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Men's Basketball Q+A: Joey Baker
12/6/2021 2:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM – Before the Duke men's basketball team took the court for its season opener on Nov. 9, the Voice of the Blue Devils, David Shumate, sat down with forward Joey Baker as he prepared for his senior campaign.
DS: Let's start with Countdown To Craziness — you guys went an entire year without fans, and in many respects, it's actually been almost two years since you guys have had a chance to play in front of your own fans. What was that energy like for you in Cameron?
JB: You know, it's hard to put into words. A whole year without fans in Cameron — everyone knows how special a place Cameron is with the Cameron Crazies and everything they bring to the table. Being back in front of them, it was incredible, just hard to put into words.
DS: There have been a lot of things from this past summer that have been hard to put into words including a coaching transition, and I think it speaks to what Mike Krzyzewski thinks of this team and what you all are capable of that he doesn't want us using the word "last." He wants it to be about this moment. What was it like with him this summer, because as we know he hasn't been on the road recruiting, he's been hanging out with you guys?
JB: Yeah, it's definitely different. Usually, the coaches leave throughout the summer, they have to recruit and think about the next year a little bit. But Coach has been full throttle, all-in on this year. Throughout the summer he was there every day, and I think with that we've all developed a really good relationship with him this year in particular. I think that will help us throughout the year, just that relationship and trust that's been built.
DS: Coach has also said, and he's meant it, that he doesn't want you guys playing solely for him this year. But when I talk to others that have played for him including members of the coaching staff, it feels very much like you guys are aware of how special this can be and the opportunity to send him out on the right note. Is that fair?
JB: Absolutely -- he's had such an incredible career that it's only natural to want to send him out on a high note. We're taking that into account but, like you said, we have to focus on the moment that we're in and working at it every day. Otherwise, that goal that we want, and trying to send him out on a high note, won't be accomplished. We're taking it day-by-day, knowing the season we're in and the significance of it.
DS: You mention some of the work involved. This is your fourth year here — every summer guys have different things they want to work on. What was that for you this year?
JB: I think I answer that question every year by saying everything, but this year I've really just been trying to work on my defense. I want to be able to guard different positions. Offensively, I've been focused on making the right play without turning the ball over, being able to play off guys like Paolo and Wendell, just helping however I can. Another thing has been just being more vocal, trying to have a leadership voice in the locker room, on the court, and really showing the younger guys how things work here and what it takes to be a good team.
DS: You mentioned the younger guys — I'm always fascinated as guys get older, you're a senior now, was there a moment where you looked around and realized you were the oldest guy in the room?
JB: Yeah, this summer Wendell (Moore Jr.) and I kind of stayed behind and were getting in work with Coach Will (Stephens) and some on-the-court stuff too. I remember when the freshmen got here in mid-June, they were young and still figuring out how things worked within our program, and I was just showing them how stuff was done. While that was going on I had that moment of feeling, you know, this is weird for me. I can clearly remember when I was in their shoes, just getting on campus and Jack (White), Jav (DeLaurier), J-Rob (Justin Robinson), Tone (Antonio Vrankovic), Brennan (Besser) — they were all kind of showing me how things worked. Being on the other side of that is pretty cool.
DS: The Brotherhood in and of itself is an elite club, and then those that have been captains is even a smaller club within that. Take us through what that honor is like and how much you're looking forward to the chance to lead this team with Wendell.
JB: Wendell's my brother. We've known each other for a long time, we grew up in this state playing against each other so being able to be a captain on Coach's last team means the world to us. We're going to give this year our everything, leave it all out there every day in practice, every game and just try and have the best year possible.
DS: I'm sure there is plenty that you've learned from Coach in your time here. We obviously know him as the brilliant game strategist — he knows the game better than anyone. But I'm always struck being at practice, or before and after the games and hearing the stories he tells or the motivational tactics he utilizes. Do you have one or two moments in that vein that have stood out to you in your time here. The way he can simplify complex concepts is always impressive.
JB: He's been doing this for so long and he's such an incredible leader and he's found unique ways that most might not think about or have ever even experienced in terms of motivation or getting things accomplished. One moment that sticks out for me, and I've heard Wendell talk about this as well, was the UNC game my sophomore year. We were down by 13 and it's one of those moments where Coach could have given up on us and just sent us out there, but I vividly remember him saying "I'm not giving up on you guys." We all believed at that moment, and we all bought in, we followed his lead and we fought, and I think when you fight you give yourself a chance to make things happen and it did that day. Just being in that moment with that team was really special. It's an example of his leadership and just believing in his team and not giving up on us.
DS: Let's talk about this year's group a little bit. You're obviously an elite shooter, so let's start with your game specifically. When you're working on shooting in the offseason and in practice how do you find the rhythm to be able to build to where you're peaking once the season gets underway?
JB: Well, I'm not necessarily focused on peaking at a certain time or anything like that, but I am working on building it up. The coaches have all had fantastic careers here so working with them and trusting what they're doing with us has been huge. Working with Coach Carrawell, Coach Smith and Coach Scheyer — I've just been trusting the coaches and trying to get better every day, knowing that if you focus on the little things everything else will take care of itself.
DS: It's become the new normal in college basketball that rosters change and the makeup of each team changes fairly significantly from year-to-year. Watching this team in practice, it's hard not to notice the size that you guys have this year. How can that play to your advantage?
JB: We're a big team, we have a lot of length on the perimeter and down low and I think that could lend to us being a very good defensive team this year. Really dialing in on that end of the floor will be huge for us. I think that will help us become the team that we want to be.
DS: You discussed earlier your own improvement on the defensive end of the floor, but as you've grown in the program what parts of the game slow down for you? Everyone talks about the speed of the game when you first get to college and how fast it is, and then things slow down as you become an upperclassman. What parts of the game fit into that category for you?
JB: It's really everything. Over time you kind of learn instinctively where you're supposed to be defensively, offensively and what to do in certain moments. There's a lot less panic in certain moments as you realize you don't have to be in such a rush, and when you slow down it just makes everything a lot easier.
DS: For a guy who was on track to be the salutatorian in high school before reclassifying to come to Duke a year early, the Duke degree — you're going to have it at the end of this year. What does that mean to you to have that as a part of your legacy here?
JB: It's an incredible honor. My parents have always impressed upon me the importance of academics, so having a degree from one of the best universities in the country is an incredible honor. It's not something that I take lightly as a four-year guy here. You're here obviously for basketball but you want that degree, it's something you think about and appreciate.
#GoDuke
DS: Let's start with Countdown To Craziness — you guys went an entire year without fans, and in many respects, it's actually been almost two years since you guys have had a chance to play in front of your own fans. What was that energy like for you in Cameron?
JB: You know, it's hard to put into words. A whole year without fans in Cameron — everyone knows how special a place Cameron is with the Cameron Crazies and everything they bring to the table. Being back in front of them, it was incredible, just hard to put into words.
DS: There have been a lot of things from this past summer that have been hard to put into words including a coaching transition, and I think it speaks to what Mike Krzyzewski thinks of this team and what you all are capable of that he doesn't want us using the word "last." He wants it to be about this moment. What was it like with him this summer, because as we know he hasn't been on the road recruiting, he's been hanging out with you guys?
JB: Yeah, it's definitely different. Usually, the coaches leave throughout the summer, they have to recruit and think about the next year a little bit. But Coach has been full throttle, all-in on this year. Throughout the summer he was there every day, and I think with that we've all developed a really good relationship with him this year in particular. I think that will help us throughout the year, just that relationship and trust that's been built.
DS: Coach has also said, and he's meant it, that he doesn't want you guys playing solely for him this year. But when I talk to others that have played for him including members of the coaching staff, it feels very much like you guys are aware of how special this can be and the opportunity to send him out on the right note. Is that fair?
JB: Absolutely -- he's had such an incredible career that it's only natural to want to send him out on a high note. We're taking that into account but, like you said, we have to focus on the moment that we're in and working at it every day. Otherwise, that goal that we want, and trying to send him out on a high note, won't be accomplished. We're taking it day-by-day, knowing the season we're in and the significance of it.
DS: You mention some of the work involved. This is your fourth year here — every summer guys have different things they want to work on. What was that for you this year?
JB: I think I answer that question every year by saying everything, but this year I've really just been trying to work on my defense. I want to be able to guard different positions. Offensively, I've been focused on making the right play without turning the ball over, being able to play off guys like Paolo and Wendell, just helping however I can. Another thing has been just being more vocal, trying to have a leadership voice in the locker room, on the court, and really showing the younger guys how things work here and what it takes to be a good team.
DS: You mentioned the younger guys — I'm always fascinated as guys get older, you're a senior now, was there a moment where you looked around and realized you were the oldest guy in the room?
JB: Yeah, this summer Wendell (Moore Jr.) and I kind of stayed behind and were getting in work with Coach Will (Stephens) and some on-the-court stuff too. I remember when the freshmen got here in mid-June, they were young and still figuring out how things worked within our program, and I was just showing them how stuff was done. While that was going on I had that moment of feeling, you know, this is weird for me. I can clearly remember when I was in their shoes, just getting on campus and Jack (White), Jav (DeLaurier), J-Rob (Justin Robinson), Tone (Antonio Vrankovic), Brennan (Besser) — they were all kind of showing me how things worked. Being on the other side of that is pretty cool.
DS: The Brotherhood in and of itself is an elite club, and then those that have been captains is even a smaller club within that. Take us through what that honor is like and how much you're looking forward to the chance to lead this team with Wendell.
JB: Wendell's my brother. We've known each other for a long time, we grew up in this state playing against each other so being able to be a captain on Coach's last team means the world to us. We're going to give this year our everything, leave it all out there every day in practice, every game and just try and have the best year possible.
DS: I'm sure there is plenty that you've learned from Coach in your time here. We obviously know him as the brilliant game strategist — he knows the game better than anyone. But I'm always struck being at practice, or before and after the games and hearing the stories he tells or the motivational tactics he utilizes. Do you have one or two moments in that vein that have stood out to you in your time here. The way he can simplify complex concepts is always impressive.
JB: He's been doing this for so long and he's such an incredible leader and he's found unique ways that most might not think about or have ever even experienced in terms of motivation or getting things accomplished. One moment that sticks out for me, and I've heard Wendell talk about this as well, was the UNC game my sophomore year. We were down by 13 and it's one of those moments where Coach could have given up on us and just sent us out there, but I vividly remember him saying "I'm not giving up on you guys." We all believed at that moment, and we all bought in, we followed his lead and we fought, and I think when you fight you give yourself a chance to make things happen and it did that day. Just being in that moment with that team was really special. It's an example of his leadership and just believing in his team and not giving up on us.
DS: Let's talk about this year's group a little bit. You're obviously an elite shooter, so let's start with your game specifically. When you're working on shooting in the offseason and in practice how do you find the rhythm to be able to build to where you're peaking once the season gets underway?
JB: Well, I'm not necessarily focused on peaking at a certain time or anything like that, but I am working on building it up. The coaches have all had fantastic careers here so working with them and trusting what they're doing with us has been huge. Working with Coach Carrawell, Coach Smith and Coach Scheyer — I've just been trusting the coaches and trying to get better every day, knowing that if you focus on the little things everything else will take care of itself.
DS: It's become the new normal in college basketball that rosters change and the makeup of each team changes fairly significantly from year-to-year. Watching this team in practice, it's hard not to notice the size that you guys have this year. How can that play to your advantage?
JB: We're a big team, we have a lot of length on the perimeter and down low and I think that could lend to us being a very good defensive team this year. Really dialing in on that end of the floor will be huge for us. I think that will help us become the team that we want to be.
DS: You discussed earlier your own improvement on the defensive end of the floor, but as you've grown in the program what parts of the game slow down for you? Everyone talks about the speed of the game when you first get to college and how fast it is, and then things slow down as you become an upperclassman. What parts of the game fit into that category for you?
JB: It's really everything. Over time you kind of learn instinctively where you're supposed to be defensively, offensively and what to do in certain moments. There's a lot less panic in certain moments as you realize you don't have to be in such a rush, and when you slow down it just makes everything a lot easier.
DS: For a guy who was on track to be the salutatorian in high school before reclassifying to come to Duke a year early, the Duke degree — you're going to have it at the end of this year. What does that mean to you to have that as a part of your legacy here?
JB: It's an incredible honor. My parents have always impressed upon me the importance of academics, so having a degree from one of the best universities in the country is an incredible honor. It's not something that I take lightly as a four-year guy here. You're here obviously for basketball but you want that degree, it's something you think about and appreciate.
#GoDuke
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