Los Angeles Clippers newcomer Eric Bledsoe has opened up about the positivity that coach Tyronn Lue and his teammates bring to team practices.
After playing his first 13 games for the Clippers, veteran guard Eric Bledsoe is becoming more and more comfortable with his new team.
According to Bledsoe, who joined the Clippers this past offseason, the Lob City warmly “welcomed” him and since he doesn't talk a lot, coach Tyronn Lue often “messed” with him during team practices just to make him open his mouth.
“I got great teammates,” Bledsoe said via ClutchPoints' Tomer Azarly. “And T-Lue messed me with a lot in practice trying to get me to talk … he told me, ‘You ain’t gotta say nothing to me, but I’m gonna mess with you.’ So it be fun, to be honest. It’s all positive energy.”
Eric Bledsoe: "I'm just a naturally quiet guy. I'll talk a little bit, as you can see… T-Lue messed me with a lot in practice trying to get me to say.@MirjamSwanson – "What he say?"
"Yesterday he told me, you ain't gotta say nothing to me, but I'm gonna mess with you." pic.twitter.com/E4KdZRmb9p
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) November 12, 2021
Though coach Lue has yet to admit whether Bledsoe was telling the truth, he is happy that the 31-year-old is now “getting comfortable” with his team.
“I mean, when we get him to say two words that means he’s getting comfortable,” Lue said of Bledsoe.
Bledsoe started the season shooting just 39.7% from the field with an even more underwhelming 24.5% from beyond the arc. However, the Clippers reassured him that “mistakes” are not a big deal as they are part of the game.
“They just told me to just play my game, go out there and play my game,” the two-time All-Defensive team member divulged. “‘Don’t worry about the mistakes, that comes with it.’ They welcomed me with open arms and so it’s been pretty fun through the struggles, just gotta keep it going.”
"They just told me to just play my game. Go out there and play my game. Don't worry about the mistakes. That comes with it. They welcomed me with open arms. it's been pretty fun through the struggles and tonight."
Eric Bledsoe on what his Clippers teammates/coaches tell him pic.twitter.com/tjuKYdtJvV
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) November 12, 2021