How did it feel to be out there again after four months?

Um, I feel great.

It was, uh, a lot of energy.

It's anticipation for tonight.

Just get back out on the floor.

Just seeing what was gonna happen.

Um, it was kind of Ah, cool moment.

Um, well, again, just the the excitement energy in the building.

And I was I could ever know what to expect.

Howto handle.

Like the minute restriction.

All that was trying to make my first sighting.

I just get comfortable out there.

But throughout the 27 minutes, I felt good, so excited to be back out there, and, you know, we have some some good moments.

Obviously, Toronto is a championship team that has a lot of chemistry, and, uh, they know how to win.

So for us, it was a good step in the right direction.

Everybody just competing.

And we can build off of this.

I know you throw Lefty behind the back passes lefty passes, but it seemed like you threw about 12 or 15 m tonight.

Was that Have you seen me play for 10 years?

You know that there's love doing that.

Was it more part time.

It seemed like it was a monster.

Came in with a purpose that to see that tonight.

Now, I was just reading place and I kind of talked about leading into the game.

I just trying to be out there, not thinking about it.

I need to make that pass, make it and no hesitation.

There's a good feeling during the 1st 1 and just feeling my end be we're supposed to be and making on Target pass.

And, um, I said I made me smile a little bit for sure.

Uh, Q.

I was working out a couple days ago and I was working on ah, those type of passes and I want to work on some ORAC, you shut me down.

He's like, we're gonna have any of those first game Just keep keep it simple.

And then my first real, like pass.

I threw that.

So I'm sure he cracked a smile, too.

Steph, could you describe, um, just what kind of support you got?

Not only here, but from well wishes from around the league.

Um, Mr Brother throughout, I know everybody wants to see everybody healthy and playing.

So, uh, I don't really follow the social media talk, all that type of stuff.

But in terms of people hit me, uh, you know, wishing me look and knowing.

You know how long the rehab process was.

You know, that's a good feeling.

So, um, and even playing against, you know, Serrano non what happened last June and that back and forth.

I know a lot of guys on my team personally.

So, uh, there's a cool vibe.

You're competing like that.

Uh, and again, just excited.

Get back out there stuff.

Would you call that rise?

Waiting for, uh, Did you did you feel missed out there?

Seemed like Chase was, like, ready to give you all the adoration.

Did you?

Did you feel it from them for sure?

We were together for 11 years, and, uh, obviously, I've never been out this long while the city is going on.

So, um, you know, with with new building and and, ah, being on the side last year for so long, just trying to get back out there, it was definitely fun.

So I get a lot of energy in the building, and I appreciate that you know so much in terms of getting plague in front of the best fans in the league.

And, you know, regardless, have this season's going You you wouldn't have known walking in this building tonight, so, uh, that was fun stuff you mentioned.

You've never missed that much time during the season.

I'm just curious what your time off was like, Obviously, you want to get back on the court.

But you also get a lot more time with your family.

Just kind of What was that process like?

You kind of deal with the new reality as it comes.

Obviously, coming into the season four games in, I was excited about, uh, tryingto help lead the team where we wanted to go chasing playoffs and all that, but just taking away you've got to be productive in, ah, in all aspects, you know, while you're out to rehab.

And obviously they did not have the opportunity.

Appreciate.

Life is well outside of basketball, so I'm happy to be back in my happy place for sure, but ah, a lot of good No happened over these last four months.

Steph Curry clearly wanted to have you on the floor with Wiggins all the time.

Um, what was that, like, Certainly seemed like you were looking for your finding him, especially on the corner there.

Did you feel the chemistry with Wiggins?

Yes and no.

Like, I know some of the players kind of happened that way.

And you just get read the situation and try to just make the right play.

Honestly, I didn't have any plan coming to the game.

I was just gonna shoot when I was open, Dr.

You know, if I wasn't, uh, really just get comfortable with the with the spacing.

And again, just try to make the right play.

So, um, as we continue to go, you know, these last 1 19 games.

Now I'll start trying to be more purposeful about some of the calls that we make in trying to build that chemistry as we go forward.

But there's a lot of flow to what we were doing.

I think everybody was just excited to see, you know, the spacing and and and the domino effect of how they defended me and and we can build off in it stuff.

Were you nervous?

Did you have but butterflies?

And if you did, what?

Could you compare it to another time is it like when you're a rookie?

When you were playing in your first finals?

No, I was just totally different cause I was more anxious than anything.

Just cause do Ah, do Sunday, I thought I was playing Get my money ready for that, then going on to Santa Cruz and kind of just washing the clock, waiting for tonight to show up.

So it's more anxious than anything just to get back out there.

I got right to it.

I think in the 1st 3 minutes I got tripped and had land in my hand and got back up.

So that was a good feeling.

You know, having confidence is being ableto take that.

Um, but it was definitely weird.

Everything seemed to be going pretty fast.

Just when you can't see me late.

Uh, you know that game intensity and speed.

And you try to do what you came with the workouts, But just getting out there, just getting comfortable loose.

It was fun.

Did anything surprise you good or bad?

And take us through that.

That buzzer beating three that you hit in the second quarter there.

I mean, the bat was just having a deal with the short bursts cause I felt better than I expected and feel like I obviously could have played more minutes.

Gotta stick to the plan.

Just his first game.

But that was the hardest part to kind of deal with where you're trying to get a rhythm.

I think I got subbed out after making think twice after making a shot.

So no reaction from coaches.

I'm scowling at him on the way on the way by, but that was that was the hardest adjustment in terms of trying to get a rhythm.

But knowing you had a you know, I adhere to the minute restriction.

Um oh, the shot was just, uh, kind of bang bang play.

I didn't really expect people to do it, but I got my feet underneath me and shot and, uh, I saw that smile I had on my face.

It was kind of cool moment.

Just you kind of catch it and rhythm and flow in and shoot it.

You had seven assists in this game, Stephan.

Only one turnover.

Did you feel yourself making any extra care for precision?

Or did this all feel pretty natural for you?

It felt really natural thing if I didn't have a shot.

Like I said, I was just driving and kind of trying to see the floor and make a simple play.

So, um, you're saying that like, I'm not used to having one turnover, So I know I helped myself to a high standard to so Ah, yeah, has hopefully keep that assist turnover ratio in the rest of the year.

Uh, I feel good and make all the right place for sure.

Steph, what was it like being out there with not a single guy from last season's team that actually hit me into line?

Leo?

Because I have a lot of routines that I kind of are allowing in terms of getting ready for the game.

Uh, dream on usually throws me a pass in the corner at a certain time, and he went out there.

Uh, nobody got height for my little scoop shot.

So really weird, for sure, But that's the nature of the season.

We're tryingto building something new based off of, you know, the culture that we have and and ah, that championship identity.

So it's gonna take some time.

But, um, it was fun.

Just getting out there playing with a bunch of new guys where you're trying to build chemistry on the fly.

And we competed pretty, pretty well, Neil the entire game.

So proud of that.

But I'd be nice to get some winds down the stretch for sure.

Steph, I'm curious going through the rehab process and you're in your prime years having most of the season taken away.

How did you manage to stay even keeled and comrade, you commensurate with clay at all?

And you guys kind of compare notes because both you are sort of at the peak of your careers and both of you have missed.

Obviously, Clay's gonna miss the whole season.

Yes, stuff, Uh, we love to play basketball, and when that's taken away, it's It's a challenge for sure.

So, um, I think we're very motivated in terms of looking at the big picture and, you know, missing whatever having me games.

I miss Clay miss another season, pretty optimistic about what that means.

Going forward.

I know we both work extremely hard, and the rehab process can be monotonous, and it can be overwhelming on a day to day basis, where you're doing the same thing over and over and over again.

But, uh, that's where being around the guys kind of gives you a job Where you even if you're not playing and you rely on that and, um, again is more of an appreciation for when you do get out here.

That's why I have so much fun plan.

And, uh, again, it's big picture mentality of what we're trying to build for these.

Next would 14 15 months stuff.

That was the team that ran a box in one of the, you know, finals in a little light tonight.

They were playing quite a bit of attention for you.

Are you anticipating?

You know, the rest of the league plan, you know, kind of junk defense is against you like that.

And if so, how do you think you ah, attack it Pretty much prepared for anything.

They did throw it the box one again.

I think after a time out, I kind of gave Nick nurse a smile.

I don't know if he acknowledge me, he doesn't care, so I'm prepared for anything.

You know, team depends on the night and I based on what things were playing for, we we have an opportunity.

We are pretty tough schedule coming up.

We've got opportunity.

Oh, go ask some playoff teams.

Really, Bill that that winning kind of expectation on nightly basis, or whatever that means in terms of how it seems to offend me or you know how my looks kind of come and go.

I'll be ready for it.

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