Dalen Terry - #18 Pick NBA Draft Media Availability | Chicago Bulls

Thank you.

Hey, Dalen, I'm Casey Johnson with NBC Sports Chicago. How you doing?

How you doing? How you doing?

Good, good. You seem excited. Uh, I'm hoping you can describe, uh, what strengths of yours you think will translate to the next level and what areas of your game you might need to work on at the next level.

I believe my defense, my versatility is going to come over immediately. You know, those are things that I do every day. Um, I believe also like My energy, my leadership, all that, all of my grit, all them things that just make me who I am are gonna keep me in the position and start tomorrow, you know. I also believe I need to work on my off-the-dribble shooting. I feel like my catch-and-shoot shooting has got there, but also my off-the-dribble shooting, I need to get that better and just getting stronger and just growing up, you know. I'm 19 years old right now. Just gotta grow up quick. I'm about to play with grown men.

Awesome. And quick follow-up, what kind of contact did you have with the Bulls throughout the draft process? Did you come in for a workout, maybe at the Combine? Did you interview with them, that kind of stuff?

Yeah, I worked out right before the Combine with them, and it was all love, honestly. It was a great time. I had a really good time actually there, and I really wanted to be there. It's crazy. I called my agent, AC, immediately right after, was like, nah, that's where I need to be. So It's great. Like, they drafted me, and, man, I'm so happy, man.

Yo, Dalen, congrats, man. Jamal Collier with ESPN. Just your thoughts on the team, on the Bulls that they currently got. How do you feel like you fit in with the current roster?

Man, I feel like I fit in perfectly, man. I'm a lengthy guard that's willing to do anything to win. Honestly, man, I watched so much DeMar DeRozan this year, it's crazy. Him just getting to his spots, racing over people. Zach LaVine, smoothest player ever. And then Ayo, he would excel. So, I mean, I just see him at the combine, so it's just like, I'm probably forgetting somebody, man. Alex Caruso was in the locker room when I was in the locker room when I worked out. So it's just like, it's good. Like, man, everything is just wow.

You said at some point, I think during your pre-draft process, like when they do the redraft in 10 years, You know, people gonna sort of regret that. What do you think people missed about your game, and why do you think you said that?

I feel like just people were just overthinking it, honestly, man. But I'm glad I went 18. I'm happy. I'm so happy. Like, 18 was perfect, honestly. Like, I have no regrets on anything. Like, I wanted to go to Chicago Bulls. I love it. I'm ready. Appreciate it, man.

Cody Westrill with 670 The Score. Congrats. Just what's the conversations you've had with AK, Mark Eversley, Billy Donovan, those guys, whether it was previously at workouts or now? What have they kind of said to you?

I mean, they just dissected my game before. AK came to Arizona one time. I remember meeting him. He came down to our practices preseason, so I had a relationship with him. His son goes to Arizona, so I know him a little bit, and When I had my dinner with them, when I worked out, it was just great. It felt like a family already. We would make each other laugh. Everybody was laughing. And then at my workout, I could just tell, like, it was— I felt the energy in there. It was right where y'all standing at is where I was shooting at, so.

Hi, Andy Seligman, AP. Just what went into the process behind your decision to declare rather— I mean, to stay in the draft rather than go back to school? It was kind of a late decision, and I'm just wondering what pushed you over the top there?

Honestly, I just believe that this is my dream, man. I didn't, I didn't go to college to be— I didn't, I didn't start playing basketball to be a college player, you know? Like, I've always wanted to be in the NBA. So it's just like, as soon as I heard them calling, it was like, man, I gotta go. So I'm hot right now, obviously. I'd rather be in it. I'd rather be in the NBA young and being ready to learn and all that than be in college and be the star.

So. Dalen, this is Dion Miller from ABC 7. I love your energy so much. So can you just kind of take us through the emotions you felt as your name was called and this moment became reality for you?

Man, I just— it was relief, honestly. Like, it was so much stress all day. It was a long day. I was doing a lot of things. I was just trying to relax a little bit, man. But I was pacing for a little bit, honestly. And then I took my jacket off, then I put it on when my agent gave me the call, like, seconds before, for y'all. So, man, it was just— it was just a surreal moment. I can't even reenact how I was feeling. But the whole, whole restaurant right now, they was Hey, Dalen.

Rob Schaefer, NBC Sports Chicago. I don't know if you're a big comparisons guy, but just when you watch guys at the NBA level, who do you study most and who do you kind of look to model your game after?

Honestly, I just look at big guards, man. I'm not going to put it on anybody because I just— everybody, all the guys that I could name is just— they're great players, honestly. So it's just I feel like I'm really one-on-one. I'm a I feel like I'm a one-on-one energy, all that. So it's just like, man, I watch a lot of tall guards, a lot of big guards, a lot of defenders, a lot of guys that do a lot of things that don't show up on a stat sheet because I believe that's who I am.

Anybody else here?

Yo, Don, Don.

OK. Dalen, you said you were obviously thrilled to be at 18 because of the fit here in Chicago, but are you also one of those guys who are going to remember Who was picked before you when you—

Yes, sir. I remember everybody already. Like, yes, trust me, I got it.

Are you guys good in here?

You mentioned when you're talking about things you need to work on, most scouts that I've, you know, read up on you quickly here about have said your defensive game might be ahead of your offensive game. So offensively, what do you think is your biggest area of growth? Or your need of you?

My off-the-dribble shooting. I believe that that's the area of growth that I need to improve. I just need to show, honestly. I feel like all summer I've been working on it, but I mean, I can only, I can only tell you so much, so you got to see it.

Dalen, we're going to take one more from Zoom. Mike McGraw with the Daily Herald, go ahead.

Hey, Dalen, I'm just curious, where are you at right now? You got some sort of draft party, I take it?

Yes, sir, I'm in Phoenix right now. I had a draft party.

How many people were there?

Man, probably like 100.

OK, also, when I— you know, one thing I saw that like when you were first getting to Arizona, there was some talk about maybe you playing some point guard at some point. Did that ever come to pass, or do you consider yourself a wing now, or how's that?

I consider myself a basketball player. I play 1 through 3, maybe some 4, depends on what type of lineup is out there. I played a lot of those positions this year, so I don't want to separate myself as one player because I feel like— or one position because I'm just so versatile.

Sam Smith with Bulls.com. We were watching a lot of NBA, so we didn't see a lot of Arizona basketball. It didn't seem like you shot that much or got to the line that much. What was your role in your offense, and how come, you know, you had so few field goal attempts?

And I mean, I passed the ball. I feel like, I feel like me, me passing the ball and watching one of my teammates score is just like me scoring. So it's just like, I was the guy that could sacrifice some shots to facilitate the others and get the offense going, initiate the offense, make the extra pass, get the rebounds, all that. I was doing the stuff that didn't show up on the stat sheet. So me, me not taking a lot of shots at some points, it was just the role I was playing, honestly. So man, I'm, I'm just a I'm a product of my environment. Whatever situation I'm in, I'm gonna adapt to.

All right, Dalen, that's all we have for you today. Thanks so much for your time. We're looking forward to welcoming you to Chicago early next week.