The Chicago Bulls introduced James Johnson and Taj Gibson in a press conference today. Here is a rough recap of what was said during the press conference today.

Gar Forman: We are very excited about how things turned out.  Think with both players there is great versatility, both for the roster, but also as far as their games are concerned.  James can play inside and outside.  He can play at the 3 and the 4.  Taj is a skill player, who brings length and activity to the floor that will really help us.

James Johnson: Chicago is a great city, going to be happy to play here.  They’re a great young team.  Going to be fun running with Derrick and the rest of the guys.

Taj Gibson: I feel the same way.  I’m blessed to be here, a great city, a great team.  Looking forward to filling any need the team has, looking forward to the season.

Reporter: Do you liken yourself to anyone in particular or the kind of style of play?

James Johnson: I watch everyone.  I have a couple guys, inside and out.  Try to take everyone’s game who makes great moves, and make them in my game.

Reporter: You said before that you feel more comfortable at the 3 spot, is that accurate?

James Johnson: Yes sir.

Reporter: Gar’s talked about your flexibility to play multiple positions.  Where do you think you fit in better offensively, at the 3 or 4?

James Johnson: I like the 3.  I ran the point in high school, but Wake Forest needed a 4, so that’s what I did.  Whether I play the 3 or the 4, it’s a great honor to play for the Bulls.

Reporter: What was it like growing up in Cheyenne, Wyoming?

James Johnson: I never played AAU basketball until 11th grade.  Great competition there.  There’s some great players out there that helped blossom my game.

Reporter: What do you know about Derrick Rose?  How about the fact that you will get to play with him now?

Taj Gibson: I think that he’s a phenomenal player, getting to watch him on film and play against him my sophomore year.  Looking forward for the chance to workout with him and get a good feel with the game.

Reporter: I know you have martial arts background.  Was that part of your training leading up to the draft and how has that helped you leading up to this point?

James Johnson: No, it was more of basketball.  I think it helped my footwork out a lot.  You’re always on your toes a lot when you’re fighting.

Reporter: Taj, I noticed you’re from Brooklyn.  Do you think you were drafted because the owner is from Brooklyn.

(No response from Taj after ughs and umms).

Reporter: Did Tim Floyd tell you anything about this organization, about the Bulls, in preparation to coming here?

Taj Gibson: Since we had two coaches, who previously coached the Bulls, we always heard stories, good and bad.  Teaching us about the game, about the NBA swing of things.  Coach Floyd loved the city of Chicago.  Floyd always talked about the Chicago Bulls, how they prepared, preparation for games.  Phil Johnson couldn’t even believe I was drafted to the Bulls.

Reporter: Taj, describe your offensive game.  What can you accomplish at the next level offensively?

Taj Gibson: I’m a really active player.  I have good hands.  I’ve always filled a need for a team.  If I can score, I can score.  When it’s the time to score, I score.  I don’t shy away from offense.  I love to come into a situation and learn, and I’m a quick learner.

Reporter: You had an interesting high school background, a bit of an odyssey, you’re a bit older for a college senior.  Do you think that maturity helped you as you make the transition to the NBA.

Taj Gibson: Yeah, it helped me out a lot.  I was able to weather the storm, learn from great coaches.  I cannot say how much I’m blessed to be here with the Bulls.  Long hard road with high school and college.  Looking forward to the challenge of the NBA.

Reporter: Did you have a sense of where you might go, what teams you thought you would be at, compared to where you ended up?

James Johnson: I didn’t know where I would end up.  I got my name called by the Bulls, a couple of my friends had on Bulls jerseys, and one of them had a hat, and I put it on after they called me.  I feel good coming here.  Great team, they transition well and I like to run.

Reporter: Does playing for the organization where Jordan played, is that intimidating, how do you look at coming into a situation like that?

Taj Gibson: I’m looking forward to it, that Michael Jordan played in the same building, wore the same jersey as you.  I can’t wait to get into practice and learn from the guys who’ve been here.  Met Mr. Paxson, talked to him about his great shooting ability.  It’s a dream come true to be a Bull.

Reporter: The only name that James mentioned, we were talking about numbers, he wanted to wear #5, but he thought it was retired when John Paxson retired.

James Johnson: I don’t think it should be.

Reporter: James, how about on the court.  Can you talk about how you see yourself coming in contributing?  Where will you help the team?  You said you like to run, this team likes to run.  Please talk a little more about that.

James Johnson: I’m going to come in early, get situated, trying to work on my game a lot more.  Hopefully if I’m able and blessed to be in the rotation, I will.  If not, I’m going to be a great practice player and work myself onto the floor, and that is when I will call myself a pro.

Reporter: How much did you guys know each other before this draft process?

Taj Gibson: We run into each other a lot in L.A., because L.A. is a place where a lot of guys tend to workout pre-draft.  Always saw him in the elevator at the Chicago combine.  He’s a funny guy.

Reporter: When did you guys first talk after being drafted together?

Taj Gibson: Honestly, today.

James Johnson:  (Laughing) Shit…shit.

Reporter: James, you have eight brothers and sisters, right?

James Johnson: Yeah.

Reporter: And your father obviously played a big role in your rise through college.  How did your family help you become a better player?

James Johnson: Older brothers wouldn’t let you quit or get away with anything.  Losing wasn’t an option.  Grew up getting toughed up, roughed up, hating to lose.  That’s how we all were, we’re all competitive.  Everyday, playing basketball or fighting, we went hard at it, and we made each other better at everything we did.  I’m just blessed to have that many brothers and one sister.

Reporter: James, after the loss to Cleveland State, Dino Gaudio said a few times that he felt the three of you should come back for another year, and need another year before going to the NBA.  Your decision seemed to evolve rather quickly in regards to entering the draft, what went into your decision?

James Johnson: Moving on.  I was hurt after that loss, a lot of us were.  I just wanted to move on, play for a bigger team, have a different team, have a change of heart.  I knew my skills were okay enough.  Coming into this draft, I thought I was supposed to be 2nd round.  Just working hard, working out for teams, going at everyone they had in front of me was just my goal.  Getting picked 16 is a great feeling.

Reporter: James, do you consider yourself a late bloomer in basketball?  Do you feel like you probably still have a long way to go?

James Johnson: Of course.  I don’t think my game is ever going to stop growing.  I always like to learn.  I learned a new thing from a 5th grader, he had a nice crossover that worked.  I’ll take it.  Every time I see a move I like, I work on it, and try to put it in my game.  I don’t think my game will ever stop growing.

Reporter: One of the things we saw with a lot of the successful teams in the playoffs, they had a lot of forwards or big guys handling the ball, making the plays at ends of game.  Turkoglu with Orlando, obviously Lebron James.  Do you see yourself able to do these kinds of things?  you played point guard in high school, handled the ball a lot.  Could you see yourself in that role where a team can run an offense through you at that point?

James Johnson: They already got a great floor general, Derrick Rose is a great floor general.  If I get a rebound and I go, or if I push the fast break, then that’s what the coach wants me to do.  If they want me to pull it down and outlet to Derrick Rose, that’s what I’m going to do.  Hopefully I can work my ways to where the coaches trust me enough to do something like that, so I can run the offense and come off screen and rolls.

Reporter: Gar, you mentioned in scouting James, you mentioned that sometimes he grabbed a rebound, took it coast to coast in transition.  I know Vinny’s the coach, but do you envision him maybe handling the ball in full court at times.

Gar Forman: I don’t know if it will be in full court, because we do use the outlet to Derrick and want to push it in Derrick.  Maybe there are situations where he would.  I think it’s something he’s capable of doing.  One of the things that impressed us when scouting him is that he can make plays off the dribble.  If it’s not in transition in full court, it may be in the half court.  We saw him penetrate into the lane either dish to bigs or kick to shooters in the corner.  He’s versatile enough to do that, which is a real positive.  In today’s game, when you got a guy like James, 6′8″, 250, on the perimeter you’re not really allowed to have much physical contact.  To have a guy like that, it gives you versatility in how you can attack a defense.  In the way we play a lot of pick and roll and how we space the floor, James will have some opportunities to do that.

Reporter: Are you aware that Scottie Pippen was a point guard in high school, and sort of grew into that small forward role with the Bulls, and ended up doing a lot of ball handling.

James: I wasn’t.

Reporter: Taj, some people were surprised at how high you were picked.  I wonder if you were surprised, and what would you say to people who may have some doubts.

Taj Gibson: I only can say I really worked hard.  I went against a lot of the top players.  I fought really hard.  I just worked my way through, nothing was given to me.  For me to stand out there is a blessing.  The coaches throughout many teams told me the way I’m working, there’s going to be something good out there at the end of the road.  It turned out to be the Bulls.  For those who have doubts, I will show them when the season comes if I can get the opportunity.  Until then, I’m just going to work hard in practice, in the facilities, and get better.  This whole process is about getting better and helping the team win games.  If I have to workout in practice or just be a good teammate off the court, I’ll do that.

Reporter: Taj, I remember at the combine you talked about how disappointed you were that the groin injury sidelines you from the first workout.  Were you confident that the Bulls would bring you back for a second workout, and how did that workout go in your opinion?

Taj Gibson: I didn’t really know, because when I pulled my groin, it kind of put me down there.  I was really working hard.  When they called me back, it was a good thing.  I was shocked when I came back, because at first they had me with a bunch of 7 footers.  Then when they had me back the second time, they had me with a bunch of wings.  It was a good experience and I’m looking forward to more good experiences.

Reporter: James, there is some talk about your martial arts and kick boxing, and that you would beat everyone up on the court.  But you suggested before it helped you with balance and a lot of things involving basketball.  What does that help, what can that help you with?

James Johnson: I’m flexible.  A lot of the positions in the martial arts are the same positions as basketball.  Like the defensive stance, you have to slide to kick, slide to jab.  That helps my push off.  It also helps me with discipline.  I’m not going to beat everyone up on the court because I can.  If I get fouled, I’ll go to the free throw line, that’s it.

Reporter: But you could?

James Johnson: Probably so.

Reporter: How else mentally, psychologically has it shaped you and how does it help you in basketball.

James Johnson: It’s a lot of training.  You have to wanna compete, you gotta wanna work harder than the next person.  The same thing with basketball, the only difference is you have a team in basketball.  Fighting, you’re the only one in the ring, if you get beat, you’re the only one that gets beat.  So you learn how to prepare to win for yourself, and then expect everyone else to prepare the same way.

James Johnson: (Whispering to Taj Gibson) I hope this is for you.

Reporter: James, just so we’re not misstating any part of your biography.  Weren’t you born in Oceanside, and was your dad still in the marines, was he at Camp Hamilton at the time?

James Johnson: Yes sir, I was born in Oceanside, California.  Father in the marines, went to Camp Hamiltion, that’s where he met my mother.  Couple years there, 8 years there, going back to Cheyenne, and back to California during the summer time.

Reporter: And in Cheyenne, didn’t you also play football too?

James Johnson: Yes sir.

Reporter: You were a wide receiver?

James Johnson: Yes sir.

Reporter: You led your team in receptions your last two years?

James Johnson: Yes sir.

Reporter: So between football, martial arts, and basketball, what else did you do out there?

James Johnson: Golf.

Similar Posts:

• 2009 Draft Press Conference Recap
• Luol Deng Signing Press Conference Transcript
• Derrick Rose Press Conference Transcript
• John Paxson Trade Deadline 2009 Press Conference Recap
• Bulls Sign Johnson and Gibson

Tags: 2009 NBA Draft, AAU, Brooklyn, Camp Hamilton, Cheyenne, Cleveland State, Derrick Rose, Dino Gaudio, football, Gar Forman, golf, Hedo Turkoglu, James Johnson, John Paxson, Lebron James, Los Angeles, martial arts, Michael Jordan, Oceanside, Phil Johnson, Press Conference, Scottie Pippen, Taj Gibson, Tim Floyd, USC, Vinny Del Negro, Wake Forest, Wyoming

This entry was posted on Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 3:27 pm and is filed under Press Conference Transcripts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.