Gary Trent Jr. on family watching him vs. Timberwolves

Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. discusses his run-in with Patrick Beverley, what it’s like having his family courtside watching him play and his plans for the All-Star break.

Video Transcript

- Fur like the rest of your family.

GARY TRENT JR: Excuse me?

- You have the fur on.

GARY TRENT JR: Who?

- Fur coat, like your dad.

GARY TRENT JR: [INAUDIBLE]

- [LAUGHS]

A quick start to the game. You and Pat Beverly got into it before the tip off even does that kind of get you fired up, or, as Nick said, are you always kind of fired up to play?

GARY TRENT JR: [INAUDIBLE] just coming out, coming out strong, trying to set myself early-- set up early to play my game.

- We talked the other night when Fred didn't play, and you said it's not so much taking more shots, but there will be more shots available. Did feel that tonight, that you need to get going early to get those shots and that rhythm start?

GARY TRENT JR: I just want to come out strong you. Last game, I didn't shoot the ball too well. I obviously wanted to come out, [INAUDIBLE] myself early, try to score the basketball and just play my game.

- Go ahead, Phil, with virtual questions here.

- Thanks, Justine. We'll start with Michael Grinch.

MICHAEL GRINCH: Hey, Gary. Another strong shooting night for you. And I just wanted to ask you-- Fred VanVleet is going to be in a contest on Saturday, and you're a pretty technically sound shooter. What do you think of the way Fred shoots the ball, from 3, technique-wise?

GARY TRENT JR: He shoots the ball beautifully, technique-wise. The coaching staff tried to help me to the best of my ability to kind of emulate what they taught him over the years, whether it was just quicker release, getting it off, setting your feet. So just learning, you know, watching him and getting better every day [INAUDIBLE] my coaches.

MICHAEL GRINCH: The-- the rotation on his ball is a little different than most. It kind of goes a little bit sideways. Do you ever notice that?

GARY TRENT JR: A little bit. But you know, [INAUDIBLE] little man got to use a lot of force to get it up there.

[LAUGHTER]

So-- [LAUGHS]

MICHAEL GRINCH: Very good, Gary. And you don't have to tell me, but I would love to know where somebody like yourself might go on their All-Star break.

GARY TRENT JR: Say that again?

MICHAEL GRINCH: I would-- you don't have to tell me, but I'd be very curious to know where someone like yourself might go on the All-Star break, on vacation.

GARY TRENT JR: I'll be here with my little brother [INAUDIBLE] enjoying my time.

MICHAEL GRINCH: Oh, that's really nice. Good for you. Enjoy that.

GARY TRENT JR: I appreciate you.

MICHAEL GRINCH: Take care.

- Thanks, Michael. We'll go to Eric.

- Hey, Gary, congrats on the game and the win. I mean, you had a bunch of people there tonight. The camera got them a few times. I think it was your little brother celebrating your last three.

What was it-- what's it like to play in front of them, and especially to have such a key role in a win in front of them?

GARY TRENT JR: It means everything to me, you know? Them having an opportunity to see me play, kind of live through me, see that it's possible, see that it's attainable, that they can reach the same goals that I'm at, the same level I'm at.

You know, it's the same thing that I did with my father know, seeing him play. You know, he's kind of done playing now, so, you know, they can't look up to him or see his highlights. So I'm the closest thing to the reality of what it can be if they can do the work and be what they are.

So any chance I get the opportunity to showcase that or go out there and play in front of them or-- I just go out there and play hard.

- And, I mean, I have to ask, was there anything specific that-- going on with you and Beverly, or was it just jockeying for position on the jump ball?

GARY TRENT JR: We were just lining up for the jump ball.

- All right, have a good one. Enjoy the time with the family.

GARY TRENT JR: Appreciate you, thank you.

- Thanks very much, Eric. I don't see any more hands for you, Gary.

- Thanks very much, Phil.

- Thank you.