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00:00Between the rings, hands off Gabby.
00:02Gabby guarded by Becker's pull-up from 17.
00:05It's good beyond the right elbow.
00:07Gabby Williams with 13 points.
00:09She's done it on 5 of 7 shooting.
00:11Gabby Williams better be an all-star this year.
00:15Valhalla, it's Gabby Williams.
00:17You're listening to Willard and Dibs
00:18coming to you live from the Laughing Monk Studios
00:20on 95.7 The Game.
00:24She's changed the team.
00:26No doubt.
00:26Gabby Williams has changed the team.
00:28What a free agent signing.
00:30Big time, yeah.
00:31By the Valks.
00:33So let's talk that out.
00:34Let's get our guy in here
00:37on the River Island's guest line.
00:39Warriors guard pods.
00:42Brandon Pajemski joins us here on Willard and Dibs
00:44as he often does.
00:45Talk a little Warriors and Valkyries
00:46as well here on 95.7 The Game.
00:49Hey, BP, what's going on?
00:51What's up, guys?
00:52Thanks for having me again.
00:53Yeah, how do you think Gabby,
00:55like how would you put that into words,
00:56the way she has changed this team?
01:00I would say all for the better.
01:03Another kind of alpha player
01:05could create her own shot,
01:07which is I think something that we needed
01:09on a consistent basis.
01:11And so her doing that
01:13and then her two-way capability,
01:14I think she should be an all-star
01:17because she really is a game changer.
01:20What about the veteran presence?
01:22I mean, you've been now around the association
01:24for long enough to know what that means.
01:26How much has that meant to the Valks
01:28to have a player with that sort of gravitas?
01:31Yeah, I think it helps
01:33her being in any situation
01:35with the Valkyries.
01:36I think she's been in before.
01:38So just that calming presence
01:40of I've been there,
01:41I know what it's like.
01:42I think it's going to help
01:43all of her teammates that are around her
01:45and allow them to be calm as well.
01:48Hey, Brandon, I wonder what you see
01:50when you look at this team
01:52in terms of true championship contention.
01:56We know they're good.
01:57We know they're good.
01:58They're 10-5,
01:59but we do see a lot of
02:01they handle the business
02:02they're supposed to handle
02:03and they don't feel like
02:05they're quite there yet
02:06as far as the elite teams.
02:09Do you agree with that
02:10and what do you see them needing
02:12to get over the top?
02:14Yeah, I think they're close.
02:16If we're just talking about
02:17the Commissioner's Cup,
02:18I think they were third
02:19behind Las Vegas and Minnesota.
02:22And, you know,
02:23if they beat one of those two teams,
02:26it's a three-way tie.
02:27And so, you know, they're close.
02:30They're really close.
02:30Obviously, they took a big step forward
02:32from last year
02:33and what they could do
02:35in regards to what do I think they need.
02:38I can't really put my finger
02:39on that at the moment
02:41because they're so close in those games.
02:43It's not like they're getting blown out
02:44by the top teams.
02:45So, I think they're close.
02:47A lot of games can go
02:48one way or the other.
02:49But I think, like I said,
02:51it's been a big improvement
02:52from a year ago.
02:53You mentioned the Commissioner's Cup
02:54and Mark and I have this debate
02:56about how important that is to players.
02:59And so, thinking about your own experience
03:00and now seeing the Commissioner's Cup
03:02for the Valks,
03:03are these tournaments,
03:04these kind of in-season things
03:06important to players?
03:09Yeah, I think so.
03:10Obviously, for us,
03:13you know, extra money in your pocket,
03:14you'll never complain about
03:15and it's definitely
03:16a motivating factor.
03:18And I know for them,
03:19you know,
03:20playing for a cause
03:21that the teams decide on
03:23and that are important to them,
03:25I know that's a motivating factor
03:26as well.
03:27And so,
03:27I think it just boosts the competition
03:29early on in the season.
03:30Whereas if it wasn't,
03:32you know,
03:33a thing,
03:33maybe it's not as competitive.
03:35And so,
03:35I think it's a great cause
03:36for both us and them.
03:38Brandon,
03:38I'm going to admit
03:39right up front,
03:40this question could put you
03:42in a prickly spot.
03:43That's not what I mean.
03:44Have fun with this.
03:46But are the Valkyries,
03:48like of all the Bay Area teams
03:50right now,
03:51are they the closest
03:52to a championship?
03:59Yeah,
04:00I mean,
04:00you could probably say that.
04:01I think that's a fair statement.
04:04You know,
04:04they're really close
04:05to the upper echelons
04:06of the league
04:07and they're in the season
04:09right now.
04:10And so,
04:10I think,
04:11you know,
04:12they're close,
04:12like I mentioned.
04:13I think they got enough pieces
04:15to do it.
04:16And so,
04:17yeah,
04:17I think so.
04:18But I will never count us
04:19out either though.
04:20That's right.
04:21I mean,
04:21of course,
04:22probably should have just
04:23excused the Warriors from that
04:24to avoid some of the awkwardness.
04:26But I'm just fascinated
04:27by them in the second year
04:28because as we saw
04:30with the Spurs this year,
04:31you kind of have to take a step
04:32and then another step,
04:34the Valks from last year,
04:35first year,
04:36they make the playoffs.
04:37Can they really take
04:38that giant of a leap
04:39or do they kind of have to go
04:40through levels to get there,
04:41you think?
04:43Yeah,
04:43I think it's going to,
04:44it's going to be some levels to it.
04:47I think,
04:48you know,
04:48last year playing Minnesota
04:51who was right up there,
04:52you know,
04:53being the best team in the league
04:54last year,
04:54playing them first round,
04:55I think it helps
04:56for our experience.
04:57It helps to see
04:59kind of what that takes.
05:00So for me,
05:01I think,
05:02you know,
05:03winning a series
05:04is going to,
05:04you know,
05:05make you even take another step
05:06and then maybe even get
05:07into a five-game series
05:08and just all those type of things
05:10and then a seven-game series,
05:11hopefully.
05:12I think all those steps
05:13that you take,
05:14I think it's just going to keep,
05:15you know,
05:15leveling up the ladies' confidence
05:17but also just having
05:19that calming factor
05:20in those big moments
05:21like I was talking about earlier.
05:22Pods is with us here
05:24on Willard & Tabs 95.7,
05:25the game.
05:26Hey,
05:26Brandon,
05:27we're also getting ready
05:28for next Tuesday.
05:30What do you remember
05:31about draft night?
05:32What was your experience?
05:34Yeah,
05:35draft day was really long.
05:37You know,
05:37I know for the guys
05:38that are invited
05:39to the green room,
05:40you know,
05:41you get on that bus
05:42around 2.30,
05:433 o'clock
05:44over in Manhattan
05:45and then you got to go
05:45over the bridge to Brooklyn
05:46and it takes a while
05:47to get there
05:48because there's traffic
05:49and then you get there,
05:50it's a bunch of media stuff
05:51you got to do
05:52and,
05:53you know,
05:53by the time you sit down
05:54at your table,
05:55it's,
05:56you know,
05:56four hours from when
05:57you left the hotel
05:58so it's a long day.
06:00Getting drafted,
06:01I don't really remember much,
06:02it was kind of like
06:03a blur in the moment.
06:05I just remember
06:05having my family there
06:06which was cool
06:07and then,
06:08you know,
06:08after you shake
06:09the commissioner's hand
06:09there's a lot more media
06:11so by the time
06:13you get out of there
06:13it's closer to midnight
06:14so it's a fun day
06:17for everyone
06:17that gets to experience it,
06:19you know,
06:19taking the moment,
06:19really enjoy it
06:20because,
06:21you know,
06:21it is a once-in-a-lifetime
06:23opportunity
06:23so it was just
06:25a bunch of excitement
06:25and joy for me
06:27and my family as well.
06:28The phone rings first
06:29though,
06:29right?
06:29Like,
06:29before you get picked
06:30did you get the phone call
06:32and who was it calling you?
06:35Yeah,
06:36he,
06:36I think it was
06:37maybe Mike,
06:38I don't,
06:39I wasn't sure
06:39who called my agent Bill
06:41he was at the table
06:42with us
06:42and you kind of know
06:44at the draft
06:45because all the cameras
06:46start to,
06:47you know,
06:47bum rush you
06:48and get ready
06:48to announce it on TV
06:49so that's kind of
06:51how we found out
06:52but like I said
06:54it was a surreal moment
06:55which was really cool.
06:56And you're in there
06:57and you're wondering
06:58like where you might go
06:59was there a spot
07:00where you thought
07:01you might go
07:01and did you go ahead
07:03of it,
07:03behind it
07:03or was it exactly
07:04kind of where you thought
07:05it might play out?
07:07Yeah,
07:08I knew
07:09just based on talking
07:10to Brooklyn
07:11that I wouldn't fall
07:11below the 21st pick
07:13they obviously had 21
07:14and 22
07:15and so I wouldn't fall
07:16below that
07:17if I was to get there
07:18so I know
07:18that was kind of like
07:19the bottom
07:20of where I could go
07:21a bunch of teams
07:22you know
07:2313 through that range
07:25really liked me
07:25so I figured
07:26anywhere between
07:2713 and 21
07:28was where I would go
07:29and obviously
07:30I ended up 19
07:32so what a perfect fit.
07:34Love it.
07:35Brandon,
07:35also with the draft
07:37coming up
07:37you don't have to
07:38name any names
07:39but do you have
07:40any thoughts
07:41on what kind
07:42of a player
07:43could be added
07:44to your team
07:45that would be good
07:45for you?
07:47Yeah,
07:48I think the obvious
07:48answer is just
07:49someone who's
07:50ready to play
07:51who you can play
07:52right away
07:54someone that has
07:56experience
07:57you know
07:57is physically
07:58mature enough
07:59to play in the games
08:00right away
08:01I think that's
08:02kind of where
08:03you know
08:03as an organization
08:04we're at
08:04we're kind of
08:05at a stage
08:05where we're
08:06trying to win
08:07as much as we can
08:08and so I think
08:10with the 11th pick
08:11you just got to look
08:11for a guy
08:12that's
08:12you know
08:13ready to come
08:13in and make
08:13the impact
08:14right away
08:14Do professional
08:16athletes
08:17be honest
08:18with us here
08:18BP
08:19We're all friends
08:19Do professional
08:20athletes watch
08:22the draft
08:22and worry
08:23about the position
08:25of who gets
08:26picked
08:27because what
08:27if they pick
08:28someone that's
08:28at the same
08:29position as you?
08:31No,
08:32I don't think so
08:33it's really
08:34at least for me
08:35the last two years
08:36and I know this year
08:37I'm just gonna
08:38see who we pick
08:39and you know
08:40just welcome them
08:41with open arms
08:42just like
08:42you know
08:42a bunch of guys
08:43did for me
08:44when I got drafted
08:45and really just
08:46try to be a mentor
08:47in any way I can
08:49for whoever we bring in
08:50I think that's just
08:51part of our culture
08:52at Golden State
08:54you know
08:54the guys who've been there
08:55mentored the young guys
08:56and it's just like
08:57we're evolving doors
08:58so whoever we pick
08:59I'm gonna be super
09:00excited for it
09:01and we'll be excited
09:02to have them
09:03come for Summer League
09:04I'm looking at
09:05the NBA.com
09:06mock draft
09:06of your draft
09:07and they had you
09:08mocked to the Warriors
09:09and it says
09:10you strengthened
09:11your case
09:11at the Combine
09:12leaving scouts
09:14more confident
09:14that his shot making
09:15play making
09:16and rebounding
09:16can translate
09:17how spot on
09:18was that
09:19scouting report
09:20for you?
09:22I mean
09:22I think it was
09:23spot on
09:24I do agree
09:25that the Combine
09:26helped my case
09:28I had
09:29two really good games
09:30scrimmages wise
09:31and I think
09:32the feedback
09:33I got best
09:34was my interview process
09:35I was able
09:36to remember
09:36things
09:38you know
09:38put things
09:39in a perspective
09:40where I kind of
09:42knew what I was
09:42talking about
09:43and it really
09:44helped my case
09:45so it was good
09:46to see a bunch
09:47of guys
09:47kind of those
09:48fringe guys
09:49playing the Combine
09:50this year as well
09:50pod circling
09:52back to tomorrow
09:52night
09:53and the fact
09:53that Minnesota
09:54is in town
09:55to take on
09:56the Valkyries
09:58this was a difficult
09:59matchup for them
10:00two weeks ago
10:01I think we spoke
10:02to you right
10:02before they were
10:03going to be
10:04in Minnesota
10:05and it was a
10:06great game
10:06and they lost
10:07by only three
10:08points
10:08what did you
10:09think of that
10:10matchup
10:10and what could
10:11turn it to go
10:12the other way
10:14yeah I mean
10:15just looking at
10:15Minnesota
10:16they haven't played
10:17yet with
10:18with Nafisa
10:19Collier yet
10:21and Olivia Miles
10:22I think she
10:22missed on like
10:23three shots
10:24last night
10:24in LA
10:25so you know
10:27she's kind of
10:28the head of the
10:28snake when it
10:28comes to that
10:29her pick and roll
10:30abilities
10:30you know
10:31pretty much
10:32top tier
10:33as a rookie
10:33and so
10:34I think she's
10:35just a key to
10:35that
10:36you know
10:36if you try to
10:37take her out
10:37of the game
10:37you know
10:38I'm sure
10:38Natalie
10:39and her staff
10:40will have
10:40different things
10:41that she's
10:41going to try
10:42to do
10:42maybe a little
10:43bit differently
10:43than last time
10:44but like I
10:46said
10:46all those
10:46upper echelon
10:47teams
10:47that the
10:48Valkers
10:48are playing
10:49against
10:49they're right
10:50there
10:50like a few
10:51possessions
10:51here or there
10:52and so
10:53that's why
10:53I got confidence
10:54that you know
10:54we can make
10:55something out
10:55this year
10:56all right
10:57hey are you
10:57a soccer fan
10:58are you
10:59are you
10:59into Team
10:59USA
11:00tomorrow
11:02I'm not
11:03a really
11:03big fan
11:03obviously
11:04I'm always
11:04going to
11:04root for
11:05for USA
11:06and win
11:06some games
11:07and then
11:08what about
11:08the draft
11:09what do
11:10you do
11:10for the
11:11NBA draft
11:13I'll probably
11:14just watch
11:14it on my
11:15TV with my
11:15family
11:16nothing too
11:17special
11:17I know
11:18my dad's
11:19going out
11:19there actually
11:20to speak
11:21for the
11:22parents that
11:23are invited
11:23to the
11:23green room
11:25they asked
11:26him to come
11:26out there
11:26and speak
11:27to the
11:27parents
11:27of just
11:28experience
11:28and what
11:29it's like
11:29so I
11:30know he's
11:30excited for
11:30that
11:31he's going
11:31to be out
11:32there but
11:32I'll just be at
11:32home probably
11:33watching it on
11:33my TV
11:34okay
11:34is his
11:35advice to
11:36the other
11:36families
11:37like look
11:37happy no
11:38matter what
11:38like what
11:39what does
11:40he say
11:42I think
11:43I think
11:43for him
11:43he felt
11:44it was right
11:45to do it
11:45just because
11:46he's been
11:46able to
11:47experience
11:47kind of
11:48every level
11:48of you
11:49know the
11:50goods the
11:50bad in
11:51the middles
11:51of being a
11:52parent and
11:54seeing your
11:54son you
11:55know do
11:55good do
11:56bad the
11:57praise the
11:58critics
11:58everything in
11:59between he's
12:00got to
12:00experience so
12:01he just
12:02told me he
12:02thought it
12:03was right
12:03for him to
12:04pass that
12:04on to
12:05the you
12:05know future
12:06NBA parents
12:08so that's
12:08kind of his
12:09thing behind
12:09it
12:09got it
12:10okay hey
12:11pods great
12:11stuff as
12:12always thank
12:13you so much
12:13for your
12:14time
12:15cool thanks
12:16guys we'll
12:16talk soon
12:17you definitely
12:17will Brandon
12:18Pajemski right
12:19here on
12:19Willard and
12:19Dibs 95
12:207 the game
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