In this episode of the Warriors Sound Podcast, host Tim Roye interviews NBA guard De’Anthony Melton live from the Ritz‑Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay during Golden State’s training camp in Hawaii. Melton shares his first‑time luau experience and cultural impressions, explains why he chose the Warriors—citing fit, team needs, and a championship mindset—and discusses his defensive role, including guarding Steph Curry and aiming to elevate the team’s defense into the top five league‑wide. He reflects on teammate Kyle Anderson’s basketball IQ, recounts the origin of his Memphis nickname “Mr. Do Something,” and expresses excitement about returning to California, his home state. Melton outlines his personal growth goals for his seventh NBA season, mentions conversations with Coach Steve Kerr about expectations, and talks about the intensity of playing against Draymond Green. Off the court, he reveals his hobbies—video games, chess, and bowling—and comments on the Warriors’ roster depth and the positive vibe after the first days of camp, highlighting the team’s multiple lineups and defensive versatility. The interview blends personal anecdotes with professional insights, offering a comprehensive look at Melton’s mindset heading into the new season.
Chapters
This is Tim Roy, live from the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay with De'anthony Melton. And first of all, welcome aboard, and how is training camp in paradise?
Man, so far this has probably been my best, you know, location-wise training camp, coming to Hawaii. So it's been a blast just to be able to get out, get around. Yesterday I actually went to a luau. Yeah, so that was nice. Me, Reese, and Noah, we all went and had food, watched them dance, and, you know, able to see their culture.
Was it your first luau?
Yeah, it was, it was.
What impressed you the most?
I mean, just they choreography. I mean, I mean, I guess, you know, that's they culture, but, you know, they way they dance and everything like that. And, you know, they're just so in sync with each other. I think it was like 4 girls and it was another group of 3 guys on it. And then they combined and made, did this whole little thing. So it was, it was fun to see.
First time to the islands or have you been here before?
I actually did come here for, I had a wedding to go to for my old teammate Jordan McLaughlin. So I only came out here for like a day though. So this is my longest stay out here. All right.
Well, it's great, great to have you. And, and, and you're a player that has choices, you know, you're desired around the league. People understand your skillset and what you can bring to the table. So tell me, why, why did you pick Golden State?
Honestly, I picked Golden State because it felt like, it felt like a perfect fit for me, you know, the way I play. And also in terms of, you know, their needs. You know, Don LaVie, he really came to me at the start of free agency and just, you know, you know, expressed to me what they, the team needed to get back to the top. And, you know, all three of the categories I felt like I hit. And I felt like, you know, this is a team that, you know, can get back to it, you know, just like in 2022. I don't think nobody really thought they was going to get there, but, you know, they did. So this team shows that they can win, and that's how I like to play, you know, winning basketball and having fun, shooting threes, getting out in transition.
Now, one of the things that they've talked a lot about this week is not only transition but also defense, and that's where you come in.
Yeah. Nah, definitely. I mean, that's what I do, you know what I mean? That's definitely what I do. And, you know, just like I said earlier, Dunleavy, he came to me and just, you know, said that we need to get back to, a better defensively team, you know. This camp, everybody's been preaching, you know, top 10, top 10 defense. And I feel like, you know, with the guys we have now, we could be even higher than that, you know what I mean? So going for close to maybe the top 5, stuff like that. And just, you know, play team, team defense and get out and just, you know, make offense easier for us.
In the past when I've done games, I've noticed that there have been a lot of times where you have matched up with Steph.
Yeah.
On the defensive end. So I very rarely get this opportunity. Tell me what that is like.
Man, it's just like you gotta really lock in the whole day. Like even from the time you wake up, you know what I mean? Just make sure you get some good rest. Like I said, get some stretches in too. 'Cause you just know he's just always active. He's always active moving around. And what's underrated is, you know, his ability to pass. So it feels like sometimes you want a possession by him, diming somebody for a layup, you know what I mean? Or diming somebody for a 3 because at least he's not shooting it and he's not getting hot. But when he gets hot, it's— it's nothing you can do.
You know, it's funny, the first time I see somebody guard Steph, what happens is he'll come down, he'll make a pass, and then, you know, your natural instinct is to look to see where the pass is going, and then he's gone.
Yeah. Nah, definitely. I mean, that was the game plan. I just knew whenever— whenever he passed the ball, that's when defense really started with him. Like, you know what I mean? So, like, he passed it, like— I'm two hands on him. Like, you know what I mean? I gotta know where you going next. I gotta, I'm looking around for where's the next screen. 'Cause that's usually coming next. You know what I mean? So it's, I mean, it's been fun though. I love guarding him. I mean, he hit one of his craziest shots on me. He hit like a, it was like a one running one leg three and like, yeah, that's on his all-time highlight reel for sure. So yeah.
So, You arrive here and you're reunited with a guy that can also play defense. That's Kyle Anderson.
Yeah.
Tell me a little bit what you like about his game. What can we expect from him?
Well, Kyle, you know, is a very smart, mature player that understands the game of basketball. For him, he knows his spots. He knows how he moves. He knows tendencies, you know, for other players and stuff like that. So he plays all that to his advantage. And I mean, he's been so successful with it that like, it just works, you know what I mean? So now he's, you know, he's returned his jump shot, you know, and I think that's a major thing for us. And just defensively, he's just so smart and just knows how to use his body, his hands, and just be in the right spot before anybody else. Right.
Now you got an interesting nickname down in Memphis. What do they call you, Mr. Do Something?
Yeah.
How did that come about?
Brevin Knight, man. Brevin Knight.
Former Stanford star.
Oh really?
Yeah. Okay. Yep.
I had to fight for minutes when I first got to Memphis, so once I started playing, I would just get out there, even when it's last 7, 8 minutes of the game, I would just go out there and just do whatever.
Right.
You know what I mean? Same stuff I'm doing now, but it was towards the end of the game, low volume. So after a while he was just like, "Man, he's just always doing something." Next thing you know, next game I started playing, he's just like, "Mr. Do Something." Yeah, and I didn't like it at first, honestly.
Right.
I just thought it was like, okay, go do something. But now it grew on me after a while. The fans started to like it too, so I just let it go, you know what I mean?
Yeah, and you know, coming to the Warriors, you're coming back to California. You're a Southern California guy, 2-time state champion in high school. You had the game-saving block your junior year, you know? And then you beat Berkeley your senior year. Went on to USC, so it's gotta be cool to be back in Cali.
Oh, definitely, definitely. Be back on the West Coast, I mean, just the timing of it, you know what I mean? The time and the weather, I think that's the two most important things I love about the West Coast.
You know, you look at your NBA career, I still think you have a ceiling that you can get to, that you got more to do. Where can that growth occur, you think?
For me and the way I play, I feel like I can get better in every aspect of my game, and that's what I love, 'cause I mean, I'm in year 7, and I still have so much more to go, and I'm gonna continue to work on just everything, just in terms of ball handling, passing, shooting, defense, you know, and just being stronger, just, you know, with my core and stuff like that, so I really feel like every aspect of my game can evolve and get better.
Have you had a chance to sit down with Steve Kerr and find out what he, is looking for from you?
We had a conversation early on, but as of recently, you know, we've had like conversations here and there, you know what I mean? Like throughout, 'cause I was there, I've been in the Bay pretty much Monday through Friday last, like, you know what I mean? Month and a half.
Right.
So this last real 2 weeks, I got to just pick his brain a little bit here and there. Now with camp, we get a little bit more conversation. So, you know, I think as we get closer to the actual season, you know, we'll have that talk.
When you're playing against the Warriors in the past and you're playing against Draymond Green, what were your thoughts?
The intensity.
Yeah.
Intensity. I know it's gonna be intense. It's gonna be there. It's gonna be physical. And that's what I love. You know what I mean? That's what I love about Dray. He's gonna bring that. And I mean, I'm ready for it. I like a physical type game. That's how I play. So I mean, we're gonna be able to get away with more stuff too. On the opposite end, you know what I mean? So, yeah, I always liked it.
So off the court, what kind of things do you like to do?
Off the court, I play a lot of video games.
Okay, which ones?
I play Madden, I play 2K here and there, I really play FIFA a lot.
Oh really?
Yeah, Apex, shooting games, so that, play chess, I like to bowl a lot.
Moses Moody, pretty good chess player, I'm told.
Yeah, that's what they were saying. They were saying there's a few guys on the team that play chess. Yeah, I saw Dre playing chess, you know, before the team meeting. I was about to play him, but I was like, you know, I'm chill. But nah, yeah, it's a lot of dudes on here that like do that.
Do you have a favorite trick play on Madden?
I like to use them all. I can't be giving out my secrets, but. Yeah, I'm pretty good at it. I'm pretty good at it, man.
Hey, I saw the Detroit Lions a couple of weeks ago. They ran the hook and ladder.
He's like, yeah. I saw that. I did see that.
That was pretty cool.
I liked that. They need to put that in. I don't even think they got that in, man. They need to put that in.
Yeah. So, so as, as you enter this season and you're looking forward to, you know, this, this season, what I see in the first few days of camp is a team that's deeper than it's been the last couple of years. And you guys have a lot of ways in which you can attack on offense or defend on defense. Tell me your, your vibe after the first couple of days here.
Man, I mean, we have 4 full teams, like, you know what I mean? We have 20 dudes that, and they can all, you know, go. Since I've been out here in the Bay playing with most of the younger guys, from Gee to Reece to Jackson to QP. So I've seen a lot of these dudes, you know what I mean? Work out and all that stuff. So I know they can play. And now I've seen most of the older guys come in With, you know, Dre, Steph, Kyle, Kaminga, and all them, now I can see everybody full circle. So it's just been nice just knowing how deep we can be, especially having Buddy here too, you know, come same team from him. But just knowing, like you said, we attack in different ways and it's just gonna be scary. But now it's just about how many stops we can get.
