The Daily Illini: You had a good final year at Illinois but a really great last year at Memphis. What do you think allowed you to make that big jump from junior to senior year?
Dain Dainja: Well, just being able to, you know, play for a coach or in a program that’s, you know, willing to let me play my game. I feel like that was the biggest thing. And just the work I put in over the summer. But I say more so it was the opportunity that I had.
DI: You applied for a waiver with the NCAA to return to school for another year, but it got denied relatively late. Were you working out for teams while waiting to see if you would be able to go back to college?
Dainja: Yeah, yeah, I had several workouts. I had about 10 workouts while waiting for, to see what the NCAA would say. Then the second day of the draft is actually when I found out (the decision).
DI: How did joining Miami for Summer League come about? Was that in the works before you heard the NCAA’s decision, or did it happen after?
Dainja: I had a Zoom meeting with Miami. I talked to them a few days before the draft happened. You know, they liked who I was. They liked my game, so I was able to have a good meeting or interview with the coaching staff.
DI: Now that Summer League is over, how did you feel adjusting to the pro game?
Dainja: I’ll say, you know, just me throughout my whole career dealing with the stuff I dealt with at Baylor, Illinois, I’ve kind of been through everything. So I felt like that was the biggest thing for me, whether it was coming off the bench, whether it was playing five minutes, six minutes, whatever it was. You know, I was just ready. I was ready for my opportunity, no matter what came. So I feel like I did a good job with that, just keeping a good head on my shoulders, being a good teammate, whether I was playing the game. Here in the NBA, you just never know when your time is up, but, you know, I stayed ready, and that paid off pretty well.
DI: Is there a big on-court style change you’ve seen from college to the NBA?
Dainja: Yeah, somewhat. I feel like it’s a little faster, of course. Definitely spacing. But I mean, I felt like that’s why I love Memphis so much because the way we played kind of translated more so to the NBA. So I wasn’t shocked by a lot of things we did.
DI: Do you know what’s next for you? Obviously the goal is to be in the NBA, but if that doesn’t happen, do you have G League options or overseas options?
Dainja: No, I actually don’t (know yet). I definitely have a few options with different teams for sure, but you know, I’m still waiting to see the word for Miami.
DI: You didn’t finish your college career in Champaign, but you still have a lot of Illini fans that are supporting you — even here in Las Vegas. What’s your message to those Illinois fans?
Dainja: Oh man, you know, I just appreciate all the support. You know, all the people who were, all the fans who came out, watched me play here in Vegas, the ones that just stayed loyal to me. You know, it will always be a home for me. Definitely.
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