Full answer from KAT:
“One of the things I’m most happy about is the man to my right. To see the love that Naz Reid has gotten from this city, to see the love he’s gotten from the NBA, the media, the votes to everything. The Sixth Man of the Year was an honor that was rightfully earned by him. I remember seeing this man when he was young over in Jersey, and to see where he’s come now, one of the best players in the NBA in my opinion, one of the most skilled, one of the most valuable assets we could have on any team. Definitely one of the things I’m most proud of.
On another side, just to see everyone, to see a team buy into the greater good of the team. And we talked a lot about, ‘Oh people do this, do that. They hunt for stats, awards.’ But to see this team buy into each other, buy into the greater good of the team, putting wins up, it doesn’t matter about the numbers, just caring about each other, loving each other every single day. Caring for each other not only on the court but off the court with families with all of us growing as men. I
think what I’m most proud of is that everyone bought into that ideology, and then see everyone still get the awards. Rudy, Defensive Player of the Year. Naz, Sixth Man of the Year. Showcasing, again, how valuable Mike Conley is to any team with Teammate of the Year, how he brings our team together. Ant taking a huge step forward and being Second Team All-NBA, that just makes me proud, too. I think that’s what makes me proud too, not only when you talk about the success on the court, but just to see everyone buy in and sacrifice for each other, but at the end of the day come out with more success because they sacrificed for each other will make me proud of this team.
It’s tough to sell that let alone to college players, now you’re talking to NBA players, grown men that have families and kids and everything that comes with being an adult. And for them to come to work every day with that mentality, that mindset, it made it really fun to play basketball with these guys and see them achieve goals and aspirations and dreams of theirs as a teammate.”