NBA Q&A: Brook Lopez

Courtesy of Dime

Dime: I read today that Kevin Garnett was calling out almost all of your plays last night. How do you deal with that?
Brook Lopez: Obviously it’s hard but they do a really good job of scouting so it really comes down to executing them and just really playing basketball during the game.

Dime: Is it still a little odd for you to play against guys you grew up watching, such as a Garnett?
BL: It is a little bit it was really weird for me my rookie year but you know it’s been a great experience for me to be able to challenge these guys and um, I really you know test yourself against them.

Dime: I want to talk about this Avengers video game a little bit. You’re obviously a big comic book fan and have never hid that interest. Did they seek you out because of that?
BL: They found me for this game and they actually went through my agent as something I’m very interested in. I’m a huge Avengers fan. To really get these connections in the comics industry I had to go to Comic-Con and meet these guys face to face to tell them how big a fan I was. I really reitereated that I’d love to do something with them.

Dime: Had you been to Comic-Con before?
BL: I went this year and probably two years before that and my rookie yera too.

Dime: That has to be bliss for you.
BL: It’s crazy, it’s a lot of fun, just so fun quite honestly. It’s really cool to see everyone come out and show their spirit and have a good time.

Dime: With this game did you have any input with the content?
BL: I didn’t get to really get to be a creative consulting with the game but if there’s a sequel I’d love to be a part of that — maybe get the BrooklyKnight in there. I was able to create a piece of art for the commission for it to help promote the game and now I’m going out to play the game at the Boys & Girls clubs with kids.

Dime: Do you have any teammates who are comic book guys?
BL: There’s a ton of video game guys. The new Call of Duty just came out and it’s all I hear about in the locker room. When Assassins Creed comes out or the new Halo, when those games come out a lot of guys talk about it.

Dime: Not as much comic book guys?
BL: Not as much. There are a few. I talk with them every now and they go to see the movies and stuff like that and we talk about it and I really enjoy it.

Dime: What’s it like this year to play and live in front of the cameras of NBA TV’s “The Association”?
BL: It’s very interesting. My first reality show. We’re actually setting up right now. It’s been a fun experience, I think the guys really enjoy it and it’s been great exposure for the Brooklyn Nets brand to get that out there.

Dime: What’s the biggest difference between the Barclays Center and the Prudential Center, maybe something only a player would know?
BL: Probably for me being a big comic book guy there’s a huge turntable where the vehicle elevators come down and it turns around like the Batman movies with the Batmobile. It’s a big turntable like that and everytime my car goes down it turns arond and I feel like I’m in the Batmobile a little bit.

Dime: Do you notice a difference in the vibe with the team now in Brooklyn?
BL: The only way I can say it is that it is different. That’s the bottom line. It’s a complete 180. The fans have a really high basketball IQ over there. They expect a lot and we want to be the team that Brooklyn deserves.

Dime: Do you ever see Jay-Z at functions away from your games, and what’s that like?
BL: We’ve seen him at events and stuff like that. He is around and is a very busy guy but his presence is definitely felt.

Dime: What about the majority owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, as a player? What would be his best move?
BL: Oh I think if he wanted to sign himself I think he could. I think he could dunk it on people.

Dime: Really, still?
BL: Oh yeah, no question.

Dime: This summer did you have much contact with GM Billy King about the Dwight Howard trade demands, or were you waiting to see like everyone else?
BL: I wasn’t really paying attention to that when it first came out. You know it was talked about and after that I ignored whatever the media was saying and really focused on bettering myself as a player and putting myself in a position to succeed.