Sports Radio Interviews

Paul Millsap: I Expect To Start Next Season

This man provides short answers when he speaks – he is all business, just like the way he operates on the basketball floor.  Among others, there were two highly respected franchises that went after Millsap’s services this offseason: the Blazers, who offered a large contract to the restricted free agent, and the Jazz, who matched it.  The second round draft pick has proven everyone wrong thus far, but the critics still remain.  He’s looked at as a very good player, but a very good grinder, role player, and not a featured star.  Millsap continues to work in order to get to that level, and at this point, with Carlos Boozer still on the roster, it’ll be difficult to show those critics how much he’s improved in these summer months.  Boozer will eventually be shipped out and Millsap will be the premier four on this team – can he be more than what people have pegged him to be?  Millsap joined 1320 The Fan in Salt Lake City to discuss how difficult it was waiting for the Jazz to match, if he got what he wanted, what he’s working on, and if he can be the player Boozer is.

C.J. Miles went through this last year and said it was a real tough process.  Was he correct?

“Oh, he was right.  Absolutely right (laughs).  It was the longest seven days of my life, but I kept a positive attitude, and the things that we wanted to happen, happened.”

Is this contract with the Jazz what you wanted?

“Absolutely, absolutely.  I couldn’t ask for nothing better than this.  Some say I shouldn’t have gotten what I got but I’m gonna go out there and try to prove those people wrong.”

People say that Millsap can’t produce like Boozer.  Is that something which filters down to you and something that motivates you?

“Absolutely.  People kinda get a feel of what I can do, some of the things I can do.  I do some things really good but my skills have not really been shown throughout the years; there’s a lot that I can do that I haven’t proven yet.  It starts in training camp: once I get out there and do the things I know I can do in training camp, it carries on to the games.”

What parts of your game can you improve on?

“My shooting can get a lot better; I’m not real consistent with that.  There are shooting mechanics that I’m working on right now that’s gonna help me in that area.  Just stepping out shooting jump shots – especially throughout our offense, it’s based on stepping out, pick-and-pop, pick-and-roll situations – so, just continue to work on that.  I got the mental part down, I know how to play basketball, I get out there and try to help the team out in as many ways as possible, and I’m gonna continue and try to do that.”

Do you expect to be starting for the Jazz at the beginning of the season?

“I tell people I’m gonna expect to start – that’s my mentality right now.  I think I have to prepare myself to do that, prepare myself for the long haul.  It’s a long 82 games, the best shape that I’m in, the more rest that I get, it’s gonna help me out through that.”

Listen to Paul Millsap on 1320 The Fan in Salt Lake City

Tags: Basketball, C.J. Miles, Carlos Boozer, NBA, Paul Millsap, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz