Cameron Johnson: ‘What people don’t get about these trades and I think there have been plenty of players who have vocalized this before, is that you don’t get downtime, you don’t get time to go home, you don’t get time to straighten things out, you are just… your life is moved. Everybody that you’ve worked with, put sweat equity into, blood, sweat, tears all that, coaching staff, fan base, four years I was there, five years Mikal Bridges was there, gone. One night I’m getting ready to play, watching my film, watching whoever was playing, I think it was like a Dallas- Clippers game before that was just finishing up on TNT, and then in a moment everything, all that, just gone. I think the trade deadline has become entertainment and it’s a unique thing for professional sports. Our trade deadline being so viewed, so watched, people anticipating movement, but it’s just like when you put so much into it and a trade kind of sideswipes you like that, it leaves your head spinning, and you have to turn around quick, we played in the Brooklyn uniform two days later.’ -via YouTube / March 20, 2025

Jalen, you said you never thought things would be the way they are, so is there anything specifically that surprised you? Brunson: I’d say I’ve always worked my butt off to be the best player I can be, so the play part, I’m not necessarily surprised by that. I always knew I could achieve whatever I worked for as long as I kept working and had that mindset to never be satisfied with anything, but the things that come with it, like being named the captain, signing an extension, thankfully, being here with my dad (assistant coach Rick Brunson), Thibs (coach Tom Thibodeau), Leon (Rose), and all the guys I’ve known for such a long time like Josh (Hart), Mikal (Bridges), and formerly Donte (DiVincenzo), who I grew up with. There are so many factors where you look at it, and you’re thinking this is something you’d never thought of when making the jump to a new team. That’s what I meant when I said you don’t know what would happen. It’s been remarkable and something I wouldn’t change for anything. -via HoopsHype / March 18, 2025