NBA Q&A: Lou Williams

Courtesy of Chris Vivlamore

Q. How frustrating was it to watch the playoffs (injured)?

A. It was difficult. It was obviously frustrating when you lose a series and think to yourself what could have been, how could I have helped. I had 40 games to prepare for that so it wasn’t a big deal by the time we got to the playoffs.

Q. As one of the players who will be back, how do you feel about where this team is going?

A. We’ll see. We are only 24 hours after the season being over and obviously free agency doesn’t start for a while. We’ll see what happens. I know Al (Horford) and John (Jenkins) will be here so I look forward to working with those two guys. We’ll go from there.

Q. How is your rehab going?

A. It’s coming along great. It’s going to very long and challenging summer for me trying to prepare myself to get back on the basketball court. It’s a challenge that I’m ready for. It’s not one I can dodge if I want to continue to play basketball at a high level. I’m ready get it started.

Q. Will the rehab be mostly here? Or will it be in Florida with Dr. Andrews?

A. It will be back and forth just to make sure I’m getting the best of both worlds on the rehab end and on the conditioning end. Just make sure everybody is on the same page of communication to make sure I’m getting the best possible treatment.

Q. Have you thought about the mental (aspect) when you are physically ready to get back on the basketball court?

A. No, you know what, I can’t even jog right now. I don’t want to bog my mind down with that. Every day we try to make small strides. This past week has been the first time I’ve been able to ride a bike without pain in my knee, without hiking my knee up. It’s been the first time I’ve been able to do stand-still shooting with a light jump. Those are major strides for me in a process that takes eight to nine months and I’m in month number four. It takes a while so it’s hard to look ahead of the road simply because every day brings a new challenge.

Q. Have you ever gone into a summer with this much uncertainty?

A. This is the first time I’ve been injured in my life. It’s very different territory that I’m facing. It’s going to be a different summer. I’m used to being able to do what I want to in the summertime. Obviously that is not in the cards for me this year. So, if you have a long enough career, you are blessed to experience all things.

Q. What would you say to any (free agents) who might come here and what this organization could be?

A. I think it’s a great organization. I really enjoyed the work atmosphere that they created here. Me coming from a situation where I was with the same organization for seven years and coming out of the bird’s nest for the first time in going to a new team, I was extremely pleased with being here. The working environment is very easy, very friendly. Guys come to work every day. From the business side of it, they don’t really complicate things. They just want guys to be professional, work hard. You have to respect that.

Q. How do you let Josh Smith be his own man but also want him to be one of your teammates next year?

A. I’m going to stay all the way out of the way. At the end of the day Josh is going to be my friend forever, whether we are on the same team or not. Guys have to make decisions based on personal (reasons). Selfishly, I still want him to be here but he has to make a decision for himself. You are talking to somebody who just left a team that I was with for seven years to be with Josh. Hopefully, he makes a decision that is right for him and hopefully it benefits us.

Q. Will you be a (free agent) recruiter?

A. If asked. I’ve always been the type of guy where if you give us a locker room with 10 or 11 guys and we’ll see what happens. If guys want to be here, I’m all for it. I’m excited to be here. At the end of the day, that’s the only thing I can really worry about but if I’m asked to recruit I have no problem doing that.