NBA Q&A: Danny Granger

Courtesy of Slam 

SLAM: How’s your summer been?

Danny Granger: It’s been good. Just hanging out with my kids, hanging out with my family. I’ve been in Indianapolis for most of the summer.

SLAM: Have you been training with anyone specific?

DG: For the past three weeks, about eight or nine of [the Pacers] have been here, so we’ve all been training here together. We try to do that every year to bring some camaraderie to the team.

SLAM: How are you feeling, health-wise?

DG: I feel good. I’m excited to play this year, excited to be back with my team.

SLAM: Do you have a set date in mind for when you’d like to be back on the court?

DG: A set date in mind, not really. Just when I’m ready to play, I’ll play.

SLAM: What was the team’s 2013 postseason run like for you? Even though you were sidelined, did you feel like you needed to guide the younger guys through the experience?

DG: It was actually an interesting experience. I was excited for the success that we had, and I was very happy to see the progression of our young guys, especially Paul. I was very happy to see the city of Indianapolis really [excited for] the Pacers, because there’s been a lot of years where that wasn’t the case. All those things were encouraging. I wasn’t really too upset about my injury—it happens. It’s a part of sports. You get injured and then you get back to where you were. So I wasn’t too upset about that. I was really excited for the team.

SLAM: I know you’ve been close with Paul for a while now. What was it like seeing him break out last season?

DG: It felt like a big brother kind of thing. I’ve helped Paul a lot throughout the years, and to see him take those steps, it was really gratifying. I loved watching him play.

SLAM: Do you think the dynamic of the team will be different now than before you went down with the injury?

DG: I think the dynamic of our team will probably stay the same, honestly. When I was playing and when I wasn’t playing, our focus was to throw the ball into the post to David [West] and Roy [Hibbert], and we play off those guys. I think playing through the post has really always been our philosophy, and I really don’t see anything changing, honestly.

SLAM: You’ve been with the Pacers for the entirety of Frank Vogel’s tenure as head coach there. Have you noticed him evolve at all over the past few years?

DG: I have. I’ve watched him come from an assistant, to when he got the job, to now. Frank’s a great basketball mind. The things that he can do and the plays that he draws up, it’s really creative. He’s a great coach to be around. I think really the sky’s the limit for what Frank can do because he’s such a talented coach.

SLAM: Do you have any personal goals as far as what you’d like to accomplish on the court this season?

DG: Just trying to get back on the court, man. That’s it. Just gotta get back on the court. Not looking ahead.

SLAM: Tell me a little about the Dribble to Stop Diabetes program.

DG: Yeah, Dribble to Stop Diabetes is a national media campaign developed by the NBA to pretty much encourage basketball fans to really live an active and healthy lifestyle and bring awareness for diabetes research.

SLAM: As an athlete, do you feel any responsibility to push the idea that fans should be more active?

DG: Yeah, just give ‘em a little nudge. I think a lot of people don’t realize that [how active you are] really determines how healthy you are and how you’re living.

SLAM: I know you’re a big New Orleans Saints fan. Any predictions on how they’ll do this season?

DG: Huge, huge Saints fan. For me, Sundays are either a great day or a horrible day. I think Drew Brees is gonna take it home for us.