Tristan Thompson Quotes

I will dive on the floor for a loose ball. That's how I'm trained. I can guard a guard if I want to. That's just that price. I'm not gonna sit here and let you score on me. That's in my blood.

I am a team player - and that is what you need to be an effective point guard. You gotta see the court, you gotta set up the play, and you gotta let others execute for the most part. I don't throw elbows for the sake of throwing elbows, but if somebody throws one at me and it's necessary to respond in kind, I suppose I can if I have to.

Whatever I lack in size and strength and speed, I kind of make up for in being grittier. When it comes to something like basketball I'm definitely not the best guy on the court, but I love elbowing and pushing people out or boxing them out.

Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.

You need to possess more than a little nastiness to play basketball at the highest level.

I like playing inside. I just love the physicalness of being in the box with the bigger guys. That's just something that's part of my game.

I just try to make the right play, stay aggressive and defensively just do what I do. I make sure I talk to everyone and control the paint.

I don't go out looking to make spectacular plays. I just try to come in and be a physical presence inside.

I'm the type of guy, I get mad if I see you keep dribbling in front of me. I'm going to try to get it eventually. I just got a knack for the ball, I guess.

I think guys that play basketball really understand how to go up and get a ball. Because in a rebound situation, you've got to go up and fight for a ball. Just boxing out. There are a lot of things that transfer.

As a player, I loved being tackled, whether it was in training or in a game. I took a full-blooded challenge as an invitation to do exactly the same thing to an opponent. I would wait for my opportunity and nine times out of 10, I would get him back.

You know, I'm really known for being an energy guy and working hard on the floor, grabbing a lot of rebounds.

People say that Rooney could have been like Lionel Messi, a more prolific goalscorer who dribbles past opponents more. But they are different characters. You will never see Messi snapping around the heels of an opponent to win the ball back deep in his own half. Wayne does that all the time, and sometimes that enthusiasm will count against him.

To be a great player and a great scorer, you have to find ways to get yourself open and get shots off. It's a dog fight.

I think rebounding is more heart and toughness.

You don't contest shots without expending energy. You don't get deflections - unless you walk into one every now and then - without expending energy. These are the things in basketball you have to really want to do.

Tackling is my favorite part of the game.

I pride myself on defending and rebounding.

I like to get the ball down and play, but I can always get stuck in and hold my own.

I was how I was in college because I had to be. I played angry. I played hard. I stepped on guys' chests, I hit a game-winner against UConn.

All great rebounders don't give up on a play. They treat every shot as a miss and they go out there.

Just play hard, compete, energy, hit the offensive glass.

I feel like I'm one of the most physical players in the league - I love contact. I love attacking. I love going to the free throw line.

Obviously I'm not the greatest scorer in the world or the greatest shooter in the world, but I'm tough and rebounding is something that not too many people want to put the effort into doing.

I block shots and stay out the way.