Bruno Fernando on his trade to Celtics, Kevin Garnett appreciation, a tough year in Atlanta and playing to his strengths in Boston

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2021/08/bruno-fernando-on-his-trade-to-celtics-kevin-garnett-appreciation-a-tough-year-in-atlanta-and-playing-to-his-strengths-in-boston.html



Bruno Fernando on his trade to Celtics, Kevin Garnett appreciation, a tough year in Atlanta and playing to his strengths in Boston



Updated: 12:29 p.m. | Published: 12:29 p.m.




Boston Celtics' Bruno Fernando (55) fouls Sacramento Kings' Neemias Queta, left, during the first half of the NBA summer league championship basketball game Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)AP


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



Bruno Fernando has a long hill to climb to make an impact with the 2021-22 Boston Celtics. He’s currently the fourth center on the team’s depth chart, behind Robert Williams and a pair of veterans in Al Horford and Enes Kanter that Brad Stevens brought back for next season.

Boston acquired Fernando with Kris Dunn in a three-team trade with the Hawks and Kings that sent veteran big man Tristan Thompson to Sacramento. The 6-foot-9 Fernando averaged 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game over 89 career games in Atlanta during the past two seasons but saw his playing time diminish in Atlanta last year.


How much of a role Fernando, 22, will play with the Celtics moving forward remains to be seen but he provided a strong showing for Boston’s brass during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas earlier this month. The No. 34 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft shot 75 percent from the field in four games in Las Vegas while averaging a team-high 4.8 free throw attempts per game. His defensive energy and presence on the glass at 6-foot-9 stood out to teammates and coaches alike, helping strengthen his case for a spot on the 15-man roster as the team explores its options heading into training camp.

“He brought great energy as the anchor of our defense, he communicates well and he was a physical presence in the paint,” Summer League coach Joe Mazzulla said.

MassLive caught up with Fernando earlier this month to discuss his transition to Boston, the challenges he faced in Atlanta last season and what led to Kevin Garnett being the player he wants to model himself after.


MassLive: How has the transition been to the Celtics so far?

Bruno Fernando: It’s been good. It’s been an easy transition. The guys are making it easier for me. I’m just trying to acclimated and accustomed to the things we do as a team, particularly I’ve just been trying to implement myself the best way I possibly can. I want to complement everyone else’s game and make sure we are successful as we figure it out.


MassLive: What part of your game are you trying to hone in and improve on this summer?

Fernando: As a player, you always want to get better in every part of your game. I’m looking forward to getting better in every aspect of my game but working on certain things for me that I know are more useful for me as a player on a team and brings value to the team. I’m obviously trying to emphasize those things as much as I can but really just trying to improve every area that I’ve can.


MassLive: Has the team told you what they want from you and the plan for you heading into next season?

Fernando: Right now, I’m just focused on one thing at a time. They respect that and they also are on the same page with me as far as that. We are taking it one day at a time.


MassLive: You talked after the trade about Kevin Garnett being your favorite player. What drew him to you growing up?

Fernando: The thing about me, I’ve always been an energetic kid. I was growing up back home and it was loud. Everybody just yells stuff, you just hear a whole bunch of noise during the whole day. For me, it was one of the things I grew up around and I’ve always been very energetic, enthusiastic and just enjoying life and everything else I get to do. That’s the same approach I take with the game of basketball. I just try to enjoy the game of basketball.

I had a tough year last year, it was a little hard for me to enjoy what I was doing but at the same time, you only get to play basketball for so long. I tried to make the most out of that picture.

I was always drawn to Kevin Garnett because of his approach to the game. He played every game like it was his last. He always approached the game like, ‘I get to do this. I don’t have to do this.’ That’s one thing that always stuck out to me, his energy, his passion, his loyalty to the game, that’s why he’s had a successful career. Why not follow that?


MassLive: The Celtics are going to retire his jersey at the Garden this season, so are you hoping to have a chance to meet him there?

Fernando: Absolutely. Looking forward to it.


MassLive: What was it like playing with some of the young talent on the Celtics Summer League roster?

Fernando: It’s been awesome. We’re really unselfish. We were trying to get the best out of each other and were trying to make sure we had a successful team on the court. We got along off the court during the few days we had together. You can tell guys are creating chemistry on and off the court already. On the court, we just tried to make each other’s jobs easier. My job is trying to make the guards’ job easier, whether it is offensively and defensively and their job is the same. We just tried to complement and tried to play the best we can.


MassLive: What was the experience like for you in Atlanta last year? The team had really good success but you didn’t get to play as much with all the veterans they brought in. How will that help you this year?

Fernando: I learned to be patient and then I learned to learn while I wait. I tried to continue working on my game, keep my composure, just be a team player and understanding that I’m not the first or last player in the NBA to go through that. Obviously, you don’t want things to go the way it did, but, for me, I was very happy with the success we had at the team. At the end of the day, I continue to work on my game and grow as a player.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Whole lotta nothin' here.  I didn't read the article before I posted it but now that I have?  "I'm working on everything in my game".  What?  No answer.  "Did the team tell you what to focus on?"  "They're respecting my wish to focus on one thing at a time".  What one thing are you working on now?  No answer. I don't know if he was just being coy or clueless or if the interviewer sucked or the interviewer was good but whomever edited this is an idiot but it was a short and worthless read.  Five minutes of my life I'll never get back.  You're welcome.


.

I see Bruno ATM as a deep bench player and a good role player in practices against the starter bigs.

If, through hard work and good coaching, it makes that thing in his brain *click*, we may have something here. Until then it is just pure potential and one's opinion as to where it could end up.