After a third consecutive first-round exit, Orlando’s star demands a culture shift, challenging the organization to abandon complacency and adopt a championship mindset from top to bottom.
On what led Detroit to win Game 7:
"We just gave them some open shots. You got to give them credit; they had guys that were knocking shots down—Tobias [Harris] specifically. He got going and the crowd got behind them."
On the frustration of losing in the first round for three consecutive years:
"It’s frustrating being in the same spot three years in a row and getting the same result. It’s a bad, bad feeling."
On the mindset needed to push to the next level:
"It starts in the summer. It’s about winning habits. It’s about creating a winning environment every single day from September to now. We got to be better, and it doesn't start in April when the playoffs start. It starts in September and October when we get everybody in the building. You build habits where losing isn't acceptable. Losing in the first round is not acceptable; it’s not good enough."
On the internal attitude of the organization:
"That should be the attitude—you shouldn't be comfortable in the building. It should be everybody on their P’s and Q’s feeling pressure to be great because this result is not good enough. That mindset needs to be there from top to bottom."
On how the team can get over the hump:
"Just continue to work and develop in all aspects. Don’t settle for being 'good enough' or just being 'okay.' It should be everybody trying to be great, everybody trying to be the best. That’s got to be the attitude—everybody pushing each other."
On whether the current roster is "good enough":
"I can’t really answer that. I want to say yes, but we haven’t been out of the first round. If you’re going off the last three years, the answer is no. The 'nice' answer would be yes, but honestly speaking, I can’t say we’re good enough to be in the Finals or Eastern Finals because the last three years we’ve had the same result."
On his individual effort in the "do or die" Game 7:
"It’s just do or die. One game to decide the series and you just got to give it your all. You got to just kind of go numb out there and do whatever it takes to try and get the win. Obviously, it wasn't enough."
On what he will remember about this team:
"It’s a great group. A lot of good guys in that locker room."
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