Joe Dumars media availability thread
Sep 28, 2026 3:05 PM
Updated Sep 28, 2026 3:30 PM
It's media day Here's what Joe Dumars has to say (be sure to refresh):
- Mentioned the additions of Trendon Watford, Mathurin and AJ Johnson as guys who fit the need for toughness
- Quality of quantity in the guys they brought in this offseason
- "Sometimes you just want a young player to get it"
- Said that Williamson started to finally "get it," becoming the one to initiate everything with his workouts.
- Just looking for Queen and Fears to continue to grow, says they still have a lot to learn about the NBA
- They have the "depth" to not have to put everything on any one person's shoulders
- Says the work that this team has put in during this offseason has him excited for this year, and he is confident in this group because of it
- Says they worked "twice as much" this Summer compared to last year
- Told Zion "you have to shoot the jumper" this season
- Said that it's not just Zion, everyone on the team has to improve
- Jamahl Mosley has said that nothing is given, and has told every single player that they have a clean slate. No promises. Everything will be earned.
- Watford and Mathurin are "really tough guys"
- "Defense is just about how hard you want to compete." "How bad do you want to stop this guy?"
- Excited about what Jamahl Mosley is going to do on the defensive side of the ball
- Says Missi and Karlo's national team stints should give them more confidence at center
- The phrasing of "Queen at some five" is interesting, seems like they're going to be leaning more on him at the four this season.
- Says they had a ton of phone calls with a ton of different teams throughout the offseason, but there was nothing that materialized that they felt was a fair deal
- None of DQ, Trey, Herb or Dejounte worked out last Summer, having all of them healthy and ready these past few months could make a difference
- Giving more time to let this team to learn how to play together
- They're not talking about specific win goals, they just want to make the playoffs
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