Since the trade deadline on Feb. 20th, Kenneth Faried has been playing very well. On the season he’s averaging 12.5 points (career high) and 7.8 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game. And since the trade deadline, Faried has been averaging 18.9 points and 9.1 rebounds and an even better 21.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in 32.8 minutes a night in March.
Maybe it’s the increased minutes? Maybe it’s playing looser without the pressure of a playoff push? Maybe he’s more comfortable in Brian Shaw’s system? Maybe it was the trade deadline rumors? Well, Faried talks about how the trade rumors bothered him in the interview below, but he’s also playing with more confidence and with better attention to detail, too. Check out the interview below and here are some key snippets …
2:20 mark: Faried discusses how the trade rumors affected his play this season. Some interesting stuff on how he has had a lot of fun in Denver and how the rumors might kick back up again after the season is complete.
5:00 mark: Faried answers some questions about "groupie culture" in the NBA and if it may be a myth. Faried gives some pretty funny answers after holding back some laughter. Faried is also asked if it's harder being single in the NBA or if it's harder to be in a committed relationship – his answers are also interesting as he's currently in a relationship to boot.
7:20 mark: Faried talks about his biggest transition from NCAA to NBA and how the grind of an 82 game season wears on him. He also talks about how it's easy to get up for games, but not so easy to get motivated to practice.
8:34 mark: Kenneth is asked about his relationship with Brian Shaw and the team's relationship with Shaw. Faried mentions the word "friction" in his response and again brings up the trade deadline.
9:50 mark: Faried talks about his day-to-day NBA practice life and why he has no tattoos (worries about his brand).
11:21 mark: Jill Munroe shows how little homework she did for the Faried interview as she brushes aside history and asks Faried what it means to be the first NBA player out of Morehead State (Faried is the sixth player in the NBA out of Morehead State, the first since 1990).
12:20 mark: Faried addresses his fans and plugs his clothing/merchandise on FanTree.com. And he talks about the upcoming NCAA tourney.
Also, check out Faried's interview after the Clippers win. He's not always showing a lot of personality in his interviews, but he does this time in "Manimal at Midnight."
