There was only one thing on the mind of Cameron Jones at Kaiser Permanente Arena today during media day.
"A championship, that's what I want."
The 2013 NBA Developmental League's Most Improved Player returns to the Santa Cruz Warriors along with a few other familiar faces for the upcoming season. Taylor Griffin, Daniel Nwaelele and Maurice Baker are back in Santa Cruz for another run at a championship after falling just short last season in the finals to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
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The Warriors want to continue their winning ways after a successful campaign last year, posting a record of 32-19 and earning the number three seed last year in the playoffs. The team attributes part of their success to the fiery crowd that filled the arena nearly every night. The team led the league in paid attendance last season.
"Getting back into the crazy crowds is going to be fun," said Jones, 24. "It's a fun environment, some D-League cities have big gyms and nobody in it, and it kind of deflates you and the home team."
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Among other changes, the Santa Cruz Warriors hired Casey Hill as the team's new head coach. An assistant with previous head coach Nate Bjorkgren, Hill plans to focus on defense much like his predecessor, but plans to change the offensive game plan, "(Coach Nate Bjorkgren) liked to run and push the ball up the floor," said Hill. "I prefer an offense with structure and plays."
Along with the returning players, rookie Seth Curry joins the Santa Cruz Warriors after the team in Oakland sent him here via the "affiliate" rule. Curry, 23, is looking forward to playing for a new team and a new head coach,
"I just want to get better every day, and work on my point guard skills," said Curry, who wants to improve on different aspects of his game including, "My leadership on the court, being a point guard and just helping run the team."
Another new face joining the team is Kiwi Gardner, a 5' 7" point guard from Oakland. Gardner, 20, is excited to join the Santa Cruz Warriors and plans to make the most of his time with the team, knowing he is close to a roster spot,
"It's not there yet," said Gardner. "I have to work really hard to compete in training camp. I'm just working hard to stay here."
Selected in the 7th round of the D-League draft, Gardner impressed members of the Warriors organization after attending both open tryouts in Santa Cruz and Oakland, including Coach Hill.
"The thing about (Gardner), is his tank is never empty, he can constantly go," said Hill.
Gardner is not only excited to play for the Warriors, but the close proximity to his hometown makes it even more worthwhile, "It's a beautiful thing," said Gardner. "My family can come see me play, they can come visit. I can go home whenever. "
Gardner understands the challenges someone his height faces when competing for a roster spot, but he's ready to work hard and remain a part of the team in three weeks,
"I have some odds stacked up against me, but anybody that's small is going to have those odds. If this is something that you want to do and something that you pursue you're going to have to go above and beyond to get there."
The Warriors tip-off their road to a championship Nov. 22, when they play the Austin Toros at 7 p.m. Individual tickets for the upcoming season go on sale Thursday at 903 Pacific Ave. in downtown Santa Cruz and online at http://santacruzbasketball.com/
