Oscar Taveras Quotes

I've been working on my defense and my inside game.

At first, I wanted to be a good player in the NBA. When I get to a team where you have one of the two best scorers in the league, I just said to myself that I needed to do something. I need to do something to help my team, something to make my name. That's where I started to focus on defense.

My main improvement on defense has just been my coaches. They've been teaching me defensive schemes, how to guard guys, and how to use my length.

I think my one-on-one defense is pretty good.

I am a better running back every time I step on the field. I try to get better each game, each summer, each season.

I'm a shotblocker and I want to get everything.

I still can improve a lot on my defense. I just have to keep perfecting my skills and keep progressing. You're going to see a better Errol Spence next time I get in the ring.

Dudes are coming at me every day; I'm playing different positions on the defensive end. I'm really working on that, because that's the next level. In the league, everybody can dribble.

A lot of people say you can't make the league if you can't play defense, so I really play really good defense. That's something I really pride myself on.

I need to improve on a lot of different areas. I need to improve on my timing on my shot-blocking, when to go, and when not to go. And there's definitely always room for improvement on my shooting.

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

I'm ready to come out and show people I'm able to play defense.

I'm just here to be a leader and work on my game, work on my jump-hooks, my low-post game and just continue to get better. That's all that matters.

My father really put that in my head that defense is one of the key things in basketball.

I think I play well getting up and down the court.

You can always get better with your ballhandling.

I'm adding moves to my post game. I'm really working on staying low. I'm working on my strength overall, especially my legs. That's going to help me defensively as well.

Giannis is truly a student of the game. He listens to the coaches, they show him film, and he's always in the gym working on his game and trying to find ways to get better.

I can bring a lot. I play both sides of the ball. I defend. I have an offensive game. I rebound the ball. I get steals a lot.

I feel I can continue to grow as a player. I have a long time to continue to progress with my shooting, continue to keep my ball handling tight, continue to stay in shape. You know, all of it.

I think I stand up more often than I should on defense. I've got to be solid and continue to get better.

If I want any shot at getting on the floor, I gotta know what I'm doing defensively.

I just got addicted to getting better. My coach gave me a goal to get a tip dunk in a game - you know, a putback dunk off a rebound. I had never done that. He told me that he'd get me a pair of new shoes if I did it. I just kept trying. I couldn't get it, couldn't get it, couldn't get it. It took me a year or so. Finally, one game, I got it.

I think I'll always want to improve my defense. That's something that can always be better. Not saying it's bad now, just something you should always work on.

The first thing I learned in boxing is to not get hit. That's the art of boxing. Execute your opponent without getting hit. In sports school, we were putting our hands behind our backs and having to defend ourselves with our shoulders, by rolling, by moving round the ring, moving out feet.