In a post‑game interview after the win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Charles Bassey discusses the team’s defensive approach, emphasizing the importance of coordinated shifts, communication, and collective help‑the‑ball‑up when a defender is beaten. He highlights the role of veteran rim‑protectors like Victor Wembanyama, noting that clear on‑court dialogue allows them to anticipate and contest shots. Bassey reflects on his own progression after two season‑ending injuries, describing how increased game experience, film study, and consistent bench contributions are helping him find a rhythm. He explains his mental focus on defense as the key to winning, while also acknowledging his offensive responsibilities. The conversation turns to team chemistry, with Bassey describing new group‑work practices that pair second‑unit players together, fostering on‑court familiarity that translates into games. Finally, he touches on the team’s confidence and enjoyment, suggesting that a fun, confident atmosphere fuels their competitive edge.
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Charles, Mitch was talking about the defensive mindset tonight. What do you think you guys did really well defensively?
Obviously, I mean, we went with our game plan, you know. Our guys ran a lot of shifts. Even though, like, the first man gets beat, there's a guy that's helping, and the helper is helping the other guy. So it's just like we play together and our chemistry is starting to come together. So it's just like Like I said, man, we're going to the game thinking about defense.
As a guy who takes a lot of pride in protecting the rim, what do you see, you know, with Victor, how he does it so well, keeping the ball in play?
Yeah, it's like I said, man, it's the communication, you know. We're like the quarterback, seeing everything. So we just got to talk to the guys. And obviously, you know, when they get beat, obviously they trust us to do our job and help them. And they're helping us box out the bigs and stuff like that. Just like I said, man, we're just communicating with that, and sometimes you never know and you just get the block.
You feel like you're getting into more of a groove because it seems to be coming easier to you, these types of games?
Yeah, definitely. You know, like I said, man, the more games you play, the more, you know, the more experience you have, the more film you watch of what you did the past game and going to the next game, the more you get better. You know, like I said, the past 2 years I've been injured and season-ending injury. So nobody want to have that. But obviously, the more games I play, the more experience I get. And obviously, I feel like I'm getting better every game by game. And obviously, staying consistent is the key and just being solid as a guy coming off the bench. And, you know, yeah.
Are you doing anything to make sure that you're relaxed out there and maybe not overly compensating on anything?
Oh, no. I'm just doing my job. I'm doing what I do to help the team win. You know, I'm not going out there thinking of, you know, my first mindset is just I'm just going out there to help the team defensively, you know, going out there because I know defensive teams win games and stuff. So that's my mindset, you know. The offense is going to come with me, you know, screen and roll, do what I do, you know, my touch and everything is going to come within the offense, you know, moving around and stuff. But the defense is always the key, going out there, you know, get yourself going, get a rebound, stuff like that.
What about the chemistry and the confidence with the team? It seems like y'all are out there just kind of having fun and you're going out there expecting to win.
Oh yeah, definitely, man. Like I said, we just didn't build a chemistry off that. We work on it, you know, like in practice, man. This year is the first time we're doing a lot of like group work in practice, you know, the first guy, the first group work together, we guys in the second unit work together, you know, we play against each other in practice. And like I said, man, the chemistry is coming together and stuff like that. So, you know, guys that play together in different units work together a lot. And like I said, man, in practice I work with those guys, you know, I work with Steph a lot, Trey, you know, stuff like that. So it's been, it's just been getting better, you know, like I said, the group work we did, we do every time in practice is transferring into the games and stuff like that.
So.
I said we're building this chemistry and hopefully we'll take it into the next game.
