GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 28, 2026

Graham Ike

Media Conference

Q. What was your goal going into Summer League, and how do you feel you did throughout?

GRAHAM IKE: The goal for myself and really the team was just to win, but show up every day as winners through our characteristics and habits, and ultimately enjoy it to the fullest, and I feel like we accomplished every single one of those things on the checklist and then exceeded it, but definitely winning the championship at the end was our main goal.

Q. When you signed to be here, what did that mean to you?

GRAHAM IKE: I was elated. It's something I dreamed about as a kid. To be with such a great organization, I couldn't have asked for more.

Q. How do you see yourself fitting into the team. What is it about your skill set that fits with the Warriors?

GRAHAM IKE: I feel like my communication, my vocalness on the court will help me stand out. Will just help -- I just want to do the right things, the little things on the court, trying to make winning plays, just trying to help the team get extra possessions, do whatever I can to help the team win. That's just what I want to do.

Q. Graham, there might be a little bit of kind of opportunity for you in the big man rotation, just knowing how Kristaps, the injury history there. In terms of cementing yourself on the floor, I know you have a little bit of a face-up game, is there any kind of specific skill that you're looking to hone and show this staff that maybe you can offer something a little bit different to stay on the floor, that kind of thing?

GRAHAM IKE: Really I'm just looking to show energy through consistency and vice versa. You can flip that sentence. I'm just trying to be consistent every day as a rookie, understanding my new role on this team and really trying to help the team win and being prepared for whenever the opportunity does hit.

Learning on the fly, learning every single day, being a sponge and a fly on the wall just trying to soak things up, and ultimately when I get on the court, getting extra possessions, getting loose balls, setting good, hard screens, rolling hard, and trying to get guys open and playing great defense.

Q. What expectations have you Steve and the coaching staff talked to you about?

GRAHAM IKE: Haven't really discussed many expectations. Really to be myself. I'm trying not to have any expectations, you know what I mean, just so I can go in with an open mind. If I have some expectations, I'll be let down, I feel like. So I am just trying to go into it with a free mind and have fun.

Q. Personally this is kind of a big deal to make the NBA. What was your kind of reaction emotionally to that?

GRAHAM IKE: Like I said earlier, I was elated. I've been looking forward to this moment since I was 6, 7. I remember talking to my grandfather about it and telling him this is what I want to do. Just do see coming to fruition now is a dream come true. It's no doubt it's just beginning, but I'm extremely grateful to be here, nonetheless.

Q. Graham, you've obviously gotten a few-month perspective on Yaxel now. I know he's a unique personality. Any particular stand-out favorite memory or Yaxel story from the last few months?

GRAHAM IKE: There's a bunch, man. We've only been here four months, like you said. Definitely, like, after winning Summer League in that locker room just, like, celebrating with bro. Really seeing him every day. It's always something with Yax. You know what I mean? You can never put your finger on it, but you can expect something with him. You know?

He's always smiling, always having a good time, but when it's time to step on that court, he knows how to work and knows how to win at the highest level, as we saw last year, and I'm sure he looks forward to showing that this year, but it's always great times with Yax, man.