’s other times where things that come up we do do a good job of
communicating with the players and their agents. And say, “Hey, this has come up right now. Could be
something, could be nothing but more than anything we don’t want you to be blindsided if something
were to happen.” Because in this day and age, I mean pshh how fast you guys learn of certain things
that is quicker than we do at times. That’s the approach we take in those certain scenarios.
HFTV: There’s a stretch from late November through late December where the Hawks will play 10 of
12 games on the road. What do you do as a coach to help keep focus, mentally and physically, during
long road trips like that?
Quin Snyder: You know every, I don’t want to sound like I’m avoiding what you’re asking, I think
every trip is a little different, even the way it’s structured. You’re going to handle a back-to-back on the
road differently than you’ll handle, ya know, two days off. It may be a situation where your team, you
feel fatigue start to set it. And you know what, we’ll have a “blackout” day we call it. Where all the lights
are off and you’re not in the gym. And guys just need to go do what they want to do. Go to dinner,
hangout, stay in your hotel room, sometimes you need that. Other times you may need to get in the
gym. Other times you might need to watch film. There’s rest, there’s so many different things you’re
trying to balance. And the road kind of accentuates everything. It lends, it dramatizes different things.
But that can also be, that can be an opportunity. I think going through road trips, you hear lots of them,
“We went through this road trip and it kind of brought or team together. Or we went through this road
trip and it really split our team a part.” I think being mindful of that as a coach, a lot of this just trying to
keep a pulse of your team. We may not have all the answers, certainly don’t have them ahead of time. I
haven’t really given you any good ones, right? Maybe a day off? But I think if you think about those
things you figure out how can we impact, how can we help, how can we facilitate, how can we stay
together, how can we get better.
HFTV: A lot of us are excited from these offseason workout videos that you’ve been posting. It looks
like you’ve working on your handles and your shooting. What’s the biggest thing that you’ve worked on
the most that we can expect going into next season?
De’Andre Hunter: I didn’t work on anything. That’s all I got.
HFTV: Bogi, you signed a four year contract extension back in March to stay with the Hawks. What
does it mean to you to be in Atlanta for the next four years, plus?
Bogdan Bogdanovic: Somebody asked me that at the World Cup as well and I said this is the first
team since Partizan, my first team, that I stayed four years. So I’m really excited for what’s up next.
Really happy to be here. Ya know, I didn’t know much about Atlanta before I came here and now when I
go back to Serbia, I start to miss it, really. I love it here. Hopefully I stay here till the end.
HFTV: You’ve been a father for a little over a year now. Have you noticed any similarities of being a
dad to being a leader of a team? Do you feel like it has changed your approach to the game at all?
Trae Young: For sure, for sure. I mean it’s put things into a different perspective for me. Obviously,
I’ve grown up basketball is my all day, every day. It’s important when I lose, I’m so hard on myself when I
play bad, I’m hard on myself. I feel like everybody should be. But as a dad, certain things matter more.
That ain’t gonna change from what my job is and how important that is to me. But my son is my first, my most important thing to me right now. I got another one on the way, so those are the most important
things to me for sure.
HFTV: You’ll get to play against your dad’s Bucks very early in the season. What do you think your
emotions will be before a game like that and how bad do you want to beat him?
A.J. Griffin: I was waiting for this question laughs (also said this after I said the first sentence of my
question, so he was really waiting for it lol) That’s two good questions. I’m excited. I feel like I’m
definitely going to say something to him when I’m checking in and he’s like right there, five feet away.
But we definitely got to get that win because I was telling him it’s still 2-1. I’m excited for that, and man,
I feel like that game is going to be special. Already got two wins against him, so we’ll see what happens.
HFTV: You’ve been in Atlanta for a year now. How do you feel this city has impacted this you this last
year and what have you enjoyed most about being here?
Dejounte Murray: I love the culture, I love what they stand for. Like I said, just continue to get
comfortable and learn the city, learn the history of Atlanta, Georgia. But like I said, I love it here. I love
the culture like I said, I can relate to a lot of it. We fit well and I continue to live here longer and continue
to learn everything about it.
HFTV: The Hawks have another international game this year this time playing in Mexico City. What are
you most excited about for playing on a world stage like that and have you brushed up on your Spanish
at all?
Dejounte Murray: In San Antonio, I’ve been there, what, three times. I’m familiar with going over
to Mexico. It’s gonna be a great atmosphere, from off the floor to on the floor. It’s going to be a high
excitement game. The fans love basketball. If you haven’t been there then you’ll see and if you been
there you understand and know that. I’m always down to, like I said, play basketball at the highest level
and the fans are a big part of it. To see the NBA continue to expand and have these games in another
country just shows where basketball is going from the US standpoint.
HFTV: Your mom is a registered nurse. How do you feel that has influenced you and your approach to
the game?
Onyeka Okongwu: You know I do it for my family all the time. My mom, my rock, so I definitely do
it for her. And my little ones back on the West Coast. She influenced me to be a good person and be true
to myself. Everything in life trying to be a good human being, everything else is second.
With preseason right around the corner, the start to the season is nearly upon us. Stay tuned in with HawksFanTV for your dedicated Hawks-related news!
