Collegiate Times

Today, Washington is playing for the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA-D League, the developmental league established in 2001, designed to one day be a true farm system for the NBA.

CT: How’s life in the NBDL?
WASHINGTON: It’s going pretty good. Taking a little adjustment, a little different especially from last year. But, it’s a good experience. The season’s just starting and going well so it’s just getting ready to keep it going.

CT: How was your time with the Pistons?
WASHINGTON: It actually went pretty good until the last day when waivers came when they let me go, but everything was going good — I was playing well, the coaches really liked me. But, it’s just a numbers thing so they had to let me go.

CT: What are you trying to work on to get back into the NBA?
WASHINGTON: Pretty much everything I have to. I know it’s a big stepping-stone for me after being waived by the Pistons. I know they just told me just to go down and keep working and there’s still the possibility of getting called up. So, there’s always call ups so you’ve just got to look forward to that and just keep working hard.

CT: Did the coaches suggest anything for you to work on to get back at that level?
WASHINGTON: Yeah, the coaches — they pretty much told me I was headed in the right direction, I was doing everything good. I’ve just got to continue to keep working on my shooting and handling, and a lot of things will play out good for me.

CT: What’s your practice schedule like with the D-Fenders?
WASHINGTON: We just are able to practice with as much time as we get in the gym because we share the gym with the Lakers, so it’s pretty hard to get a lot of time.

CT: Have you been following the Hokies since you left?
WASHINGTON: I haven’t, yet. Being overseas last year, it’s been hard to follow them but I still know there’s a couple players that I played with still there.

CT: What was your impression of the players on the team now that you did know? Do you know Malcolm Delaney?
WASHINGTON: Malcolm is a good guy. He’s a real good player. I think he’s probably a big leader on the team right now, just taking control — trying to be a captain. But, I think he’s a pretty good player. I know from his freshman year he’s gotten much better so I can probably say he’s going to be a big player in the ACC this year.

CT: What about the other guys?
WASHINGTON: I know Jeff (Allen), Dorenzo (Hudson) and J.T. Thompson. All of them were freshmen when I was there on senior year, and all those players are pretty good players, they want to learn — so I know they should have a pretty good team. They have a lot of talent.

CT: How was it being the second pick in the NBDL draft?
WASHINGTON: I mean, it was kind of a compliment, but it’s something you don’t want to settle for. You want to go for things that are better than that. You want to get to a higher level, but just knowing that you’ve been picked in the draft that high — there’s still a little bit of excitement, though.

CT: How was playing overseas, and why didn’t you stay?
WASHINGTON: After last year, I did enjoy playing overseas, but my goal is right now — just to play in the NBA. I’m not looking towards anywhere else. I’m not planning to go overseas. I’m just trying to work my way back into the NBA.

CT: How was the overseas basketball experience?
WASHINGTON: It was pretty good. We played like once a week, which is a lot of free time, but it was still nice — the competition was pretty good, and the living there was kind of nice.

CT: How did the overseas fanbase compare?
WASHINGTON: That might have been one of the best fanbases I’ve ever had. The fans are at every game, they were loud, it didn’t matter what was going on — they were chanting for us. The fan-base was really great. I’ve got to say — that was probably one of the best fanbases I’ve had in basketball.

CT: Do the crowds at NBDL games pale in comparison?
WASHINGTON: Right now, it’s not many fans coming. In the NBDL games, it’s really different. It’s just a different atmosphere. But there are still fans that come to the game. Like you said, overseas is different because they’re dedicated to that one team that they have in that city — so, it’s a little different.

CT: From your experience, is there any advice you can offer to the players here attempting to get to the next level?
WASHINGTON: I’d say just continue to work hard, be coachable and don’t take any opportunities for granted. Whenever there’s a chance, you’ve got to go and get it. It’s there for the taking, so you’ve just got to go and get it.

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