Kristaps Porzingis Quotes

If I hit a bad punt, and some guys don't make a tackle, and I have to make a tackle for them, that's my opportunity to step up for my teammates.

Obviously, I try to play the game in the way that I can help the team. I know I play a little bit more defensively now, more in the role as a team player, but I think I'm doing really well in that.

I just want to go out there and just be that player that my team needs me to be, whatever they need me to do.

It's nice to put your hand up and do the big things the team requires of you.

You want to be smart. You don't want to put yourself in a position where you can't be there for the team when it comes down to the end.

I'm going to continue to be the defensive player that my team needs me to be and the real basketball people will get that.

I love Coach Zimmer. He's a tough head coach who stands behind his players 100 percent.

I just focus on what the team needs me to do to win.

When it's time to play, I'm going to come play. I'm going to play the right way. I'm going to try to help my team in all directions, blocking and catching. If I don't have the ball in my hand, I'm going to protect, block down the field. I'm going to do whatever it takes to win.

If that's my job to lead and if that's my job to go out there and play defense, take charges, dive into the stands, then that's what I'm going to do if that's what it takes to win basketball games.

When I'm on the pitch I always give everything for my team.

If the team needs to score, I'm going to score. If the team needs me to rebound, I'm going to rebound. Play defense, I play defense.

I try to come in, try to defend, help on defense, play as hard as possible and do whatever my coach and my teammates tell me and try to listen and get better.

The game has been great to me. The Steelers have been great to me, and I think things will work out and take its toll. But I'm just singularly focused on being a great player, being here around the guys and my teammates, and representing my family.

Players need to come in and not take the opportunity for granted and really work hard at the game and make sure it's a team game, it's not a selfish thing. If players have those qualities - they work hard, they're selfless, they put the team before them - I have no issues with them.

I'm trying to do whatever it takes to help my team.

To be successful in football, you have to do things that put the team first. Everyone has to play their role, and if they don't do it, you're not going to win.

I can do the little things, play defense, dive on the floor to get loose balls, things like that.

I want to show my team I'm for the team. I want them to see I'm in it for them, not for me.

The team's success always came first for me.

You never stop working, you never stop doing things because there's someone behind you - in a respectful way - who is giving absolutely everything in every single training session.

It's not nice, not playing, but you have to try and be ready and try to help the team in different ways.

I don't care if I get no carries and just play special teams. I'm there to try to win football games and help that team win.

I just tried to go out there and play with attitude, doing what I was supposed to do and knowing my role on the team. Doing what my team expected me to do every night, not just once a week. It was all about work and I was just a tough guy who would knock somebody down.

I had a long conversation with Steve Carlton. He told me that on the days he pitched, he felt it was his responsibility to make everyone around him better, to lift his teammates. That's what I try to do.